Director of Sacred Music-Organist, St. John the Baptist, FW

Job Description

Job Overview:

Saint John the Baptist Parish in Fort Wayne, Indiana invites applicants for a full-time position of Director of Sacred Music / Organist / Pianist. We seek an excellent musician and committed Catholic to continue the renewal of Sacred Music at our parish according to the mind and tradition of the Catholic Church and open to the best of more recent hymnody and compositions. We believe that, in the words of the Second Vatican Council, "the musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art" (SC 112). We are seeking someone with a deep relationship with the Lord, who will guide others into an encounter with Christ through this 'great treasure of inestimable value' and inspiring newer musical contributions.

About Saint John the Baptist Parish:

Nestled in the midst of the historic Southwood Park neighborhood of the '07 zip code, Saint John the Baptist truly is a neighborhood parish. Every Sunday morning, several of our 550 families walk from their homes to our church for Mass or to our Chapel for Eucharistic adoration. Throughout the week, students ride their bikes to our growing parish school (almost 400 students). In Advent, we go caroling; in Lent we walk the Stations of the Cross; on Corpus Christi Day we process with our Eucharistic Lord... all of this through the streets of our neighborhood.

St. John's is a growing parish with young families moving into their first homes and families who have grown up here for generations. Our School is seeking to build a more robust and rich curriculum in which - among other goals - our students are being taught how to appreciate elements of sacred music and to sing pieces from our Catholic tradition at Mass and during Adoration.
This position will give you the opportunity to serve alongside a young pastor (with a good background in chant and liturgical music) resolved to continue celebrating reverent and prayerful liturgies, in which Sacred Music plays an integral and essential part.

Our Vision for this Position:

The Director of Sacred Music will be a close collaborator with the pastor, renewing the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy at St. John's Parish. We value candidates with the experience, training, musical talent, and interpersonal skills necessary to continue the movement in the direction of a richly Catholic vision of Sacred Music according to the mind of the Church, recovering the proper antiphons, beautiful traditional and more recent hymns as well as older and newer polyphonic pieces.

Duties of the Position:
- Oversee and execute music, including organ accompaniment, for Sunday Mass (currently Saturday 4:30 p.m., Sunday 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. - possibility of a third Mass on Sunday evening as our parish continues to grow) and Holy Days of Obligation
- Provide music for all funeral Masses (~10/year) (additional compensation provided)
- Provide music for all weddings (10/year) (additional compensation provided)
- Direct an adult choir (10:30 a.m. Mass) and children's choir.
- Develop a new ensemble to enhance Sacred Music at Sunday Masses (including possibly an ensemble to sing at the 8:00 a.m. Mass)
- Train cantors for Sunday Masses and other liturgies as needed
- Collaborate with our school music teacher to enhance instruction in sacred music and provide music at the school weekday Masses (3 times a week)
- As a member of the parish leadership team, be a collaborative and pastoral presence on our parish staff and in the parish at large

Preferred Qualifications and Abilities
- Master or Bachelor degree in Sacred Music or equivalent field preferred (candidates without degrees will be considered as well)
- Experience in a parish or related setting
- Excellent organ ability, including hymn accompaniment and prelude and postlude literature
- Solid conducting and music teaching abilities
- Ability to work with parishioners with a variety of musical abilities
- Excellent interpersonal skills - being an ambassador for the Church's vision for sacred music and winning over those who are unsure about or new to Sacred Music
- Design, layout, and video production skills - the ability to prepare beautiful programs, worship aids, and/or training videos to assist our parishioners and volunteers in learning new Sacred Music

Compensation:
- This is a full-time position with flexible hours and full benefits, including health insurance, retirement contributions, etc.
- Salary is commensurate with education and experience.
- The starting date is negotiable

How to Apply:

Please apply at: diocesefwsb.org/careers
Supplemental materials or recordings are also welcomed, as are all questions and inquiries. Please contact the pastor, Father Paolo Degasperi, at frpaolo@stjohnsfw.org.

Applications are preferred by October 31, 2025. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

About the Employer

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is a not-for-profit religious corporation empowered under Canon Law to fulfill the spiritual, educational, and charitable mission of the Catholic Church in the Northeastern portion of the State of Indiana.