Description
Director of Music Ministry
A Vision for Music Ministry
The Director of Music Ministry is a professional who holds specialized credentials in music and who has a thorough understanding of Roman Catholic liturgy and the mission of the parish community, “Wherever you are in your faith journey, you are welcome here.” The parish mission flows from the Paulist Fathers’ Mission Direction Statement of reconciliation, evangelization, and ecumenism/inter-faith relations. In these missionary contexts, the Director of Music Ministry is responsible for the collaborative planning, coordination, and execution of music within the liturgical celebrations of the parish and public performances of sacred music.
“…Every liturgical celebration…is a sacred action surpassing all others” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #7). “Among the many signs and symbols used by the Church to celebrate its faith, music is of preeminent importance…Music should assist the assembled believers to express and share the gift of faith that is within them, and strengthen their interior commitment of faith” (Music in Catholic Worship, #23).
The Director of Music reports directly to the Pastor.
Work schedule includes Saturdays and Sundays and all major Catholic holy days and may include major public holidays.
Ministry of Administration
The Director of Music Ministry:
Responsibilities and Tasks
Collaborates with the Pastor, under his supervision, and with other members of the pastoral and school staff, integrating his or her own area of responsibility with the Paulist and Parish missions.
Directs the parish music program, selects and plans music in cooperation with the Pastor, Paulist Staff, and Parish Liturgy Council for use in parish liturgies.
Provides leadership in areas related to liturgical music, e.g., selects and develops participation aids for the congregation, selects and maintains musical instruments, coordinates services and schedules of parish musicians, assures copyright permission, etc.
Prepares and manages the budget for the parish music program in collaboration with the Pastor, Parish Administrator, and Finance Council.
Collaborates with other staff members, e.g., Principal, DRE, Youth Minister, etc., to coordinate and ensure appropriate music for all parish sacramental celebrations, and provides them with consultation and needed assistance.
Responsible for coordinating and staffing all other liturgies with competent musicians.
Participates in an annual 5-day spiritual retreat.
Ministry of Worship
The Director of Music Ministry:
1) Provides music and musicians for all Sunday and other major celebrations, including Sacramental services (Confirmation, First Communion, Reconciliation, Ordination, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage),Holy Week, Christmas, parish/Paulist feast days, holy days of obligation, and weddings and funerals. Current Sunday mass schedule includes a Vigil Mass on Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday masses at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 5:00 PM. Schedule subject to change.
Serves as choir director for Schola Cantorum choir which performs on Sundays at 11:30 AM and on feast days and for Sunday, 7:30 AM mass choir.
Develops a children’s choir from the parish school for school liturgies and major feast days.
Builds repertoire and encourages participation of parish community in singing at various liturgies.
Recruits, trains, develops and supervises cantors for masses.
Acts as consultant to parishioners for planning sacramental liturgies, e.g., weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc.
Ministry of Education
The Director of Music Ministry:
invites, motivates, and supervises all parish ministers of music (whether volunteer, under stipend, or salaried).
provides liturgical formation, music education, and practical preparation for liturgical celebration for cantors/leaders of song, choral, and instrumental groups.
serves as a resource consultant for parish concerns regarding music, helping to educate staff, ministers of music, and congregation in developing their potentials to understand the role of music in worship and to celebrate liturgies of musical quality.
keeps abreast of current developments in liturgy and in music, and directs music ministers to available training workshops, and formational opportunities.
Ministry of Pastoral Services
The Director of Music Ministry is:
Present at principal parish events, keeping attuned to the living faith and real concerns of parishioners.
Responsible to attend the following meetings: parish staff and liturgy council meetings and other parish meetings as necessary, e.g., Finance Council.
Cooperates with the pastoral staff, liturgy council, and choir members in recruiting needed musicians, and attempts to involve newcomers and a broad spectrum of parishioners.
Works to foster unity among all parish musicians, and to create a spirit of harmony with the celebrants and other liturgical ministers.
Promotes good public relations both within and beyond the parish, and is involved in ecumenical, cluster, Deanery, and Archdiocesan networks of professional peers.
Builds relationships with university departments of music at UCLA, USC, the Coburn School to promote the performance of classical music for parishioners and the general public.
Develops organ and other instrumental recitals.
Requirements
Competencies and Skills
In addition to the competencies and skills needed by all pastoral ministers, the Director of Music:
• is knowledgeable of and comfortable with Church music literature in all forms and styles for the congregation, choirs (adult, teen, and children), vocalists, and instrumentalists.
• is proficient in liturgical principles.
• possesses a thorough understanding of the musical, liturgical, and pastoral judgments which must be made in selecting music for liturgy.
• is proficient in at least one performance area (e.g., keyboard, choral, voice).
• spends 4 – 5 hours per week in instrumental practice time.
Formation, Training, and Criteria for Readiness
In addition to the training for all pastoral ministers, the Director of Music possesses minimally, a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. The equivalent of a Master’s Degree in music and liturgy, is preferred.
He or she also maintains membership in the AGO and/or the National Pastoral Musicians Conference and develops personal and professional skills by taking courses and/or participating in non-degree workshops and conferences that are generally related to their work, the mission of pastoral liturgy, and the future direction of music in the church.
Wage Range
The rate of pay offered to the selected candidate is based on internal pay policy and budget. New hires are commonly paid at the minimum of the wage range or within the lower part of the range. We consider a number of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience, training and other department needs.
Information/Application Contact
St Paul the Apostle Catholic Community (Los Angeles)
10750 Ohio Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
gmartinez@sp-apostle.org