Priest Chaplain

Bishop Blanchet High School

Seattle, WA

Position Title: Priest Chaplain
Start date: For 2022-2023 School year – as soon as August 15, 2022

Mission Statement:

Bishop Blanchet is a Catholic, college preparatory high school established by the Archbishop of Seattle. Rooted in Gospel Values, we educate students within a challenging, positive and diverse learning environment. We inspire students to transform the world around them through a lifelong commitment to faith, scholarship and service.

School Background and Position Overview:

Founded in 1954, Bishop Blanchet High School (BBHS) is a community of approximately 900 students, 125 faculty and staff, and over 15,000 alumni. As an Archdiocesan high school located in north Seattle, BBHS is blessed by dozens of local Catholic grade schools and parishes – as well as many families in public and private schools seeking a Catholic high school education. The result is a student body that is currently 72% Catholic and 28% of other faith backgrounds.

On their spiritual journey through Bishop Blanchet, all students complete four years of coursework in Theology, participate in annual service commitments and retreats designed for all grade levels, and assemble for regular experiences of liturgy and prayer in all-school and other smaller settings. We seek a full-time priest chaplain to deepen our ministry in all of these areas working most closely with school administration, a five member campus ministry team, a ten member Theology department, and many other faculty, staff, coaches and moderators.

At Bishop Blanchet High School we strive to embody the example of Jesus Christ and live out Gospel Values by employing empathy, finding dignity in all people, fostering a true sense of community, and calling everyone to seek their unique, God-given potential. The ideal priest chaplain would have experience working with high school aged students – embodying the “accompaniment” model encouraged by Pope Francis – meeting young adults where they are and walking with them on their spiritual journey to deepen their understanding of God’s love for them and their call to bring His love to all of creation.

A priest chaplain will be instrumental in our work to engage Catholic students toward a more mature and lived experience of their faith and, at the same time, engage all students, regardless of faith background, with an invitation to move deeper into their spiritual growth through a connection to God’s love, the example of Christ in the Gospel, and the rituals and traditions of our Catholic faith.

As described in the essential functions of the position below, we seek a priest chaplain to celebrate the Sacraments, ensure Catholic identity, teach Theology, and provide spiritual and pastoral formation to our community.

Essential Functions:

1. In collaboration with the President, Principal, and Director of Campus Ministry, ensure that the Catholic mission and identity of the school is sustained and continuously strengthened.
2. Serves as member of the Campus Ministry team led by the Director of Campus Ministry.
3. Participates in the planning of and presides at school liturgies and sacramental celebrations. This includes regular weekly/daily masses; periodic all school gatherings; athletic events and athletic prayer/chapel; student activities; retreat liturgies and faculty in-service masses.
4. Engages and involves students in the preparation of liturgies, retreats, and service programs. Supports student and faculty retreat preparation by working with retreat teams to develop talks, prayers, liturgies, and programming.
5. Teaches 1-2 classes per semester in the Theology Department and supports sacramental preparation and other lessons across the department (e.g. Sacrament of Reconciliation, vocations).
6. Provides spiritual direction and pastoral counseling to students and faculty on an on-going basis and in response to crisis.
7. Works with the campus ministry team to support on-going faculty and staff formation program.
8. Provides morning prayer and reflection over Public Address (PA) for the entire school as part of the overall schedule for morning prayer that is developed by the Director of Campus Ministry.
9. Offers the availability of regular Reconciliation opportunities and organizes Reconciliation liturgies (at least two times per year), arranges for visiting clergy, and presides at the service.
10. Serves as a theological and pastoral consultant to the Board of Directors, administration, faculty, staff, coaches and moderators.
11. Works on select projects with the Admissions and Development Departments.
12. Reports to the President and works on select projects including strategic and campus planning and, in particular, as a consultant to sacred art and Catholic identity across campus.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Roman Catholic Priest in good standing (required documentation from superior listed below)
• Experience teaching and additional language proficiency preferred

   

Contractual Term:

This is a 10-month position from mid-August through mid-June. Annually it will start one week prior to the first day of faculty/staff inservice in August and conclude in mid June, one week after the last day of school. Opportunities for summer and weekend ministry in parishes can be explored with the Vicar for Clergy’s office.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Compensation based on experience and in accordance with the Archdiocese of Seattle priest compensation guidelines.
• Moving stipend and on-campus housing available
• Health insurance
• Retirement/pension contribution
• Access to fitness center
• School funded continuing formation and professional development opportunities
• Inclusion in Archdiocese of Seattle, Office of the Vicar for Clergy activities such as priest days and retreats
• Opportunities to help with our robust co-curricular programs, including our competitive athletic programs, clubs, and performing arts
• Incredibly supportive, professional, and committed faculty and staff that value community
• 9-acre campus two blocks from Greenlake that includes a chapel, an outdoor athletic stadium, a fitness center, sports medicine training room, three gymnasiums, three performing arts spaces including a black box theater, and a recently renovated student commons.

  Application Process:

  Inquiries about this position may be directed to:

  Tony DeSapio, President, Bishop Blanchet High School

  [email protected]

  206-527-7700

  Email application materials to [email protected]

• Letter of introduction and interest in the position
• Resume/CV including 3 ministerial/professional references
• Letter of support and permission from superior (to be reviewed by the Vicar for Clergy’s Office)
• Testimonial of suitability (to be reviewed by the Vicar for Clergy’s Office)