Liturgy Director - St. John of the Cross Parish - Western Springs - Vic V

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The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 216 parishes in Cook County and Lake County, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 13,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the regions largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the countrys largest seminaries. The Archdioceses 150+ elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems. Its schools have received 96 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards.

The Director of Liturgy, Prayer, and Worship is responsible for assisting the Pastor with overall efforts to ensure parishioners encounter Jesus Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and worship. The scope of this role is to discern, design, and implement ongoing liturgy, prayer, and worship opportunities for everyone in the parish. The Director provides leadership in the planning, execution and celebration of all parish liturgical celebrations, including sacramental celebrations and works collaborative with music ministry, office of lifelong formation and school. The director is responsible for ensuring that the public prayer space is a place of welcome and witness as family, friends, neighbors and guests gather.

Essential Job Functions

• Lead the annual planning for liturgical seasons, sacrament celebrations, and special liturgies in

collaboration with the staff members and parish liturgy committee.

• Direct parish liturgical ministers (e.g., lectors, communion ministers, servers, musicians,

sacristans, ushers) to ensure liturgies are well planned, engaging, and in fidelity to the official

liturgical books and Catholic liturgical theology.

• Train volunteers to ensure liturgical norms are followed.
• Provide prayers and opportunities for prayer to parish organizations as needed.
• Oversee the creation of worship aids that are engaging, accessible, and functional to enable all

to fully participate in the liturgies and celebrations.

• Ensure that parish worship space is welcoming to all, including visitors, through collaboration

with members of pastoral staff.

• Ensure equipment needed for worship (e.g., sacred vessels, vestments, candles, sound system,

church furnishings, worship space, etc.) is kept in a manner worthy of its use.

• Engage the faith community in a deeper understanding of prayer and worship through

presentations, website content, and bulletin articles.

• Prepare and coordinate the Liturgy, Prayer, and Worship budget in collaboration with the Pastor and other relevant members of pastoral staff.
• Ensure that ministry complies with the guidelines for Protecting God's Children for those who minister with and to children in accordance with the Archdiocese of Chicago policies.
• Develop and implement tools for improving the quality and vibrancy of prayer and worship in the parish (e.g., hospitality, proclamation of the Word, witness and music as benchmarks).
• Promote vocation awareness through parish prayer, liturgical celebrations, seasonal observances, and collaboration with clergy, staff, families, schools, and parish ministries.

Job Requirements

• Previous experience directing parish liturgical ministry.
• Demonstrated expertise in collaborating with clergy, staff, parish leaders and volunteers.
• Ability to direct the work of other staff or volunteer leaders to drive key initiatives and
• Practicing Catholic with understanding and support for Catholic Church teaching, mission, and values.
• Expertise in the Church's official liturgical books and various rites used in celebrating the

sacraments of the Church.

• Ability to support and facilitate devotional life and popular religiosity.
• Comprehensive vision and understanding of evangelization in liturgical celebrations.
• Ability to form and nurture a community of missionary disciples through encounter, accompaniment and sending forth.
• Mature discipleship evidenced in ability to comfortably witness to one's own faith journey.
• Developed skills in leadership and management; strong commitment to collaboration and
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with technology used for communicating and presenting.
• Open to ongoing formation and education as needed.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, collaborative, faithful, joyful witness, persistent, approachable, fair and balanced, dependable, person of integrity, sensitive to cultural, racial and ethnic diversity and hope filled.
• Available to work weekends and evenings if necessary.

Preferred Job Skills and Experience

• Master's Degree in Liturgy, Sacred Music, Pastoral Studies, or equivalent.
• Previous experience directing parish liturgical ministry.
• Priests, Deacons, Religious, and Lay Ecclesial Ministers are preferred for this position.
• Open to ongoing formation and education.
• Knowledgeable in the role of music in liturgy.

The Archdiocese of Chicago offers a comprehensive total rewards package to include competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information about our benefit programs is available here.

This position has a salary range of $60,000-$66,000. An employee's pay within the range is based on relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, location & business needs.