Director of Music and Liturgy

The Director of Music and Liturgy:

•       Has a primary mission to sustain a dynamic and inspiring worship community through the various liturgical ministries.

•       Supports the gospel message and inspires the congregation to participate and grow in faith, hope, and love, in Jesus Christ.

•       Reports directly to the Pastor in improving, regularly updating, and leading the music ministry program and worship life of the parish at St. Michael the Archangel Church.

•       Is a full-time salaried position for twelve months of the year.

•       Receives Stipends when the Director accompanies funerals and weddings, according to parish policies.

Candidate Qualifications and Requirements:

•       Is skilled in Music Essentials.

•       Has achieved a bachelor’s degree in music or suitable equivalent.

•       Demonstrates strong proficiency in keyboard skills (piano and electronic and large organ), singing, conducting choirs and instrumental groups.

•       Is a Practicing Catholic in good standing, reflecting the values of the Catholic church.

•       Has educational instruction in Liturgy, undergraduate degree in Liturgy, or equivalent.

•       Has specific knowledge of Catholic worship, liturgy, and musical church heritage.

•       Demonstrates knowledge of Catholic traditional and contemporary styles of music.

•       Demonstrated proficiency in recruiting, growing, and sustaining the Music Program

•       Demonstrated strong skills in personal and business organizational and planning.

•       Demonstrated proficiency in collaborating with peers, staff members, ministry members and volunteer members.

•       Demonstrates strong skills and is savvy in general leadership skills, leadership of volunteers, and other leadership of musicians.

•       Is skilled in working well with others.

•       Shows kindness and respect for others.

•       Is practiced in being accountable for specific work activities and results.

•       Demonstrates proficiency in Computer and other digital and electronic applications, such as (Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Publisher, and other musical software including Finale / Dorico and other equivalent or needed musical software.)

•       Has 3 to 5 years of work experience, (preferred).

Responsibilities:

•       Leads and accompanies music at Sunday masses, as scheduled and as needed.

•       Accompanies weekly school liturgy and other school related liturgies.

•       Meets with engaged couples and chooses music for the wedding liturgy.

•       Accompanies Wedding and Funeral events.

•       Manages effective and appropriate utilization of sound systems for liturgical events.

•       Coordinates coverage and participation of regular and special instrumentalists, choirs, cantors, and bell choir.

•       Recruits, members for School Liturgy Leaders’ choir and Parish Children’s choir and rehearses these groups as designated.

•       Recruits, trains, and rehearses the Adult Choir (weekly), student and adult cantors, and others as needed.

•       Plans music and readings for weekly school mass using the Children’s Lectionary or daily readings.

•       Plans and directs a Music Ministry Christmas Concert.

•       Plans and directs other Music Ministry Concerts, as may be required.

•       Reviews newer music and attends music forums when appropriate.

•       Maintains needed paper and digital music files.

•       Ensures appropriate and effective copyright licensing and usage reporting.

•       Maintains timesheets, and other needed documents for all paid accompanists and cantors, for funerals, weddings, concerts, and other musical events.

•       Plans, designs, and produces, Liturgical Worship Aids for masses and other liturgical events.

•       Collaborates with certain staff members to ensure properly maintained and tuned instruments.

•       Participates in bi-monthly staff meetings.

•       Completes various other related duties as required.

Liturgy Responsibilities:

•       Assists the St. Michael community in liturgical prayer by coordinating the efforts of the various liturgical ministries.

•       Meets with the pastor to schedule monthly Liturgy meeting dates.

•       Creates and distributes the agenda for monthly Liturgy meetings.

•       Facilitates monthly Liturgy meetings, recording and distributing meeting minutes.   

Work Hours:

•       Normal Church Office Hours: M-F 8:30am to 4:00pm; Saturday-Sunday: All or arranged Masses and scheduled events. Occasional events at certain times such as funerals or unique events are planned, and sufficient offsetting hours are utilized.

•       The Director attends and conducts rehearsals, meetings, and certain presentations at times other than “normal” office work hours, including planned Saturdays.

•       Additional and different hours are necessary at various times. The summer, rehearsal, and event schedules are flexible and to be determined with the Pastor periodically, as necessary.