June 11, 2009

St. Joseph Church Adrian, MI

Director of Music
Music Ministry
PT Employee

JOB DETAILS
Job Description for Director of Music

Purpose:

- To draw parishioners closer to Jesus Christ and embrace the life of His Body, the Church, by developing, planning and directing sacred music from the entire Christian musical patrimony including polyphony and Gregorian Chant for parish worship throughout the liturgical year.

Required Skills and Experience:

- Experience and some knowledge of Catholic liturgy and music. (Professing the Catholic faith is not a requirement for the position.)
- Good organ and keyboard skills.
- Experience in choir direction and conducting.
- Ability to foster the participation of the congregation in song.

Responsible to: Pastor

Major Responsibilities:

- Personal: Witness to the love, joy and life-giving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of the parish through sacred music.

- Instrumental: Play organ and keyboard for at least two weekend Masses (normally the 8:00 and 10:00 AM Masses on Sundays) at least 48 weekends a year. Be available for special sacramental celebrations as needed i.e. Confirmation, First Communion, Weddings, Funerals.

- Choral: Direct and accompany the parish Choir at the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass from September through May. Direct a rehearsal with the choir once a week as well as a rehearsal with the choir before the 10:00 AM Mass from September through May. Direct and accompany the parish Choir for major liturgies throughout the year, particularly Christmas and Holy Week. Be open to developing a Gregorian Chant Schola for the parish, or pursue training to develop this possibility.

- Cantors: Prepare cantors to sing at Mass through regular rehearsal.

- Liturgical: Support and promote the Second Vatican Council's vision for parish music including that "the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them" and recognizing that while "Gregorian Chant...being specially suited to the Roman liturgy...other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded." (Sacrosanctum Concilium #54, #116) Support and promote the Catholic liturgical norms laid out in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, particularly paragraphs 48, 57, 61, 86 and 87.

Notes:

- The Director of music will collaborate with the pastor, parish staff and Liturgy Committee to fulfill the major responsibilities as well as to develop and administer the annual music budget.

- The position is part-time which by diocesan regulations is defined as fewer than 20 hours per week.

- The Saturday 5:00 PM Mass and the Sunday 8:00 AM Mass are usually cantored. The 10:00 AM Mass on Sunday is usually the choir Mass. During the school year, one Sunday 10:00 AM Mass per month is usually covered by the Youth Ensemble.

- With the Pastor, the staff and the Liturgy Committee a schedule will be developed each fiscal year to determine the Director of Music's schedule of events for that year.

- The Director of Music works in conjunction with and is provided some assistance from the parish secretary.

- The Director of Music is not required to conduct choir rehearsals from June through August though instrumentalists and ensembles are encouraged through the summer months.

- The Director of Music is not required to play for all parish weddings and funerals, but would be offered first right of refusal for these events.

- The Director of Music is allowed 4 weeks of vacation each year. No more than two weeks may be taken between August 15 and June 15.

Send resumes or inquiries to: office@stjosephadrian.com