Janèt Sullivan Whitaker

Born in 1958. A native of Berkeley, California, Janèt Sullivan Whitaker has nearly 40 years of experience as a pastoral musician in the Diocese of Oakland. In addition to her work as a songwriter, composer and recording artist, she presents workshops and retreats to help those who serve in parish music ministry, including cantors, choral directors, choirs for all ages, Catholic school music programs, keyboard accompanists and more. Several of Janèt’s compositions are well-known by the singing church. Among her most beloved songs are “In Every Age,” “Here at This Table,” “The Least of These,” “Christ Before Us” and “Day of Peace.” Since the release of her debut collection, Land of the Living, Janèt has produced several subsequent collections and companion recordings of music for the church: Tryin’ to Get Ready; These Forty Days: Music for Lent, Passiontide, and Ordinary Time; This Place of Perfect Peace and Plenty: Songs of Hope For Our Time. In 2015, Janèt collaborated with her fellow composers on Our Common Home, a collection inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si. This collection offers timely music touching on themes of care for creation, poverty and solidarity. As a professional director of music and liturgy, Janèt has served at three Oakland diocese parishes, as well as the music ministry for the One Bread, One Cup Summer Youth Liturgical Leadership Conferences at Saint Meinrad Benedictine Archabbey and Seminary in southern Indiana. Janèt stepped away from her position as director of music ministry for St Joan of Arc Parish in San Ramon, California in 2020. Now in semi-retirement, her focus is on composing, mentoring young composers and expanding her ministry as a workshop and retreat facilitator. She holds a B.A. in Music from CSU East Bay and an M.T.S in Liturgical Studies from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. Janèt lives in Hayward, California, with Brian Whitaker, her husband of 37 years.