Community Engagement Director

MANRESA JESUIT RETREAT HOUSE Director of Community Engagement – Part Time – 20 hours About Manresa At Manresa, we believe sacred encounters can happen when people step away from the noise and busyness of everyday life. we believe silence is God’s love language, creating space to listen, reflect, discern, and encounter Christ in a deeper way.

Our invitation is simple: Come & See.

Position Summary

The Director of Engagement builds relationships between Manresa Jesuit Retreat House and the people, parishes, churches, organizations, and communities we are called to serve. The Director’s responsibility is to welcome new people to Come & See, including those unfamiliar with Manresa, Catholics disconnected from the Church, people of other denominations, younger generations, underserved communities, and those seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Grounded in Ignatian Spirituality, the Director helps people discover Manresa as a place of sacred encounter—a place to step away from the noise of everyday life. Essential Responsibilities & Duties Increase awareness of Manresa and its mission throughout Southeast Michigan and beyond by identifying opportunities for outreach and engagement.

Represent Manresa in the community through participation in parish gatherings, community events, conferences, and other public activities. Develop and strengthen relationships with departments, ministries, schools, and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit. Expand ecumenical and Christian outreach by building relationships with other denominations and inviting them to experience Manresa's hospitality, prayerful environment, and spiritual offerings.

Engage new and underrepresented communities by identifying opportunities to introduce individuals from diverse backgrounds to Manresa's mission and programs. Recruit and cultivate Manresa Ambassadors, including retreat captains, alumni, volunteers, donors, and parish leaders, who actively introduce others to Manresa. Strengthen existing relationships with retreatants and supporters to encourage continued participation, volunteerism, and invitations to others.

Collaborate with Manresa's internal teams to align outreach initiatives with organizational priorities and support implementation of the 2026 Apostolic Plan. Measure outreach effectiveness by establishing practical goals and tracking engagement activities, new relationships, and participation growth. Core Skills & Competencies Understanding of Ignatian Spirituality and appreciation for its foundations, principles, and application to Manresa's mission.

Initiative & Creativity to proactively identify and pursue new opportunities to introduce individuals and communities to Manresa. Cultural Awareness to build respectful relationships with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, generational, and religious backgrounds. Relationship Building, Empathy & Hospitality to cultivate authentic, lasting relationships with community and ministry leaders, organizations, schools, churches, retreatants, and potential partners while ensuring everyone feels welcomed, valued, and invited.

Qualifications

Excellent Communication Skills with strong interpersonal, verbal, written, and relationship-building abilities. Relevant Professional Experience in community engagement, ministry, outreach, communications, nonprofit organizations, hospitality, or related fields preferred. Public Speaking & Representation with the confidence and ability to represent Manresa professionally at community gatherings, parish events, and other public activities.

Independence & Collaboration with the ability to work independently while building productive relationships with Manresa staff, volunteers, and community partners. Scheduling Flexibility and willingness to participate in occasional evening and weekend community, parish, and Manresa events. Catholic & Ecumenical Understanding with familiarity with the Catholic Church and Archdiocese of Detroit is essential, along with a welcoming approach to other Christian denominations and individuals outside traditional church communities.

How to Apply Please submit a resume, cover letter, and two examples of writing, design, digital, or communications work to Michael Rhadigan at [email protected]. Manresa Jesuit Retreat House is an equal opportunity employer.