Join Our Team

Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House is seeking a Director of Ministry to provide vision and leadership for its ministry. Bellarmine offers retreats grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola, promoting the spiritual development of people of faith. This position involves generating and managing program initiatives, serving as Director of the Ministry Team, and participating with team members in providing Bellarmine’s program events. This is a new full-time position, reports to the Executive Director. The scope of the work will be approximately 70% administration and 30% ministry.

Spiritual Leadership

• Vision for the ministry programs of Bellarmine in alignment with the values and priorities of the Society of Jesus, including the Universal Apostolic Preferences, the Guidelines for Those in the Ministry of the Spiritual Exercises, and Bellarmine’s sponsorship by the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus.
• Be attentive, through prayer and discernment, to what God is calling us to at Bellarmine
• Will serve on the Mission and Identity Committee of the Board of Directors

Core responsibilities

Program Management

• Plan and calendar a robust portfolio of retreat center programs and their presenters for approximately 32 weekend retreats, 12 spirituality programs, virtual programming, and 2 week-long directed retreats, all grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius  Assign ministry staff for all retreats and programs, including creation and management of the yearly ministry roster
• Be present and provide hospitality and tech support during retreats and programs
• Monitor and respond to retreatant feedback, noticing and sharing emerging themes
• Ensure the retreatant experience provides for the retreatants to encounter God
• Collaborate with ministry leaders at Jesuit retreat houses around the country

Formation for Ministry Professionals

• Develop and lead formation programs for staff and network of adjunct spiritual directors
• Oversee the spiritual director referral network and referral processes
• Support the faculty of the Spiritual Direction Internship
• Identify and help to address the needs for a training program for spiritual direction peer supervisors

Supervision

• Oversee the spiritual direction internship, and training/formation for spiritual directors and retreat facilitators 
• Manage all individuals providing ministry at Bellarmine. Ministry staff currently includes two full-time Jesuits, four part-time Jesuits, and 13 part-time Spiritual Directors
• Generate a work covenant as to the relationship of all adjunct staff members to Bellarmine’s programming
• Provide for the professional and spiritual growth and development of all persons engaging in ministry at Bellarmine

Qualifications

• A trained Spiritual Director in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality and communal discernment, with experience providing and receiving regular spiritual direction
• A degree in Religious Studies, Theology, Divinity or Biblical Studies or related field
• Experience working and collaborating with varied constituencies and demographics. 
• A few years of both supervisory experience and professional ministry experience   

Requirements

• A servant leader who is outgoing, warm, kind, flexible and responsible.
• Excellent and timely communication
• Strong technology skills using Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Zoom and Google Docs. 
• Availability to be present at Bellarmine for staff meetings, keep some regular office hours and to connect with retreat participants. Schedule includes both weekday hours, evenings, and weekends. 
• Willingness to support the outreach, growth, and fundraising efforts of Bellarmine

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to hr@jesuitretreat.org.

Looking for part-time work? Join the amazing team at the beautiful Bellarmine Retreat House in Barrington, IL. Our dining room server position is good for body, mind, and spirit! The work schedule is 2-3 days per week and starts at $16 an hour. If you are interested contact BellarmineJesuitChefMgr@taher.com or 847-381-1366 for more information.

Job description

• Plan, organize and coordinate participation in Ignatian retreats and spirituality programs. Gather retreatant information regarding dietary restrictions, accessible accommodations and other needs related to medical needs.
• Respond to all individual retreat inquiries to encourage attendance at a retreat that aligns with each individual’s spiritual needs including silent retreats, 12 step recovery retreats, semi-silent retreats, retreats for veterans and their families, Ignatian Yoga retreats, and many others.
• Proactively communicate with 100+ volunteer Captains and Ambassadors to provide information, encouragement and marketing materials for their Ministry of Invitation.
• Provide amazing hospitality to our retreatants so they feel like welcome guests everyday they are here and aiding them as necessary.
• Coordinate with retreat leaders and communicate regularly with presenters and ministry team members regarding status of events, AV, handouts, schedules and other needs
• Update and maintain database of retreatants, reports, schedules and paperwork for all retreats and coordinate with accounting to ensure all event contributions are acknowledged and recorded
• Welcome guests at event check-in in order to ensure satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any issues that arise
• Collaborate with marketing to ensure retreat is promoted to appropriate market channels and communicate event details with all key departments including ministry team, dining services, housekeeping and facilities teams.
• Provide administrative support to the Executive and Associate Directors and perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
• Coordinate the activities of two or more in-house volunteers that provide clerical support
• Participate in communications strategy with our marketing coordinator including maintaining website, social media posts, and reminder emails and texts
• Serve as a program ambassador
• Participate in a silent Ignatian retreat annually

Benefits:

Working full-time at Bellarmine, this position will receive outstanding benefits including:

• Working on 80 acres of beautiful sacred grounds in Barrington, IL with a mission-driven team
• Free lunch most work-days
• 11 paid holidays, plus paid vacation and personal time
• 403B with company match
• Medical, dental, vision insurance, life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Apply or contact us for more details.

Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of relevant event planning and hospitality experience
• Speak English fluently, and ideally is also fluent in Spanish
• Must have bachelor’s degree - ideally in hospitality, business administration and/or theology.
• Must have a kind, welcoming, can-do, service-oriented demeanor
• Must be detail oriented and a strong communicator – verbally and in writing
• Must be comfortable inputting data into a database (CRM tools) and exporting data for reports.
• Must be able to work in-person Mondays to Fridays and commute to Barrington, IL
• Must be comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds of office supplies (books, paper, etc.)
• Proficient in Microsoft software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google software (Docs, Sheets, and G-mail)

Questions and applications should be sent to: hr@jesuitretreat.org.