Certificate in Pastoral Music
This six-month, introductory program is designed for professionals and volunteers with responsibility for music ministry in a parish, and those interested in learning more about liturgical music in the Catholic tradition. Classes will meet in person beginning September 2025. Details are below under General Information.
Since the reforms of the liturgy at Vatican II, music has played an important role in inspiring the full, conscious, and active participation of the community in liturgical worship. With the successful collaboration of musicians, liturgical ministers and clergy, worship can continue to be a rich, spiritual, and transformative communal exercise of the Church.
The Pastoral Music professional certificate program seeks to inform and deepen the experience of music in Catholic worship through formation and education of the whole minister. It does this by giving students in-depth exposure to music's important place and function within the theology and praxis of Catholic prayer through readings, study of Church documents, written assignments, demonstrations, practice, and discussions.
Who Should Participate
This program is suitable for those who have a professional or personal investment in music ministry, especially cantors, music directors, ensemble directors, instrumentalists and choir members, as well as those interested in learning more about liturgical music within the Church.
Program Benefits
The goal of this program is to form students to better serve their own faith communities as effective musicians and pastoral leaders. Those who successfully complete the program will:
- Know the liturgical theology that informs music ministry in the parish
- Be able to collaborate with parish clergy and ministers in shaping the worship experience that invites the full community into prayer
- Value the musicality of the Catholic tradition and pastoral liturgy, especially in diverse communities
Credit from this program may be applicable to catechist certification at the discretion of the certifying diocese. Please be sure to check with the appropriate diocesan office to confirm that this program qualifies for credit towards certification or recertification.
Testimonials
"Mr. John Flaherty's gift as a teacher, love and care for the liturgy, and his humility as a person brought to life 'Pastoral Liturgy' for all of his students."
"John Flaherty is clearly incredibly experienced and knowledgeable in this field and his insight is terrific. He is a gem!"
"Awesome teacher, great insights, reflective, inspirational."
"I am very thankful to have had this opportunity with John. Learned so much!"
"Everyone knows how talented John is. He is an outstanding teacher - wish I could do an entire degree program with him."
"It is obvious John has a passion for what he does which inspires passion in those he teaches."
General Information
Course and program requirements, schedules and tuition are subject to change; and additional fees may be incurred for books and materials. Click here to review all policies prior to enrollment. For additional information, contact the Center at (310) 338-2799 or crs@lmu.edu.
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Begins: September 2025
Fees: $398
Financial aid is available for those who qualify, for more information please email CRS@lmu.edu
EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT
TBD.
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Begins Fall 2025.
Dates TBD.
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John Flaherty
Instructor and Interim Director of Choral Activites
Reflection on the 2025 Triduum from John Flaherty
Media
Publications
Christ's Body, Christ's Song, 2017
New Approaches to Multicultural Liturgy, 2007
On Music, Death and Dying, 2021
Biography
John has been married to his wife, Kathleen, for 35 years. Together they have five children, ranging from 22-32 in age. He has been involved in music and educational ministry for 43 years as an educator, elementary school principal, music director, liturgy director, and composer. He has taught at all levels from elementary to postgraduate.
For the past twenty-six years, John worked as a member of the Campus Ministry Team at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he served as the Associate Director of Campus Ministry & Director of Liturgy & Music. He was recently given a full-time academic appointment to the position of Interim Director of Choral Activities and serves as the Special Assistant to the Vice-President of Mission and Ministry. He also teaches in the Center for Religion and Spirituality where he serves as the Founding Director of the Pastoral Liturgy and Pastoral Music Certification Programs.
He has also taught in the Los Angeles Archdiocese and San Bernardino Diocese Diaconate Formation Programs. Prior to that, he served as a Catholic elementary schoolteacher, assistant principal and principal for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
John has served as the Chairperson of the Liturgy Committee and Music Director for the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress since 1991, the largest annual Catholic catechetical and liturgical gathering in the world. This conference attracts 42,000 delegates every year. He also sits on the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission.
He has worked extensively with the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops including having served as the music director for the two most recent national conferences of the USCCB, Encuentro 2000 and Jubilee Justice. John has planned and directed the music for the Episcopal Ordinations of Bishops Oscar Solis and Alexander Salazar. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Archbishop Emeritus of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, has invited John to plan and the direct the music for his funeral liturgy. For several years, John provided the music for the annual bishops retreat for Ecclesiastical Province of Los Angeles which includes the dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
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Students must complete a total of 2.5 semester hours in coursework with a letter grade of 'B-' or higher in each course to receive a certificate of completion. Please refer to the course catalog for required text, class meeting location, and other general information.
Coursework: PMXX 900
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PMXX 900
Pastoral Music
2.5 Semester HoursIn this course, students will examine music's place and function within the theology and praxis of Catholic prayer. Through readings, study of Church documents, written assignments, demonstrations, practice, and discussions, those involved in music ministry and others interested in this program of study will become more effective liturgical and pastoral leaders within their own faith community.