Position Type:
Pastoral Center/Parish Vitality & Mission

Date Posted:
8/11/2021

Position Summary

The Director of Music is responsible for enabling parishioners to encounter Jesus Christ through the music within the liturgical celebrations and worship experiences of the parish. The director is tasked with ensuring that the liturgical music assists the assembled believers to express the gift of faith that is within them and to bring a spirit of unity through music into the celebration. The director is responsible for development, implementation, evaluation and ongoing improvement of the parish music initiatives. The director must demonstrate strong leadership skills necessary to identify, develop and retain strong teams of volunteer leaders critical to the success of parish ministry.

Responsibilities:
• Support the annual planning for liturgical seasons, sacramental celebrations, and special liturgies in collaboration with the staff members and parish liturgy committee
• Coordinate the parish musicians, choirs and cantors to ensure all liturgies are scheduled, well planned, and vibrant
• Provide training and formation for music ministers and musicians
• Collaborate with Director of Liturgy, Prayer & Worship in recruiting volunteers, and strive to involve newcomers and a broad spectrum of parishioners
• Support the creation of worship aids that are engaging, accessible, and functional to enable all attendees to fully participate in the liturgies and celebrations
• Maintain equipment and resources for music ministry such as musical instruments, sound equipment, copyrighted material, etc.
• Provide guidance on parish opportunities or concerns regarding music, and help to educate staff, ministers of music, and the congregation in the role of music in vibrant worship
• Stay informed of current developments in liturgy and in music as well as parish demographics to provide liturgical experiences that are welcoming and inclusive
• Prepare and coordinate the Liturgy, Prayer and Worship budget in collaboration with the Pastor, Director of Operations and other relevant members of the pastoral staff (e.g., Director of Liturgy)
• Ensure that ministry complies with the guidelines for Protecting God's Children for those who minister with and to children in accordance with the Archdiocese of Chicago policies
• Develop and implement tools for improving the quality and vibrancy of prayer and worship in the parish (e.g., welcoming, word, witness and music as benchmarks)

Requirements:
• Previous experience participating in parish music ministry
• Experience leading congregational song, choral conducting, and at least one other musical specialization (organ, piano, guitar, voice)
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with clergy, staff, parish leaders and volunteers
• Practicing Catholic with understanding and support for Catholic Church teaching, mission, and values
• Knowledgeable and comfortable with Church music literature in all forms and styles for the congregation, choirs, vocalists, and instrumentalists
• Thorough understanding of the musical, liturgical, and pastoral judgments which must be made in selecting music for liturgy; ability to communicate and prioritize the role of music in liturgical worship
• Comprehensive vision and understanding of evangelization
• Ability to form and nurture a community of missionary disciples through encounter, accompaniment and sending forth
• Mature discipleship evidenced in ability to comfortably witness to one's own faith journey
• Developed skills in leadership and management; strong commitment to collaboration and teamwork
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Familiarity with technology used for communicating and presenting

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's Degree in Liturgy, Sacred Music, Pastoral Studies, or equivalent
• Previous experience leading parish music ministry; ability to plan and evaluate liturgical celebrations in fidelity to the official liturgical books and Catholic liturgical theology
• Priests, Deacons, Religious, and Lay Ecclesial Ministers are preferred for this position or applicant is open to ongoing formation / education as needed
• Language skills as needed (depending on needs of community)
• Availability to work weekends as needed.

Mental and Physical Essential Job Functions:
• Seeing/Hearing: 50-100%
• Comprehension: 50-100%
• Walking/Standing: 0-24%
• Lifting Weight (up to 20 lbs): 0-24%
• Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling: 0-24%
• Hand/Finger Dexterity: 0-24%
• Speaking: 50-100%