Pastoral Assistant Music

Position: Pastoral Assistant Music - Salary
POSITION PURPOSE The Pastoral Assistant for Music provides liturgical and sacramental music leadership across Parish Family 31, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Theresa Parishes in Federal Way. This position inspires, organizes, coordinates, and serves as an accompanist for music for weekend and special liturgies, directs choirs as needed, recruits and trains musicians, and collaborates with pastoral staff and school music teachers to support a cohesive liturgical environment and formation.

The PA for Music ensures that music supports liturgical cohesion, rooted in Sacred Tradition, which integrates multicultural and contemporary music expressions as appropriate. This role is both pastoral and administrative, requiring musical proficiency (particularly singing, piano, and – ideally – organ), leadership, and collaborative skills.

PARISH FAMILY DETAILSParish Family 31 is made up of two parishes, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Theresa, in suburban Federal Way – between Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. October Mass attendance counts report around 1600 attendees at the four English weekend Masses cent, and around 1400 at five (two Spanish, three English) weekend Masses resa. The school cent, serving the parish family, currently has 268 students enrolled;

the school has a concert choir that occasionally sings for Masses.

Masses cent regularly feature a Pacific Island choir, a contemporary band, and a more standard choir;
Masses resa regularly feature a couple standard choirs, a Spanish band, and a Spanish children’s choir. Some special groups that have formed for occasional Masses are a Filipino choir, a women’s choir, and a bilingual young adult band.

Given such a variety of cultural and musical expression across our liturgies, it is our desire to cultivate a more cohesive liturgical identity, especially by guiding the parish family towards a deeper appreciation of our common liturgical heritage.

ESSENTIAL POSITION DUTIES
1. Liturgical Music Leadership Plan, select, and coordinate music for all Sunday Masses, Holy Days, and special celebrations across three campuses.

Collaborate with pastor, parochial vicar, and pastoral staff to ensure liturgically appropriate and high-quality music.

Serve as accompanist for cantors and choirs at selected Masses and special liturgies, as needed.

Coordinate with families/couples approaching the parish family for funerals/weddings (or other special liturgies) to oversee the appropriate selection of music.

Select and prepare music that cultivates liturgical formation and cohesion, while encouraging the full participation of the assembly (both internal and external).Incorporate multicultural and contemporary musical expressions when appropriate, while remaining faithful to the prescriptions and tradition of the Church.

Coordinate accompanist assignments for all choirs and liturgies, ensure accompaniment support as required.
2. Choir Direction and Vocal Leadership Recruit, train, supervise, and support parish family choir members, cantors, and other ministers of music.

Direct rehearsals and liturgies for choirs as needed and (when appropriate) oversee the delegation of this responsibility to other competent musical leaders.

Collaborate with school music teachers to coordinate school choir participation at school and parish family Masses, as appropriate.

Ensure accompanists and musicians are trained, scheduled, and appropriately compensated.
3. Music Program Accompaniment, Administration & Development Develop, implement, and evaluate the parish family music program in collaboration with pastoral staff.

Prepare and administer the Music Ministry budget as delegated by the Director of Liturgy.

Ensure copyright permissions, licensing, and music use fees are properly obtained.

Provide accompaniment and musical support for special liturgies beyond regular Masses as needed.

Coordinate the appropriate maintenance work needed for the upkeep and repair of musical instruments in the parish family such as tuning pianos and organs.
4. Collaboration & Multicultural Ministry Work with pastoral staff, consultative bodies, and multicultural ministry teams to integrate diverse musical traditions.

Participat…