POSITION: Director of Sacred Music
Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church
Omaha, Nebraska
(402) 341-4560 ext. 104
www.stpeterchurch.net

Saint Peter Church is currently seeking a qualified candidate for the Director of Sacred Music. Our present Director will be leaving June 27th to assist in founding a L’arche community in Iowa. The candidate first and foremost should be a practicing Catholic, have strong proficiency in organ, conducting, and singing, have knowledge and understanding of the Church’s documents on sacred music (from Tra le Sollecitudini until the present day), be willing to foster and cultivate true sacred music, especially Gregorian chant, and possess a strong desire to work with the pastor to continue the parish’s mission of making the Mass beautiful.

□ Job Type: Full-time
□ Minimum Education: BA/BM
□ Minimum Experience: 4-5 years
□ Salary: Negotiable
□ Benefits: Health insurance; paid vacation; additional stipends from parish weddings, quinceañeras, and funerals
□ Number of weekly Masses: 4
□ Number of weekly Rehearsals: 3
□ Ensembles: Adult choir (SATB), Spanish choir (S), Pope Benedict XVI Teen Choir (SSAA), Pope Pius X Choristers (SSA), Voces Angelorum (S)

St. Peter Catholic Church is dedicated to the restoration of the sacred, the active promotion of the Gospel, and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. A home to both English and Spanish-speaking peoples, the church building is located on the outskirts of Omaha's downtown. St. Peter parishioners come from all over Omaha and beyond because they are attracted to the parish’s beautiful liturgies, uncompromising proclamation of the Gospel, and friendly community. The parish provides catechesis for every age and much needed relief to the poor and hungry; it is also a home for recent immigrants.

The parishioners of St. Peter Catholic Church believe the renewal of the Church will come primarily through the worthy and obedient celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, §11). With sung Masses, four choirs specializing in chant, Mass parts in Latin, altar boys, an annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession, Eucharistic Exposition, daily chanted Vespers, occasional Masses ad orientem, and Holy Communion at the altar rail, St. Peter Catholic Church strives to celebrate the ordinary rite of the Mass within the centuries of rich, Catholic tradition.

In January of 2006 a new position for a full-time Director of Sacred Music was established at the parish and under his care a choir school was begun. There are currently 47 students enrolled in the Schola Cantorum and spread across three choirs: Pope Benedict XVI Teen choir (SSAA), Pope Pius X Choristers (SSA), and the Voces Angelorum (S). Their task is to learn traditional hymnody, sacred polyphony in Latin and English, and Gregorian chant in nueme notation. Areas of melodic and rhythmic sight-singing and general music theory are also taught to them on weekly basis.

While the Schola Cantorum is an important mission of the parish to help form and teach the younger generation, the adult choir remains the core of the program. The music library has been increased and a core repertoire of sacred choral music has been established. The hymnal the parish uses is Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles by Dr. Theodore Marier.

Saint Peter also has a large Hispanic congregation that currently has a small, but devoted choir. The organ is used to accompany Masses in Spanish every Sunday and on Solemnities and the best hymns are used from Unidos en Cristo and Flor y Canto.

Please send cover letter and resume no later than April 15th, 2011 to:

Fr. Damien Cook
Saint Peter Church
709 S. 28th St.
Omaha, NE 68105

or via email: fr_cook@yahoo.com


Your Servant in Christ,
Fr. Damien Cook
Pastor