Job Title: Director of Music and Liturgy and Youth Minister
Reports To: Pastor
Hours: Full-Time (40h), including some evenings and weekends, funerals and Holy Days. Hours are flexible and time is included for practice in order to become proficient on instruments.
Position Overview:
To provide outstanding leadership and teambuilding in all areas of liturgical ministry, particularly sacred music – all with a view to leading disciples into deeper conversion and fellowship, while ensuring that the parishes’ liturgical celebrations are uplifting and deeply prayerful. The Director of Music will serve as the primary musician and choir director for weekend liturgies and also will oversee the music for funerals and weddings.
The first year will be dedicated to the music director duties. After becoming proficient with the music duties, time will be dedicated to some youth ministry in consultation with the Faith Formation team. It is estimated that apx 30 to 32 hrs per week will be devoted to music, with the remaining dedicated to youth ministry, although this will be flexible due to seasonal duties.
Benefits are offered according to diocesan and parish policies. Background check and safe environment training are required of all parish employees and volunteers.
Significant advantages to this position are:
Music Ministry: Build and maintain the leadership of the parish music ministry, in a way that fosters prayer, discipleship, fellowship, youth involvement, and new leadership within parish life, while respecting the liturgical norms of the Roman Catholic Church. Recruits, trains, and rehearses cantors, musicians and choir members, both adult and youth. An already established choir of about 12 to 15 members sings regularly for one weekend liturgy and special events, and is supplemented by experienced cantors at the other services. These singers are willing and eager to grow as a ministry. Flexible rehearsal scheduling depending on weekly needs and the liturgical season.
- Musical Accompaniment: Accompanist skills preferred. Foster the gifts and leadership of the other musicians / accompanists. Whether in person or delegating, ensure that well-trained accompanists are responsibly, prayerfully, and beautifully providing music at weekend Masses, Holy Days, weddings and funerals.
- Choir and Music Development: Teaches new music including Gregorian chant, hymnody, popular liturgical songs, and contemporary “praise and worship” selections, according to Church liturgical guidelines and norms
- Coordinate Substitute Musicians: Develop and coordinate substitute accompanists for liturgies when director cannot be present. There is currently a list of 5 accompanists to select from.
- Personal Growth: Continues own personal growth and learning in the area of sacred music and creates new ways to implement that learning within the parish
- Liturgical Scheduling: Selects music for all liturgical activities and accompanies with piano
- Funerals and Weddings: Coordinates music and normally acts as accompanist for funerals and weddings
- Sacred Worship Committee: Cooperation with parish leadership in order to provide Ensure regular and meaningful meetings of the Sacred Worship Committee
- Music File: Maintains organized and updated music files
- Other Duties: Performs any other duties as directed by the Pastor
Other Regular Meetings / Collaboration:
- Standing weekly meeting with Pastor (Direct Report)
- Provide monthly messaging to the parish in collaboration with the Communication Coordinator (Parish information, Bulletin announcements, etc.)
- Regular communication of pertinent information to the Faith Formation Directors
- Communicate regularly with all other staff, particularly those who overlap with liturgical ministries (Faith Formation Coordinators, etc.).
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Visible and living witness to Catholic discipleship, including fidelity to Church teaching and morals, respect for pastoral authority, and a commitment to Catholic unity.
- Skill at evangelization and pastoral accompaniment.
- Skill at leading others, delegating, and building teams.
- Proficiency with technology, including Google Workspace, preferred.
- High level of integrity, diplomacy, and initiative.
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple priorities, with minimal supervision.
- Ability to lift and carry twenty-pound parcels and/or boxes.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Professional confidentiality and discretion regarding all financial and personal information.
- Familiarity and conformity with the policies of the Diocese of La Crosse.
The St Elizabeth community and its leadership demonstrate strong enthusiasm and support for the music program and its future growth, realizing that along with homilies, it is a major influence for active participation in worship. We desire a director who has complementary endeavors such as collaborative performing, arranging, leadership in connection with other ministries such as lectors and religious education. Scheduled hours include Saturdays, Sundays, all Holy Days and other days as needed. Duties can be performed on a flexible schedule. An office/choir library is provided at the Parish Administrative Center. The Director of Music is supported by the Pastor and the Parish Leadership Team.