Job Description

Director of Liturgy and Music

1. Duties and Responsibilities
   1. Plan and execute parish liturgical music program for Three Holy Women and Our Lady of Divine Providence parish.
      1. Plan hymns, psalm setting and service music with 6-week lead time.
      2. Communicate planning sheets as well as other information promptly with the freelance musicians that assist in two of the five regular weekend parish Masses.
      3. Check in and communicate liturgical music information with cantors and other ministers on a regular basis.
      4. Schedule liturgical ministers
         1. Cantors (primarily volunteers)
         2. Organists-pianists (professional and occasionally volunteers)
         3. Additional professional musicians hired for more significant and well-attended liturgies (Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day).
      5. Maintain two parish choirs of volunteers and semi-professional singers (section leaders), one at each parish singing between September – May.
         1. Plan and distribute choral music used as anthems (post-communion or offertory).
         2. Run weekly rehearsals (THW on Thursdays 6:30-8:00 p.m.., and OLDP on Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m.)
         3. Direct choirs at Masses they are scheduled: OLDP choir sings every 1st 3rd (and 5th) Sunday of the month. THW choir sings every 2nd 4th (and 5th week) of the month rotating between the three parish sites.
      6. Design and plan the distribution of orders of worship for every liturgy (currently printed and folded in house).

1. Oversee and develop program for liturgical ministers (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar-servers, hospitality).
   1. Maintain current pool.
   2. Recruit and form new members (in collaboration with priests and sacristan).
   3. Oversee scheduling of ministers (led by volunteer scheduling coordinators).
2. Oversee sacristy and sanctuary needs (in collaboration with the sacristan of each parish).
   1. Order supplies such as hosts, candles etc. (shared with sacristan).
   2. Oversee the condition of the sacristies and the sanctuary.
   3. Oversee the condition of liturgical items such as vestments, altar linens and brass-made items (thurible, candelabras etc.).
3. Oversee seasonal environments (in collaboration with volunteer environment coordinators at each site).
4. Planning of funeral liturgies for Three Holy Women and Our Lady of Divine Providence Parishes.
   1. serve as a key parish contact for the planning of music and the Liturgy of the Word in collaboration with the deceased’s family and the presider.
   2. Serve as the principal organist/pianist or arrange a substitute.
   3. Arrange a cantor (professional or semi-professional) and other musicians as requested by the family.
   4. Distribute music to all musicians involved.
   5. Share other information with sacristan and presider.

1. Planning of wedding liturgies for Three Holy Women and Our Lady of Divine Providence Parishes.
   1. serve as a key parish contact for the planning of the music and the Liturgy of the Word in collaboration with the couple to be married and the presider.
   2. Serve as the principal organist/pianist or arrange a substitute.
   3. Arrange a cantor (professional or semi-professional) and other musicians as requested by the couple.
   4. Design and share with the couple order of worship based on the planning decisions.
   5. Distribute music to all musicians involved.
   6. Share other information with sacristan and presider.

1. Collaboration with the fellow Directors of Music and Liturgy serving in the “Family of Four Parishes” on special occasions such as:
   1. Combined multi-parish services such as Taize Prayer, All-Souls Day Vespers, Reconciliation services, Triduum.

1. Administrative duties
   1. Submit payroll on a timely basis for all outside professional musicians such as organists, cantors, section-leaders, instrumentalists that are hired for liturgies.
   2. Oversee and prepare a yearly budget given for various area expenses such as professional services-musicians, environment, sacristy supplies, volunteer recognition etc.
   3. Evaluate and approve invoices.
   4. Submit reimbursement forms for items purchased without the parish credit card.
2. Oversee the maintenance of parish owned instruments (organs and pianos).
   1. Maintain a routine service schedule with local organ and piano technicians (at least twice a year or as often the budget allows).
   2. Continuously evaluate the condition of instruments and prepare proposals for more substantial service projects as needed.

1. Attend monthly staff meetings and biweekly Directors’ Meetings.

1. Pursue continue professional development opportunities.

1. Maintain good working relationships with professional musicians in the area.

1. Other duties as assigned by Pastor.

1. Physical, Visual, & Working Conditions:

1. This is a full-time position. It requires weekend and evening availability.

1. Nature of Supervision Received:

The Director of Music and Liturgy works primarily independently. They are supervised by the Pastor.

1. Supervision Exercised: The Director of Music and Liturgy supervises two other parish employees and several volunteer coordinators.
   1. THW sacristan (parish employee)
   2. OLDP sacristan (parish employee)
   3. Liturgical ministry coordinators (one at each parish)
   4. Environment coordinators (one at each site)

Qualifications

1. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
   1. Knowledge
      1. Bachelor’s degree in music or bachelor’s degree on another field with graduate work in music or significant undergraduate coursework in music or sacred music.
      2. Understanding and knowledge of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and other documents related to liturgical music.
      3. Organ and piano skills for leading the congregation, as well as knowledge of solo and collaborative repertoire suitable for providing music as a prelude and postlude.
      4. Choral conducting skills: knowledge of appropriate repertoire, the ability to teach and lead a group of volunteer and semi-professional singers, including the ability to direct from the bench.
      5. Vocal coaching skills: the ability to form and utilize the abilities of volunteer and semi-professional cantors.
   2. Skill
      1. Musicianship skills (directing, organ, piano, and singing).
      2. Computer skills (especially MS Word, Excel).
      3. Strong written and verbal skills (maintain effective communication between fellow staff members, parishioners, volunteers, members of the greater community).
   3. Abilities
      1. Flexibility and collaboration, given that high number of different priests presiding at the weekend Masses (4-8 different priests).
      2. Long-term vision for the planning and the development of the program.
      3. Decision making and implementation.
      4. Leadership and Supervision.

Compensation

Type

Annual

Notes

Additional Information

Start Date

2026-01-01

Location

Three Holy Women - Milwaukee (D27)

Department

County

Milwaukee

Job Category

Parishes - Music/Liturgy

Employment Type

Full Time

Notes

To Apply

Instructions

Email application, cover letter and resume to [email protected]

Contact Name

Chad Griesel

Address

1716 N Humboldt Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Email

[email protected]

Phone

414-271-6577 x1014

Fax

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