Music and Liturgy Director at Our Lady of Peace

Title: Music and Liturgy Director 

Location: Our Lady of Peace 

FLSA: Exempt

Pay Range: 45,000-55,000

 

I. JOB SUMMARY

Our Lady of Peace Parish is a 925-household Catholic parish and school of the Diocese of Columbus. 

We are located in the Beechwood neighborhood of the city and have served the community for over 80 

years. Our Lady of Peace Parish gives witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of our parish 

through our worship, teaching, and evangelization for the sanctification and salvation of souls. 

Serving at the direction of the pastor and adhering to the Liturgical Guidelines of the Diocese of 

Columbus and of the Parish, this position guides and provides musical accompaniments for all liturgical 

and para-liturgical ceremonies, including, but not limited to parish weekend liturgies, weddings, 

funerals, Holy Days, all school Masses, penance services, evening prayer, Confirmation, First 

Communion, and to cooperate in providing occasional and reasonable liturgical music at other times. 

This is a full-time, 40 hours a week position working primarily in the parish office and church; flextime 

during weekdays allowed to offset for weekend hours worked, including regularly scheduled weekday 

day-off. 

 This job description reflects management's assignment of essential job responsibilities; it does not 

prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. All the duties and standards within this job description 

will be performed according to the established policies, procedures and guidelines outlined in the Parish 

policy and procedures manuals. 

II. ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Oversee and direct all liturgical music needs of the parish. 

2. Ensure that every weekend, Holy Day, All School Mass, and special parish Mass has music provided, 

including piano or organ accompaniment with vocals, by collaborating with volunteers and paid 

musicians, when budget allows and liturgical needs require. 

3. Direct and rehearse an adult choir, and research and select suitable music; recruit and develop a parish 

adult choir on a continuing basis. 

4. Support parish school’s music teacher with the rehearsal of a children’s choir and the selection of 

suitable music for all school Masses and other liturgical celebrations with parish school students. 

5. Research, review, and order new music for choirs; maintain accompaniment folders. 

6. Maintain Cantor Program and train and rehearse new cantors. 

7. Provide music for instrumentalists and rehearse, as needed. 

8. Arrange for the maintenance and preventative care of organ and piano. 

9. Prepare annual budget for parish music, monitor spending, communicate budget concerns or issues, 

and periodically report to management budget performance. 

10. Participate in parish liturgy committee and actively participate in preparing a liturgical master calendar 

for the parish and parish liturgies, such as Advent and Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and the 

minor and major rites of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. 

11. Preparation, individually or with other parish staff, of worship aids, as needed, for example funerals, 

weddings, First Communion, Confirmation, Holy Week, and other parish liturgies. 

12. Coordinate music for weddings celebrated in the parish 

a. Schedule individual meetings with bridal couples to select music, cantor, and instrumentalist. 

b. Compile music for cantor and instrumentalist. 

c. Schedule rehearsals with cantor and instrumentalist. 

d. Approve all music requested to be performed by musicians outside the parish. 

e. Complete a wedding music planning form and provide copy to cantor. 

f. Maintain wedding music file. 

13. Coordinate music for funerals celebrated in the parish 

a. Provide accompaniment for all funerals. 

b. Contact cantor. 

c. Provide music in folder for cantor. 

d. Rehearse with cantor and instrumentalist. 

e. Provide liturgy planning for cantor. 

14. Maintain Copyright 

a. One License 

b. Source & Summit digital platform 

15. Review new music, liturgical journals, and attend workshops, keep up to date with current liturgical 

changes. 

16. Attend staff meetings and retreats. 

17. Change and maintain hymn number boards, order annual missalettes and other publications. 

18. Maintain music ministry budget. 

19. Regular attendance and punctuality is essential for this job. 

III. OTHER POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Comply with federal, state and local safety laws. 

2. Maintain a neat and safe work area. 

3. Maintain organ and piano. 

4. Serve on Liturgy Committee. 

5. Engage and pay instrumentalist for special occasions. 

6. Maintain computer skills. 

7. Attend staff meetings. 

8. Perform other duties as assigned. 

IV. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform satisfactorily each of the above 

Essential Job Responsibilities.

 

Additionally, individuals must possess: 

Deep desire to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ in fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church. 

Knowledge of all Catholic liturgical music documents and Catholic liturgy. 

Familiarity of the Liturgical Guidelines of the Diocese of Columbus with principles and dimensions of 

the catholic faith formation. 

Strong background in sacred music, with a good working knowledge of Gregorian chant, and liturgy 

with piano proficiency and organ mastery. 

Extensive experience with forming and directing cantors, choirs, scholas, and other musicians. 

Solid attention to detail and well-organized. 

Deep knowledge of and respect for Catholic liturgical norms and principles. \

 The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

 Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the 

 essential functions. 

 Required: Compliance with BCI&I background checks and completion of Protecting God's Children 

 program.



Education: Masters Degree is preferred, or equivalent. 

Experience: Minimum 3 years parish music experience or similar experience is required. 

Job Related Skills: Proficiency in organ, piano, and keyboard skills; proven administrative skills 

including interpersonal relations, conflict resolution, management and supervision, visioning and 

planning, budget preparation and collaborative minister. 

Interpersonal Skills: The ability to work with others in a collaborative team environment. 

Language skills: Strong oral and written communication skills are required; ability to read and 

comprehend instructions, write correspondence, and memos. 

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's 

and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, 

volume, and distance. 

Reasoning Ability:  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved 

 written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in 

 standardized situations. 

 

V. PHYSICAL STRENGTH DEMANDS 

 The Physical Demands Strength Rating reflects the estimated overall strength requirement of the job. It 

 represents the strength requirements, which are considered to be important for average, successful work 

 performance. 

 Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or 

condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: 

activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move 

objects, including the human body. Sedentary Work involves sitting most of the time, but may 

involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.