What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Liturgical Music position at Archdiocese of Detroit?
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church
Director of Liturgical Music
The Need: Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church (OLGC) is a Catholic parish located in Plymouth (MI) in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Our mission is to offer every person in our community a life-changing encounter with Jesus. While we need someone who possesses a high level of musical skill, we are not looking for just a skilled musician. We are looking for someone who will also joyfully lead people through liturgical music into a deeper relationship with living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The director of liturgical music, then, is someone who manifests a great love for the richness of the liturgy, along with its theological, spiritual and pastoral dimensions, seeking always to move hearts and minds to authentic worship, which results in vibrant evangelical charity.
Responsibilities
Planning
Provide a plan to accompany the congregation into a deep appreciation for the gift of
liturgical music so that worship is truly a joyful gift to the Lord and a full expression of faith on the part of the whole congregation.
Determine the resources (volunteer and paid) needed to help the congregation participate fully in the liturgy.
Develop a way to assess the effectiveness of the program and review that plan regularly with the pastor.
Leadership
Plan and prepare the liturgical music for the five weekend Masses, during Holy Days of Obligation, Feasts and Solemnities, All-School Masses, Praise and Worship nights of Adoration, and other events.
Lead the liturgical music at the various Masses, liturgies, and events.
Recruit talented people to assist with the liturgical music, vocal and instrumental.
Rehearse with cantors and other musicians, and provide leadership for all choirs (adult, children, bells) so that the liturgical music is truly an aid/stream through which the congregation is moved toward worship.
Arrange for coverage at Masses and events where needed.
Oversee the budget for Worship
Program Management
To ensure that appropriate music is provided at all weddings and funerals, keeping in mind the unique evangelical opportunity those sacraments provide.
Ensure the proper storage of all music owned by the parish.
Equipment Management
Ensure all musical instruments and sound equipment owned by the parish is properly maintained.
Team Engagement
Provide staff leadership for the Worship Commission.
Be an active member of the Parish Team, participating in staff meetings, daily prayer when possible, and all team meetings and events.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum of three years’ experience leading liturgical music formally for a Catholic parish
Demonstrated skill at leading and sustaining a vibrant choir, cantors, and musicians
Demonstrated capacity to assess effectively the quality of music, vocally and
instrumentally, and make adjustments as needed.
Highly proficient in vocal leadership, piano, organ, and guitar
Demonstrated theological and liturgical formation
Critical Qualities
Strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a deep appreciation for the ecclesial nature
of a parish community
A demonstrated capacity to play the full range of liturgical music, including but not limited
to hymnody, praise and worship, contemporary, and chant
A demonstrated capacity and desire in forming a congregation in their full, active
participation through engaging liturgical music
A demonstrated capacity to prepare prayerfully the music for the liturgy that takes into
consideration the feast, the readings, the prayers, the text of the music, and the character of the liturgical season.
A servant leader who works well within a team environment; genuinely receiving suggestions and
observations
Joyful, humble, prayerful, and charitable
Highly responsible, dependable, and a creative problem solver
Mission-driven
Details
Recruit talented people to assist with the liturgical music, vocal and instrumental.
Rehearse with cantors and other musicians, and provide leadership for all choirs (adult, children, bells) so that the liturgical music is truly an aid/stream through which the congregation is moved toward worship.
Arrange for coverage at Masses and events where needed.
Oversee the budget for Worship
Program Management
To ensure that appropriate music is provided at all weddings and funerals, keeping in mind the unique evangelical opportunity those sacraments provide.
Ensure the proper storage of all music owned by the parish.
Equipment Management
Ensure all musical instruments and sound equipment owned by the parish is properly maintained.
Team Engagement
Provide staff leadership for the Worship Commission.
Be an active member of the Parish Team, participating in staff meetings, daily prayer when possible, and all team meetings and events.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum of three years’ experience leading liturgical music formally for a Catholic parish
Demonstrated skill at leading and sustaining a vibrant choir, cantors, and musicians
Demonstrated capacity to assess effectively the quality of music, vocally and
instrumentally, and make adjustments as needed.
Highly proficient in vocal leadership, piano, organ, and guitar
Demonstrated theological and liturgical formation
Critical Qualities
Strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a deep appreciation for the ecclesial nature
of a parish community
A demonstrated capacity to play the full range of liturgical music, including but not limited
to hymnody, praise and worship, contemporary, and chant
A demonstrated capacity and desire in forming a congregation in their full, active
participation through engaging liturgical music
A demonstrated capacity to prepare prayerfully the music for the liturgy that takes into
consideration the feast, the readings, the prayers, the text of the music, and the character of the liturgical season.
A servant leader who works well within a team environment; genuinely receiving suggestions and
observations
Joyful, humble, prayerful, and charitable
Highly responsible, dependable, and a creative problem solver
Mission-driven
Details
- Director of Liturgical Music
- Based in Plymouth (MI) in the Archdiocese of Detroit
- Reports directly to the pastor
- Full time
- Requires evening and weekend work, as well as weekday liturgies and meetings
- Competitive salary and benefits (exempt position)
Application instructions: Please send your cover letter, resume, a statement of your faith, and a music sample electronically to Diane Jouppi at (jouppid@olgcparish.net) or by mail to: Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1062 Church Street, Plymouth, MI 48170 by October 15, 2025. Your statement of faith should be two-five paragraphs long and describe your faith journey and how liturgical music moves you as a disciple of Christ.
