Position filled (June 8, 2023)

Director of Music and Liturgy
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and School
10114 Highway 6
Hitchcock, TX 77563


Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (OLOL) in Hitchcock, Texas is seeking a Director of Music and Liturgy. OLOL is a small rural parish in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston thirty-five minutes south of downtown Houston with a small K-8 school. The Director of Music and liturgy reports directly to the pastor. This person must have a well-developed knowledge of Roman Catholic sacred music and liturgy in accord with Sacrosanctum concilium as well as accent in full to the Catholic faith in accord with the Apostolic Creed and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This a successful candidate will have a deep understanding of sacred music history of the Church and exercise a hermeneutic of continuity when discerning the liturgical fitness of both long standing and newly composed music. The music director at our parish must also skillfully discern music selections that a choir and congregation of older aged members will sound and feel successful singing. This person must be a proficient keyboard accompanist and choral director for both rehearsal and Mass. We are looking for a music director with a heart of a teacher to enrich our congregation’s knowledge of liturgy and the Church’s musical tradition. The Music and Liturgy director must work with the pastor to prepare all clergy and laity assisting in the work of the liturgy (Mass and Benediction) as well as other devotional services (processions, Way of the Cross, etc). They must be well versed with liturgical resources, at a minimum, the GIRM, Sacrosanctum concilium, and Musicam Sacram.



Qualifications/Requirements:

- Knowledge of the Catholic liturgy beginning with Sacrasanctum Concilium
- Knowledge of the breadth and continuity of the Catholic Sacred Music tradition
-Music degree or certification, and currently practicing fine musicianship
- Strong proficiency in piano/keyboard accompaniment and choral rehearsing and conducting
- Enthusiasm to participate in on-going study of Liturgy and Sacred Music and changes in liturgy. (Many available in the
Houston area)
- Fluency in Microsoft Office, a music notation program such as Finale or Sebelius
- Exemplary communication/people skills (working well with adults and children alike, as well as high school students).
- This individual must be a practicing Catholic



Duties and Responsibilities

-Prepare and execute music for three Sunday Masses, some weekday Masses, Funerals, Weddings, as well as other
liturgical and devotional services at OLOL such as Benediction and Marian and Eucharistic processions
-Prepare the congregation for new music and/or make other announcements as needed prior to Mass.
-Conduct weekly choir rehearsal. Extra rehearsals may be necessary for high seasons.
-Recruit, train, and retain choir members, cantors, and psalmist.
-Coordinate, vet, and arrange for additional professional competent musicians when needed (there are a few in the parish)
-Assist in preparation of parish wedding and funerals by meeting with individuals/families to plan music and play for
liturgical service.
-Works in collaboration Our Lady of Lourdes School Music Teacher.
-Communicate with and schedule all lay ministers for all obligatory Masses
-Organize, coordinate, provide education, and attend the Parish Liturgical Committee meetings.
-Prepare an annual calendar of liturgical services in concert with other parish staff and submit for the approval of the
pastor.
-Attend and participate in monthly general parish staff meetings.
-Demonstrates concern for parishioner input.
-Prepare an annual music and liturgy budget for submission to the Parish Finance Council.


If you are interested in this position please contact Sarah Ori by email: sarah.e.ori@gmail.com