Receptionist & Communications Assistant

St. Michael’s Catholic Church

Fernandina Beach, FL

Receptionist & Communications Assistant

Reports to: Pastor

Part-Time 25 Hours

FLSA: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Job Summary:

The Office Receptionist and Communications Assistant is responsible for greeting, welcoming and assisting parishioners and guests to the parish campus in a professional and pastoral manner, updating the parish calendars, answering questions and providing information about various church topics, and coordinating, planning, and implementing communication and marketing efforts for St. Michael’s Catholic Church. This position takes the lead in strategizing, developing, innovating, creating, and publishing all parish communications in both print and digital platforms.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Receptionist

• Greet and welcome parishioners and guests to the parish campus in a professional and pastoral manner.
• Answer questions, direct inquiries, and notify staff members when they have a visitor.
• Answer calls in a professional and courteous manner, take messages, and route calls accordingly.
• Answer and forward emails received from the parish email and website to the corresponding staff member.
• Collaborate with the Administrative Assistant to coordinate the parish calendar and facilities calendar.
• Coordinate the ministry scheduler.
• Write thank you cards to parishioners for donations.

Communications Assistant

• Coordinate communication efforts using social media platforms.
• Assist in the planning of parish events.
• Work with parish ministries to create flyers, signage, and media to ensure timely updates of activities and upcoming events.
• Assist in providing communication between the parish, ministries, and staff.
• Ensure all communications reflect Catholic teaching, the parish mission, and the diocesan brand standards/policies.
• Attend Staff meetings as required.
• Create and maintain a rolling editorial/content calendar aligned to the liturgical year, parish priorities, and major feasts/events.
• Plan, schedule, and moderate parish social channels; create photo stories, and event recaps.
• Help edit the weekly bulletin.

• Weekly calls to parishioners to reach out and check in. Keep a record of calls made and notes taken. Immediately report all communication problems to the Parish Business Manager (declining socials, moderation issues, etc.).
• Maintain compliance: copyright/licensing for music/images/fonts used; photo/video consent; platform terms of service.
• Uphold privacy and safeguarding standards in all content (no minors’ names/faces without permission, no sensitive details).
• Keep track of all communication equipment and inform Sr Rose if any replacements are needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Associates Degree or equivalent.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft programs Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to manage a digital presence (website CMS, email platform, social scheduling).
• Proficiency with common design tools (e.g., Canva or Adobe).
• Basic photo and video capture and quick editing skills (phone + lightweight editors).
• Experience with Flocknote/Mailchimp (or similar), WordPress (or diocesan CMS), and Google Calendar.
• Tech literacy (file management, cloud drives, alt-text, PDFs, link tracking).
• Efficient communication skills to present information and respond to inquiries from parishioners and staff.
• Excellent writing and editing skills; clear Catholic vocabulary and sensitivity to the liturgical year.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills; deadline-driven with attention to detail.
• Practicing Catholic with knowledge of Catholic liturgy/devotions and parish life.
• Experience directing volunteers.
• Work collaboratively in a positive, friendly and professional manner with all employees.
• Availability for working some evenings, holy days, and weekends.
• Background check and VIRTUS/Safe Environment certification (or ability to obtain)

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, vendors, employees, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, when necessary, and ability to travel and drive one's own vehicle to various diocesan locations.