Diocese of Winona-Rochester Employment
Program Manager – Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns
Catholic Rural Life @ St. Paul, MN. posted on Mon, May 05
Apply until: 2025-06-05
Position Announcement
Catholic Rural Life
Program Manager – Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns
Catholic Rural Life (CRL) is a national, Catholic nonprofit organization dedicated to the vitality
of the American countryside. Since 1923 CRL has been promoting Catholic life in rural America. Our
vision is thriving families, farms, and parishes centered on faith, community, and care of
creation. Our work in ethical agriculture and pastoral ministry & outreach supports and builds the
rural Church by educating leaders—clergy, religious, and laity.
Today, we advance our mission through three distinct but interrelated areas of impact:
? Rural Ministry and Outreach: Strengthening pastoral leadership through CRL’s Thriving in
Rural Ministry program, sharing of best practices and leadership development.
? Ethical Food and Agriculture: Educating for a more just and sustainable food supply, from the
farm to the kitchen table.
? Thriving Congregations - Strengthening lay leadership in parishes and expanding CRL’s
Chapters throughout rural America.
The Program Manager for Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns (RST) is responsible for providing
leadership and initiative in building Catholic Rural Life’s strategic partnerships and expanding
CRL’s Chapters across the country. The purpose of this initiative is to expand upon our legacy of
successful programming and accelerate our capacity to equip lay leaders and clergy in Catholic
parishes throughout rural America. We seek to extend CRL’s reach to over 100 Catholic rural
dioceses across the US, thereby impacting thousands of Catholic congregations and lay
leaders. Through our national network of CRL’s 35 collaborators (chapters) and five partner-
organizations, CRL seeks to expand our efforts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and sow seeds of
a living and vibrant faith among the many networks and centers of influence that permeate rural
life and communities.
Through the development of focused workshops, regional conferences, professional seminars,
educational courses, a virtual resource library, as well as virtual networks, we aim “through the
renewal of their minds” to transform the clergy and laity so that they may be equipped to answer
their baptism call and professional vocation with clarity, confidence and freedom in Christ. By
accompanying these men and women in renewing their hearts and minds, we can then become a
sustaining partner as we aid them in their efforts to make their congregations true catalysts of
ongoing service to God and others.
Duties and responsibilities include:
? Managing strategic partnerships around the U.S.
? Planning, organizing and managing events and workshops.
? Managing and expanding CRL chapters throughout the country.
? Building relationships with dioceses and parishes throughout the country to support CRL
programming.
Experience and Qualification Requirements
A successful candidate for this position will have the following:
? Undergraduate or higher degree in theology and/or business administration or relevant field
experience.
? At least five years of management and/or ministry experience.
? Proficiency in MS Windows-based software applications, spreadsheets, and database applications.
? Excellent communication skills.
? Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
? Strong experience leading collaborative teams and/or organizations.
Supervision
The Program Manager will report directly to the Executive Director of Catholic Rural Life. The
office is located at the University of St. Thomas campus in St. Paul, MN.
Terms
This position is full-time, and the salary will depend upon on experience.
Application Process
Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter by May 23, 2025 to Seth Forster,
Office Manager at Seth@catholicrurallife.org or mail – UST Mail 4080, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul,
MN 55105.
