Job Description: Director of Sacred Music Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Pastor: Fr. Joseph T. Yokum Phone: 615-875-3322 Reports to: Pastor
FLSA Status: Exempt / Full-Time
Position Summary The Director of Sacred Music oversees, develops, and leads the music ministry of the parish in accordance with the teachings and liturgical norms of the Roman Catholic Church. This leader supports full, conscious, and active participation in the Sacred Liturgy through reverent, beautiful, and theologically grounded sacred music. The Director collaborates closely with the pastor, clergy, and liturgical ministries to ensure that all parish liturgies—Sunday Masses, Holy Days, weddings, funerals, sacramental celebrations, and special liturgies—are supported by well-prepared and prayerfully executed music.
Key Responsibilities 1. Liturgical Music Planning & Leadership
- Plan, select, and prepare appropriate music for all parish liturgies, ensuring fidelity to the Church’s musical tradition and rubrics.
- Using the Source and Summit Hymnal and Planning Program.
- Direct, accompanies, or arranges for accompaniment at weekend Masses, Holy Days of Obligation, Triduum and Holy Week liturgies, sacramental celebrations, parish events and School Masses.
- Work closely with clergy and coordinator of Sacred Liturgy to coordinate daily and weekend Masses, liturgical feast days, rituals and other parish considerations.
2. Choirs & Ensembles
- Recruit, train, and rehearse parish choirs, cantors, instrumentalists, and ensembles.
- Foster musical excellence, spiritual growth, and community among volunteers.
- Develop programs with the assistance of the Principal and School Music Teacher for children’s choirs for school day Masses and weekend Masses.
3. Musical Formation & Pastoral Leadership
- Provide liturgical and musical formation to all members of the music ministry.
- Introduce the parish community to the Church’s rich treasury of sacred music, including chant, polyphony, and hymnody.
- Encourage the congregation’s active participation in the sung parts of the Mass.
4. Administration & Coordination
- Maintain a calendar of rehearsals, music selections, and volunteer schedules.
- Oversee the care, maintenance, and tuning of parish musical instruments (e.g., organ, piano).
- Manage the sacred music budget: purchasing scores, hymnals, licensing (Source and Summit, OneLicense, USCCB.org etc.), and other needed resources.
- Collaborate with the parish office to prepare worship aids and announcements.
5. Collaboration with Parish Staff & Liturgical Ministries
- Serve on the parish pastoral team.
- Coordinate with the Director of Liturgical Ministries (or sacristans, altar servers, lectors) to ensure seamless liturgical execution.
- Support wedding and funeral planning by assisting families with appropriate music selection.
Qualifications
- Practicing Catholic in good standing with a love for the Church’s liturgy and sacred music tradition.
- Bachelor’s degree in music, sacred music, liturgy, or related field (or equivalent professional experience) also to include Music Education.
- Strong proficiency in organ is required, choral conducting, and vocal coaching.
- Understanding of Catholic liturgical documents (GIRM, Musicam Sacram, Sacrosanctum Concilium, etc.).
- Ability to lead and form volunteers with patience, clarity, and pastoral sensitivity.
- Strong inter-personal skills. We are looking for someone who has the ability to work well with others.
- Availability for daily Masses, evenings, weekends, rehearsals, and major liturgical seasons.
Preferred
- Master’s degree in Sacred Music, Music Performance, or Pastoral Studies, Liturgy
- Competence in Gregorian chant and choral conducting.
- Experience directing a parish music program or working in a Catholic liturgical setting.
- Ability to arrange or compose music when needed.
- Familiarity with digital music tools and score-preparation software.
Personal Qualities
- Deep love for the Church and commitment to the beauty and reverence of liturgy.
- Inspiring leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Collaboration-oriented, flexible, and pastoral.
- Strong organizational, communication, and time-management abilities.
- A spirit of prayerfulness and professionalism.
Working Conditions
- Work conducted in parish offices, church, rehearsal spaces, and liturgical venues.
- Regular lifting/moving of music equipment, hymnals, stands, and instruments.
- Variable schedule aligned with parish liturgical needs.
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