Director of Music and Liturgy

Job Purpose

The Director of Music and Liturgy is a critical position that requires both vision and implementation while building on the strong foundation of music and liturgy at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School.  In alignment with the vision of the pastor, the purpose of this job is to direct all aspects of music and liturgy in line with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and Church teaching. This requires the capacity to select and play both traditional and contemporary styles of music that serve the pastoral needs of the parish as well as the requirements of the Catholic Mass.  Programming must help facilitate an engaging experience of sacred worship in a spirit of noble simplicity.  The goal of this position is to foster a community of active discipleship in which the Gospel message is known, loved and lived through all church and school liturgical celebrations.

Our parish uses the Source and Summit Missals, in addition to a supplemental music book that was created within the parish containing sixty additional pieces of music in a more eclectic style. The parish aims to program music from the best of our beautiful Catholic Tradition, as well as the best of current liturgical music compositions. The SATB choir is familiar with a large repertoire of standard hymnody, chants from Source & Summit, and makes use of a generous and varied choral library.  There is currently a Women's Schola as well, which focuses more on chant, as well as choral works by the Benedictines of Mary and similar compositions.  A praise and worship ensemble provides music for quarterly parish-wide Eucharistic Adoration events. A children's choir sings during the Christmas and Easter seasons. Further development of the music program in consultation with the pastor will be expected.

Statement on Working for the Catholic Church:  Employment in and by the Catholic Church is substantially different from secular employment. Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with and supportive of the mission and purpose of the Church. Their behavior must not violate the faith, morals or laws of the Church or the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, nor can it embarrass the Church or give rise to scandal. It is required that this employee be a Catholic.

Responsibilities

• Select all music to complement each week’s Scriptures and Propers in consultation with the pastor
• Direct all choirs and music ensembles; accompany (organ and piano) at weekend Masses, Holy Days of Obligation, select Solemnities and Feasts
• Create accompanist, choir, musician and cantor schedules for rehearsals and liturgies
• Direct and lead all choir and musician rehearsals
• Accompany at school liturgies and funerals
• Work with the engaged couples and wedding coordinator to plan the music for wedding liturgies and arrange for musicians/vocalists
• Oversee the training, scheduling, and leadership of music ministers
• Maintain and update music resources including library of octavos and copyright permissions and reporting (OneLicense/CCLI)
• Maintain church and school auditorium sound systems,
• Select and maintain instruments, primarily piano and organ
• Work collaboratively with all church and school staff in planning and executing parish and school liturgies
• Design and publish seasonal liturgy guides with appropriate copyright citation
• Prepare cantor script for every parish liturgy
• Direct liturgical ministries (lectors, sacristans, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers and servers (training and communications).
• Using appropriate resources (e.g., ORDO), ensure scriptural selections and general intercessions are in place for all liturgies
• Maintain and order sacristy supplies: not limited to, but including hosts, wine, candles, and liturgical books; supervise volunteers for maintaining/cleaning of liturgical linens, vestments, etc.
• Participate in staff meetings and retreats
• Continue professional education and attend appropriate workshops and other events offered by the archdiocese as directed by the pastor
• Manage and operate within the liturgy budget
• Other duties as assigned

• A practicing Catholic who conducts themselves in a manner that fosters love of God and others through our Catholic faith and lives in a manner that supports Church teachings
• B.A. in music or equivalent; Master’s degree is preferred
• Prior experience as a Director of Music and good working knowledge of liturgy
• Excellent knowledge and proficiency in piano and organ
• Comfortable working collaboratively in a Catholic school environment to foster a complimentary liturgical vision across church and school liturgies; comfortable working with children and youth
• Ability to pass a criminal background check and successfully complete Essential 3 and credit check
• Knowledge of Catholic musical and liturgical teachings
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong relational and empowering skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities

In addition to a cover letter and resume, please also prepare the music selections for two liturgies:

• The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• The 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Please submit these materials to lmoriarty@stjohns-savage.org