Job Title: Director of Liturgy and Music
Location: Waterloo Area Pastorate, Archdiocese of Dubuque
Reports To: Pastor and Director of Evangelization
Status: Full-Time
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Date Posted: July 3, 2026
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Position Summary
The Director of Liturgy and Music serves a multi-church, multi-lingual(English/Spanish/French and Burmese) Catholic community by coordinating, supporting, and enhancing the liturgical and musical life of all worship sites in alignment with the Roman Catholic tradition and the norms of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. This position requires a spirit of collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and strong musical and liturgical leadership to foster unity within our pastorate.
Key Responsibilities
Liturgy
- Coordinate the planning, execution, and evaluation of all liturgical celebrations (Sunday and weekday Masses, holy days, sacraments, funerals, weddings, bilingual/multilingual liturgies, seasonal liturgies) for the pastorate.
- Collaborate with the pastor, liturgy committee, parochial vicars, and pastoral commission to ensure culturally respectful and unified liturgical practices.
- Provide for liturgical formation and training for ministers in both English and other languages as is possible for the languages worshipping here (e.g., lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, hospitality ministers, sacristans).
- Ensure all liturgies are celebrated with reverence and in compliance with church documents and archdiocesan norms.
Music
- Oversee selection and coordination of liturgical music appropriate to each Mass’s context, including bilingual and culturally specific music as needed.
- Coordinate those who serve as accompanist, cantor, or choir director for each liturgy.
- Direct or oversee choirs, ensembles, and cantors in English and in non-English languages as needed.
- Responsible for recruiting, mentoring, and support of musicians from diverse backgrounds and age groups.
- Coordinate music for weddings, funerals, quinceañeras, and other special events.
- Oversee the maintenance of instruments and sound systems.
Administrative
- Manage the music and liturgy budget for the pastorate in collaboration with parish leadership.
- Maintain music resources (licenses, hymnals, music library, instruments) for the parishes/pastorate.
- Develop liturgical planning resources and calendars in English and other languages as needed and available.
- Attend parish and pastorate staff meetings and pastorate liturgy committee meetings as agreed upon with the pastor, and contributes to broader pastoral planning as requested.
Qualifications
- Fully initiated Roman Catholic in good standing with a deep understanding of and commitment to the Church’s liturgical life.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in liturgy, music, pastoral ministry, theology, or a related field (preferred).
- Proficiency in English and (preferrably) Spanish, French, or Burmese (speaking, reading, writing); competency in or readiness to learn about other cultural liturgical expressions.
- Strong skills and experience in choral direction and accompaniment (piano or organ); comfortable with a variety of musical styles. (preferred)
- Familiarity with relevant Church documents (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Sing to the Lord, Sacrosanctum Concilium etc.).
- Experience in multicultural or multi-parish ministry strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and pastoral leadership skills.
- Basic computer skills with knowledge and experience with Google platform and one or more parish ministry software programs.
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
- Regular travel between parish locations within the pastorate is required.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours Holy Week, Christmas, and other major liturgical seasons and pastorate needs.
- Prolonged standing during liturgies and rehearsals, walking between worship spaces, climbing stairs where applicable, lifting and transporting music and liturgical materials, setting up and moving equipment, operating keyboard or organ for extended periods. Ability to lift and transport musical equipment and materials occasionally.
Pay: $25.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you a fully initiated Roman Catholic in full communion with the church?
Work Location: In person
