Position Available: Director of Music Ministries
Old St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church (OSJ) is Philadelphia’s oldest Catholic community, founded and staffed by Jesuits since its founding in 1733. The parish is located two blocks from Independence Hall. For more information, see our website (www.oldstjoseph.org).
OSJ has earned a reputation for excellent Eucharistic liturgies, including music of the highest quality. The music program draws on the Church’s history, from traditional hymnody, Gregorian chant, and polyphony, through contemporary composers. Parishioners understand that good liturgical music serves and enhances the liturgy, and that good liturgy promotes full participation from the assembly.
The parish has invested in quality musical instruments. Our organ is a renovated and recently installed E.M. Skinner pipe organ from 1923 with four divisions (Pedal, Swell, Great and Choir), 30 ranks, and 32 stops. Our piano is an Estonian Grand. Within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, OSJ has one of the strongest quality programs of all parishes and collaborates with other faith communities in ecumenical outreach through joint events. We seek a new Director of Music Ministry that will build upon the strengths of this program while opening new dimensions of spirituality.
The Director will plan the music for all liturgies, direct two adult choirs, and provide principal organ or piano accompaniment for four weekend masses and major feast days. OSJ hosts over 75 weddings annually, requiring some planning time from the Director and represents an opportunity for substantial additional income as the designated accompanist. Funerals are considerably less frequent, but will need planning, and again, provide opportunity for additional income. Additionally, the Director of Music Ministry will lead the artistic direction for our program of sacred arts that provides outreach to the broader community.
First and foremost, we seek a minister of music that can enhance our communal worship through congregational song and finding deeper expression of Ignatian spirituality in our music. Demonstrated ability to enhance the congregation’s worship experience through high quality music is essential.
Secondly, we seek an excellent organist and choral director with knowledge of the Roman Rite and music repertoire to ensure the quality of music in each liturgy.
Third, we seek an individual with solid administrative and interpersonal skills to work within our parish organization and interact effectively with staff, musicians, parishioners, brides, and service providers.
Fourth, we seek someone that will represent our parish in all liturgical music matters with the Archdiocese and with the broader Philadelphia music community.
We will conduct initial conversations with all interested applicants in December and January. We hope to begin auditions and interviews in January and February with a hiring decision made in March. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and brief cover letter to Tony Corvaia, Search Committee Co-Chair at [email protected].
