Administrative Assistant

Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Parish seeks an Administrative Assistant to support daily parish operations, reports to the Pastor, and coordinates with the Business Manager. The role handles reception, records, scheduling, and communications, ensuring compassionate service for parishioners and visitors.

The position requires a professional demeanor, bilingual English/Spanish preferred, and proficiency with ParishSoft, QuickBooks, and Microsoft 365. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration preferred.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook).
• QuickBooks and ParishSoft experience are a plus.
• Excellent organizational, time management, written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Availability to work Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friendly, approachable, professional demeanor; practicing Catholic.
• Discretion and maintains confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Answer incoming calls, respond to voicemails, and provide general parish and diocesan information, particularly regarding the sacraments.
• Monitor and respond to parish email inboxes; follow-up as needed.
• Manage the Pastor’s calendar and appointments in Microsoft Calendar.
• Assist parishioners, visitors, and community members with registrations, donor accounts, Mass intentions, sacraments and certificates; refer inquiries to staff.
• Maintain sacramental records and registers; enter data in ParishSoft and Flocknote.
• Coordinate wedding, funeral, and quinceañera files; assist with coordination of details with Pastor and families.
• Open/close parish office; monitor supplies and coordinate with Business Manager; handle key log.
• Provide administrative support to Pastor, Staff, and volunteers; collaborate with Ministry leaders.
• Assist Business Manager with donations in ParishSoft; attend quarterly finance meetings.
• Maintain organized parish files and assist with communications for weekly bulletin and e-newsletter.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Strong organizational skills

Excellent communication

Discretion and confidentiality

Professional demeanor

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration

Tools

Microsoft 365 (Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook)

QuickBooks

ParishSoft

Flocknote

Canva

Job description

Description

Parish Name: Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Parish

Location: 7669 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Supervised By: Pastor

Hours: Full Time, 40 hours per week

Salary: $25-$30 per hour, based on experience

Position Start Date: February 1, 2027 with training Training January 27-28, 2027

Position Summary
The Administrative Assistant plays a central role in the daily operations of the parish office, working in close collaboration with parish office staff and maintaining regular communication and correspondence with the Pastor and Business Manager. The position reports to the Pastor, providing administrative and clerical support to facilitate the efficient day-to-day operation of the parish.

As a welcoming and resourceful presence, the Administrative Assistant serves as a point of connection for parishioners, visitors, and all members of the parish community who come to the office seeking assistance, information, or support. The position requires a professional, approachable, and resourceful individual who demonstrates discretion, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to serving the parish community with warmth, respect, and care.

Primary Responsibilities

Parish Office Administration

• Answer incoming calls, respond to voicemails, and provide general parish and diocesan information, particularly regarding the sacraments.
• Monitor and respond promptly to the Administrative Assistant and general parish email inboxes, ensuring appropriate follow-up.
• Manage the Pastor’s calendar and appointments in Microsoft Calendar.
• Assist parishioners, visitors, and community members with registrations, donor accounts, Mass intentions, sacramental inquiries and certificates, church hours, events, and ministry resources; refer inquiries to the appropriate staff member as needed.
• Maintain sacramental records, including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, as well as the death register and all other registers.
• Enter and maintain parish data in ParishSoft and Flocknote.
• Maintain wedding, funeral, and quinceañera preparation files; coordinate details with the Pastor, sacristans, and families.
• Distribute meeting notices, attend staff meetings, and follow up on action items.
• Collaborate with the Stewardship Coordinator, Ministry leaders, and other Staff
• Monitor office supplies and communicate purchasing needs to the Business Manager; monitor and purchase sacristy supplies as needed.
• Maintain organized parish files, office supplies, and the key log; coordinate key distribution and return with authorized ministry and event leaders.
• Open the parish office at the start of the day and ensure it is secured at closing.

Requirements

• Strong sight-reading and musical abilities.
• Reliability and commitment to attend all required rehearsals and services.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Music Director and volunteer choir members.
• Familiarity with and respect for Catholic liturgical traditions.
• Compliance with diocesan safe environment requirements, including background check, fingerprinting, and required training (e.g., CMGConnect Safe Environment).

Facilities Scheduling and Coordination

• Manage facility-use requests and coordinate with staff, volunteers, and requestors to ensure established procedures are followed from initial request through event completion.
• Maintain approved reservations in scheduling software, ensuring schedules and contact information are accurately reflected on the parish website.
• Distribute event schedules and setup details to staff and coordinate arrangements with the appropriate staff members and requestors.

Staff and Volunteer Support

• Coordinate volunteer coverage for phones and reception during staff training, meetings, and other absences as needed.
• Provide back-up support to Communications staff in preparing and reviewing the weekly bulletin and e-newsletter.
• Prepare correspondence and provide administrative support to the Pastor and other staff members as requested.
• Work closely with the Stewardship Coordinator to stay informed of volunteer staffing needs for ministries, including sacristans, altar servers, lectors, and musicians.

Accounting and Financial Support

• Assist the Business Manager with recording donations in ParishSoft.
• Provide support to money counter volunteers with questions regarding parish collections and contributions.
• Attend quarterly finance meetings.
• Assist the Business Manager with additional duties as needed.

Requirements

• Friendly, approachable, and professional demeanor; enjoys working with people and is a practicing Catholic.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish preferred.
• Availability to work Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., based on current office hours.
• Ability to handle difficult situations, complaints, and unforeseen challenges with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Demonstrates discretion and maintains confidentiality.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration preferred.
• Marketing experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability and willingness to learn new software independently. QuickBooks and ParishSoft experience are a plus.
• Excellent organizational, time management, written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
• Competence in computer operations, keyboarding, and standard office equipment, including printers, copiers, and scanners.
• Familiarity with social media and digital tools, including Canva, Facebook, and Instagram.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to remain in an office at a computer workstation and access information from a computer and use a telephone. The employee is required to be mobile to, from, and within the office, as well as maneuver throughout the parish facility to attend meetings, briefings, and other work-related events. The employee may be required to conduct trips to, from, and within various city and county-wide locations to attend meetings or events. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. This position requires frequent evening and weekend work.

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.

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Mary, Star of the Sea is a Catholic Church, as part of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.