Supervisor Information: Jeff Wallace, Director of Spirituality and Justice Hours: 10 Hours/Week (shifting depending on work load/week)
Position start and end date: Spring semester 2025
Since November 2021, 10 Catholic institutions of higher education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as well as three of its Newman Centers, in collaboration with Archdiocesan leadership, created more than 50 opportunities for hundreds of college students to participate in the global Synod on Participation, Communion and Mission unfolding throughout the Roman Catholic Church between October 2021 and October 2024. We call ourselves SCHEAP (Synodality in Catholic Higher Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia).
In June 2024, SCHEAP received a $1.25M grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. through Gwynedd Mercy University to hone and expand SCHEAP’s best practices for synodal ministry with young adults. A significant portion of this funding will support pairs of “Synodal Fellows” on each participating SCHEAP campus and a growing number of participating parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
SCHEAP Synodal Fellows - college student interns enrolled at SCHEAP member institutions OR young adult parishioners in partner parishes - will work closely with the campus ministry and mission offices OR partner parishes to brainstorm, plan, and facilitate synodal programming, with a particular emphasis on answering Pope Francis’s invitation that we help define what it would mean for the church to make “a preferential option for young people.”
This position not only provides a platform for professional and spiritual development but also empowers fellows to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Church through active engagement and leadership in synodal ministry.
- Facilitate Conversations in the Spirit (CIS) :
- Acquire advanced facilitation skills to lead impactful Conversations in the Spirit.
- Create safe and inclusive spaces for dialogue that encourage honest sharing and spiritual growth.
- Develop the ability to navigate and mediate challenging discussions, promoting unity and understanding.
- Bridge-Building Across Campuses and Parishes :
- Establish and strengthen relationships between campus communities and local parishes, promoting a cohesive synodal approach.
- Collaborate with parish leaders to identify and implement synodal initiatives that resonate with young adults.
- Serve as a liaison, facilitating communication and cooperation between different faith communities.
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- Develop innovative strategies to embed synodal practices within campus and parish settings.
- Gain a deep understanding of the principles of synodality and how to apply them in different contexts.
- Foster a culture of active listening, discernment, and collective decision-making among peers and faith community members.
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- Engage in strategic planning and project management to successfully execute SCHEAP initiatives.
- Learn to set measurable goals, develop action plans, and evaluate outcomes to ensure the effectiveness of synodal activities.Enhance organizational and time management skills, balancing multiple responsibilities effectively.
- Participate in three formation experiences a year - one overnight in September for goal setting; one day-long in January to hone synodal skills; one day-long in late April/May to reflect and set goals for coming year.
- Serve 10 hours per week from the last week of January through the first week of May (2025 only); opportunity to continue in this role that will begin the last week of August 2025 and continue through May 2026 and beyond.
- Collaborate with campus/parish minister in growing synodality in respective community by designing and facilitating 2 synodal encounters per semester.
- Participate in bi-monthly standing meetings of the whole to design and execute Archdiocesan-wide gatherings.
- Participate in bi-monthly standing meetings of Synodal Fellows to share learnings and develop priorities.
Complete ongoing self and program assessments
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for one on-campus and one professional reference.
Application are due by: Friday, November 8
Interviews will be held between Monday, November 11 and Friday, November 22
Decisions will be made by Monday, December 9
All accepted Synodal Fellows are required to attend a formation experience to launch the cohort on Saturday, January 18th at Cranaleith Spiritual Center .
Funding for this position is provided by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.