Director of Sacred Music/Organist Twin Cities, Minnesota

It is in a very bittersweet way that I wish to make you informed of an absolutely wonderful Director of Sacred Music/Organist position at Holy Family Catholic Church here in suburban Minneapolis. Fr. Mark Moriarty, the pastor, has allowed me to post this position on his behalf. I have held this position for the past three years and have absolutely loved it. A car accident a number of years ago has left me unable to handle cold weather very well and so we will be moving south. Please read on for a fuller job description and a PDF.

This parish's music program is top-notch. The person who holds this position would be responsible for playing three Masses a weekend (Ordinary Form), with a choir at two of them. There is a professional quartet that sings both, with the Parish Choir joining in one of them. Gregorian Chant Propers (Introit, Offertory, and Communion) adorn the High Mass (Father is open to singing the Gradual on occasion). We pick the Responsorial Psalms from the CCWatershed website. The choir has experience singing the choral music of Palestrina, Byrd, Victoria, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Gounod, Saint-Saens, Rheinberger, Faure, Stanford, Vaughan Williams, etc... The choir usually sings the Faure or Victoria a'6 Requiem every All Souls Day and performs Handel's Messiah at a sacred concert every Advent. The choir has experience singing hymnody with descants as well. A Youth Choir rehearses about three times a month and sings with the Parish Choir and Quartet (Schola) at a Mass every 4-6 weeks.

Beyond the music, the parish and school are DEVOUT! The people sing, particularly at the 9:00 AM High Mass! The three Mass Ordinaries in use right now are the Missa de Angelis (VIII), Adam Bartlett's Mass Setting No. II, and the ICEL Latin chant setting.

The person should ideally be somebody who loves people, because they will want to love you! I have experienced nothing but graciousness and kindness, from the families, the older people who will be like instant grandparents to you! :), and the young people. There is a school - Holy Family Academy, who comes to daily Mass M-F. The DSM should expect to play any 8:00 AM Mass that is a Feast Day (has a Gloria), as well as 1st Fridays and 1st Saturdays. (There is a music teacher in the school, so you'd be responsible for meeting with her and helping prepare for those Masses, which doesn't require much effort on your part).

The pastor is awesome! He has been here a year, coming from a 12-year stint at Saint Agnes, well-known for their music. He is a joy to work with and, God-willing, will be here a long time!

This parish is a perfect blend of doing solemn, noble music in a joyful, pastoral spirit, a great fusion of living out the truth with charity and warmth.

Please DM me if you have any questions. I will sincerely miss these folks. It's hard to imagine a better situation!

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From the attached PDF:
POSITION TITLE: Director of Sacred Music DATE: May 13, 2025
THIS POSITION IS: FLSA Exempt- Learned professional
REPORTS TO: Pastor
DIRECT REPORTS: Paid Musicians and Cantors
PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION TO: Musicians, Cantors, Bulletin Coordinator
RECEIVES WORK DIRECTION FROM: Pastor
THIS POSITION IS: Full time with benefits, additional time as needed to complete responsibilities.
SALARY RANGE: $70,000 - $90,000
PURPOSE OF POSITION: Collaborate with the Pastor to provide beautiful, sacred music in service of Divine
worship, particularly the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Director of Sacred Music will plan, conduct, and serve
as organist at assigned weekend Masses, Weddings, Funerals, special Sacramental events and a few Sacred
Concerts. Provide professional instruction and direction to musicians and Choral groups, including youth choir.
Perform duties and procedures in an effective manner, while working cooperatively with other staff members to
provide for an efficient, organized, safe and effective environment in keeping with the mission of Holy Family
Catholic Church

Musical Responsibilities:
* As the Organist and Choir Director, directs all aspects of the parish sacred music program in support of the
Pastor in his role as the principle Liturgist of the parish
* Organist: Responsible as the primary organ accompanist at Holy Mass for Saturday evening, Sunday
morning, Holy Day of Obligation, select Solemnities and Feasts, Funerals, Weddings (separate stipend
provided for weddings), Ash Wednesday, 1st Friday 8am Mass, 1st Saturday 8am Mass and other liturgical
events
* Help organize, plan, and prepare for all special liturgies: Para-liturgies (processions, blessings, etc.); Day of
Mercy confession event
* Choir Director: Conduct (often from the organ) Schola Cantorum (Professional Quartet), Adult Parish Choir
and Youth Choir
* Provide direction, supervision, on-going support, timely communications and music needs as addressed for
these choral groups
* Direct and lead weekly rehearsals of choirs
* Oversee music selection in consultation with the Pastor
* Select Graduals/Responsorial Psalms and Gospel Acclamations from parish Hymnal/Missal/free online
sources
* Recruit members of various choirs and professional musicians
* Provide supervision to musicians
* Recruit, train, schedule and provide on-going formation for other accompanists and instrumentalists for
Sundays, Holy Days and other liturgical events as needed
* etc...

Qualifications:
• Educational requirements: Bachelors in Music Education or similar discipline or equivalent experience
• Thorough knowledge of liturgical documents regarding music
• Read and interpret Solfege
• Read and interpret Chant notation
• Strong skills in voice, music education, organ accompaniment, and choral conducting
• Computer skills and organizational skills to coordinate music ministers and maintain music library
• Comfortable working with children and youth
• etc...

Application Instructions
Please send Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae or Resume to Fr. Mark Moriarty at frm@hfcmn.org