Job Description
St Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish in Surprise is seeking a full-time Director of Music and Liturgy for a rapidly growing culturally diverse community of 3,500 registered parish homes with a new 2,000 seat church. The community is primarily English speaking with many young families as well as a large retirement community and big increase of parishioners from the north in the winter. The goals for the DML are to develop, through music and liturgy, an atmosphere of Catholic worship conducive to deepening the faith and participation of an active, prayerful and singing assembly including a variety of musical styles for younger and older liturgical assemblies, including Masses, devotions, Children’s liturgy, Life Teen and Edge programs and other ministries. This position will report directly to the pastor and is responsible for collaborating with clergy, staff, ministry leaders, volunteers, musicians and the liturgy committee to plan, execute and evaluate parish liturgies and music. The DML will also train and prepare choirs and musicians for each of the Masses; a funeral choir; children’s choir; Life Teen Mass; provide education for all liturgical ministers in liturgical norms; coordinate sound equipment personnel and maintenance; supervise the training of liturgical ministers; and perform other duties as requested by the Pastor. The DML must possess excellent organizational skills and effective working knowledge of computers, music software, sound boards and sound equipment. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. This full-time position is benefit-eligible.
Minimum Qualifications: 5 years of previous experience coordinating Catholic liturgy and music; strong working knowledge of Catholic liturgy and liturgical documents; experience in ministry development and training of choirs and musicians; Bachelors Degree or higher in Music is preferred; experience with preparing and following a budget and utilizing diocesan resources; some ability in Spanish is useful for weddings and funerals; and must have a very good singing voice and an ability to play piano, organ or guitar. St. Clare’s is seeking someone who will make a commitment to serve for several years or longer.
