Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy, Queen of Angels, Fort Wayne, Ind.
The Rev. Spenser St. Louis, Pastor
1500 W. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46808
queenofangelsfw.org

Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana invites applicants for a full-time position of Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy. We seek an excellent musician and committed Catholic to inspire and lead a parish of 500 families in participating in sacred music and in enhancing the spiritual and sacramental life of the parish. We believe that, in the words of the Second Vatican Council, “the musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy” (SC 112). Furthermore, we believe that beautiful sacred music has the power to inspire faith in Christ through an encounter with the living God. As Benedict XVI once stated, “Discourse with God goes beyond the boundaries of human speech,” giving sacred music a unique power to inspire worship of Almighty God. We are seeking someone with a deep relationship with the Lord, rooted in prayer, who will guide others into an encounter with Christ through this great treasure of inestimable value that is the Church’s treasury of sacred music.

Queen of Angels is a community with wonderful parishioners who willingly give of themselves in service to the Lord. We are blessed, also, with a school of 164 students, who are growing in their devotion to God, especially through the Sacred Liturgy and in their desire to serve our Lord at the altar. We have 40+ altar servers, ranging from grade 3-8 in addition to a selection of high school aged servers as well. There is a growing interest in the students to pursue Sacred Music as well, an interest that will need to be fostered.

Queen of Angels has a small adult choir that is full of passion, and have been learning the basics of chant and receiving it well. Thus, applicants with proficiency in teaching and conducting Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony will be given particular consideration, particularly those with experience gently introducing parishes to Gregorian chant.

The organ at Queen of Angels is a 3 manual Johannus Rembrandt 377 digital organ. This instrument has two speaker cabinets with facade pipes, which contain a total of twelve individual speakers, including two subwoofers. Designed to replicate real pipes, this organ was considered to be cutting edge when Queen of Angels bought it. It was installed in the late 2000s and is in good working condition. Candidates must be proficient in accompanying hymns and playing preludes and postludes from classical organ repertoire.

The music director will be a part of building the program in accord with the guidance from Holy Mother Church and her documents, fortifying and reinvigorating existing elements while expanding the current program, increasing parish education on the liturgy with great charity and patience, and collaborating with the pastor in any number of other areas that touch on music and the sacred liturgy. In addition to overseeing the musical planning, the director will play the organ for three weekend Masses, one to two weekly school Masses (during the academic year), funerals, weddings, and other services as needed. The director will also direct the regular adult choir at the principal Sunday Mass and recruit and train cantors for the other Sunday Masses.

The director will also be encouraged to help teach music to children in the parish elementary school, forming a school choir after school hours and introducing them to the Church’s rich treasury of sacred music. The school choir would then sing for all-school Mass weekly on Fridays.

The preferred candidate will: have a degree in sacred music or related field, have a thorough knowledge of the Church's musical patrimony, be self-motivated, be able to draw out the talents of the parish, and be an outstanding pastoral presence in the parish.

The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana has a vibrant musical tradition that Queen of Angels is hoping to strongly invest in. Local schools and a number of college campuses, not to mention our local orchestra, place a strong emphasis on the musical arts, making Fort Wayne a great place to work as a professional musician.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Starting date is negotiable. Please submit an application on the diocesan Career Website (https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=d1295&fs=1.0em).