Director of Music and Adult Faith Formation (Combined Position)

Holy Family is seeking a new Director of Music and Adult Faith Formation. We are looking for a dynamic individual who will combine excellent musical skills with an ability to form adults in the Catholic Faith. The position is full-time and requires both an ability to manage your own schedule and also to be flexible and adaptable in fulfilling the functions of the position. Our current Director is entering studies for the priesthood in the Fall.


The "Palace City" of Mitchell is a city of 15,000 people located an hour West of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Situated on Lake Mitchell, in Davison County, Mitchell provides all the necessary features for an enjoyable life. There are many restaurants and bars, shops, the Luxury 5 cinema complex, sporting and recreational facilities, good schools, hospital and medical facilities, banks, tourist attractions and local services. Mitchell has a friendly local community and many organized events during the year. There is also considerable musical potential in the town with bands and choirs operating in the schools and wider community.

Start Date: June 1, 2017

Competitive Salary and Benefits

Job Description

General Ability Requirements

• Demonstrate enthusiasm and capability to work as a member of a team
• Demonstrate professionalism, courtesy and gentleness at all times
• Excellent communication and teaching/pedagogical ability
• Strong empathy with work colleagues and volunteers
• Excellent information technology skills and abilities
• Patience in dealing with complaints and the ability to consider constructive criticism
• A good manner and well-attuned pastoral sensitivity on the phone
• A well-developed prayer life and commitment to the Catholic Faith
• Be able to use initiative where required

Music

• Plan all music for Sunday Masses and other Liturgies in conformity with Church documents
• Play the organ and sing as the cantor (if required) for Sunday Masses (Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m., Sunday Morning Masses: 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.)
• Develp a team of cantors to sing at Masses
• Play for 8:00 a.m. weekday Masses on Solemnities and Feasts and other Liturgies in the Parish as required by the Pastor
• Play for the weekly JPII School Mass (currently 9:00 a.m. Wednesday mornings), and conduct a morning whole school music rehearsal (currently 8:30 a.m. Friday mornings) in preparation for the following week’s Mass
• Develop and rehearse choirs for Masses and Liturgies
• Announce hymns during Masses and Liturgies and actively foster the participation of the Faithful in the musical program
• Upload and update the Sunday Mass Music Plan on the Parish website
• Arrange music for instrumentalists
• Develop good working relationships with all volunteers and facilitate their participation in the music program
• Be available as the principal musician for Weddings and Funerals as required
• Maintain ongoing professional development and practice
• Assist with scheduling questions, as required

Adult Faith Formation

In 2017/18, Mitchell’s two Catholic Parishes, Holy Family and Holy Spirit, are implementing the Ham Lake Family Formation program; a model of supporting parents in their role as primary educators of their children. This is an exciting program and fulfills a need for parents to become more active in their responsibilities in fostering the faith life of their children. The Director of Music and Adult Faith Formation has a role in this program in assisting parents with this task, as well as assisting all Holy Family parishioners in developing their Faith lives. The tasks of the Director of Adult Faith Formation include:

• Prepare and run the monthly parent sessions in the Family Formation program
• Prepare and run the monthly catechist training sessions in the Family Formation program
• Work with the Director of K-6 Faith Formation and the Director of 7-12 Faith Formation in implementing and shaping the direction of Faith Formation in the Parish
• Attend and contribute the weekly Faith Formation staff meeting and report to the monthly meeting with the Pastors
• Assist with Faith Formation needs as required at Holy Family
• Develop weekly Bible Study Groups or Faith-Based Study Groups
• Co-ordinate and teach the parish RCIA program
• Maintaining communication and appropriate liaison with the relevant offices and personnel of Diocese of Sioux Falls, in particular with The Office of Discipleship and Evangelization and the Office of the Liturgy
• Report and present to the Parish Council any new initiatives or major developments at the request of the Pastor
• Ensure that the Faithful have access to materials that help them develop their Catholic Faith and practice
• Write a monthly column in the Pew Bulletin of Holy Family Parish of a catechetical nature – this may be from the perspective of either the Liturgy or the Catholic Faith in general, preferably linking both
• Maintain knowledge and continuing self-education in the Catholic Faith
• Help foster the devotional life of the Faithful at Holy Family

Minimum Educational Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree with a Music Major, preferably in organ, or with sacred music. Further studies in Catholic Theology would be highly regarded. An ability commensurate with this standard would not preclude employment in exceptional cases.

Experience Requirements

Experience in working in a Catholic Parish, as a musician or catechist, would be highly regarded, as would teaching experience. Experience in leading and developing volunteers would be highly desirable.

Musical Director Requirements

• A strong familiarity with and intention to implement the official teaching and documents of the Catholic Church in regard
to Music in the Sacred Liturgy; with specific reference to the following documents as normative: 
◦ Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963), 
◦ Musicam Sacram (1967), 
◦ The General Instruction of the Roman Missal including adaptations for Dioceses of the USA (2002), 
◦ Tra Le Sollecitudini (1903), 
◦ The Chirograph of John Paul II on the Centenary of Tra Le Sollecitudini (2003), 
◦ USCCB Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (2007)
• Sound knowledge of Music Theory and the ability to explain it as necessary to volunteers
• The ability to accompany vocal music on the pipe organ, including use of the pedals
• A good and serviceable singing voice, capable of leading the congregation in the absence of a cantor
• An appreciation for both traditional and contemporary music and the ability to select repertoire appropriate to the Sacred Liturgy in conformity with the Church’s norms, with a flexible approach for the capabilities of the Faithful
• The ability to choose and use simple Psalm tones for the Responsorial Psalm using only a text, when necessary
• A strong working knowledge with Gregorian Chant, including its notation and its adaptation into the vernacular
• The ability to improvise music to cover liturgical action where appropriate and to play instrumental recessionals and voluntaries as demanded by the degree of celebration

Current Musical Resources

Ignatius Pew Missal (Ignatius Press 2016-2017)
Journey Songs (OCP, 2003)
The Proper of the Mass: Entrance, Offertory and Communion Antiphons for Sundays and Solemnities (Samuel F. Weber O.S.B., Ignatius Press, 2014)
Missa Simplex (Michael O’Connor O.P. and Richard Proulx, WLP, 2011)
The Church Anthem Book (Oxford University Press 1933)
The St. Gregory Hymnal (St. Gregory Guild, 1922)

Contact Fr. Shane Stevens, Pastor
father.stevens@gmail.com
605-996-3639
Holy Family Catholic Church
222 N Kimball St
Mitchell, SD 57301