Athletics Chaplain (full-time)

Job Description:

Fairfield University was founded by the Jesuits in 1942. The university is home to over 5,000 full-time undergraduate students and 1,200 part-time graduate students. Fairfield University is an NCAA Division 1 charter member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). As a modern, Jesuit, Catholic institution, Fairfield’s athletics program is an essential component of the overall mission to foster student growth in all facets of the educational experience: intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical. The University and Stags Athletics are fully committed to graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom and modeling a grace-filled community. Applicants should exhibit a deep awareness, understanding, and ability to articulate a commitment to the Jesuit mission and Ignatian Spirituality.  

Position

Provide on-going spiritual, personal and leadership formation of student-athletes, coaches and staff in the Ignatian tradition. The Athletics Chaplain focuses on the spiritual life, faith development and pastoral care of 500+ student-athletes, 80+ coaches, and staff. This position will report to Mission and Ministry, and will seek direction from the VP of Athletics, the Director of Campus Ministry and the Director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality. 

Purpose

The role of the Athletic Chaplain is to design, direct and facilitate all aspects of ministry for Athletics and work collaboratively with the STAGS Care team contributing to the emotional and spiritual well-being of student-athletes, coaches and staff.

This position calls for the utmost integrity, excellent pastoral skills, and an enthusiasm for working proactively in a close-knit and busy university community. Pastoral awareness, enjoying working as part of a team and approachability are all key qualities for applicants.

The Chaplain is responsible for:

• Leading and supporting the spiritual and religious life of the department and its members through the We Are Stags initiative https://fairfieldstags.com/feature/WeAreStags

• Providing one-on-one pastoral support for student athletes, coaches and staff

• Facilitating retreats and develop spiritual programming for athletic teams, coaches and staff focused on themes drawn from Ignatian Spirituality

• Fostering a lively and engaged spiritual environment within Athletics, embracing those of different Christian faiths and those of no religious beliefs

• Participating as a member of the STAGS Care team and Stags Athletics Built for Life team meeting regularly to support student-athletes and other members of the Athletics department

• Supporting various student-athlete populations, including but not limited to, teams, injured athletes, international students, through spiritual programming addressing their various needs

• Facilitating faith sharing groups, bible study groups and Christian athlete groups

• Working effectively and collaboratively with the network of Athletics and University staff who have responsibility for different aspects of student well-being

• Developing a ministry presence in the athletics department

• Other related duties and responsibilities

Education/Work Experience

• Master’s Degree in Divinity, Theology, Pastoral Studies or other equivalent formation

• 3-5 years of Ministerial work experience

• Previous work in a collegiate setting and/or with college student-athletes preferred

Qualifications

• A person deeply grounded in faith nourished by personal and communal spiritual practice(s) who desires to serve in this ministerial role and support the unique needs of the modern Division I student-athlete, their coaches and staff

• Shares in an understanding of the tradition of the Catholic Church, Ignatian Spirituality, and the charism of Jesuit Education, as well as other non-Catholic traditions

• Possesses excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, and relationship-building skills within a diverse community

• Displays emotional and spiritual maturity and can engage in a ministry of hospitality and pastoral care through accompaniment of student-athletes, coaches and staff of diverse backgrounds and needs

• Demonstrates skill, comfort, and sensitivity to religious and cultural diversity and works to develop anti-racist, multi-faith, and cultural programming for participants

• Possesses vision and capacity for self-direction in assessing the needs of the division and available resources, is detail-orie