Church drafts pay-scale for musicians

Catholic church officials have drafted a scale of payments for in-church musicians.

The move has been made by the church’s national centre for liturgy because at present, many of the players involved are not being paid formally for the work they do.

Fr Pat O’Donoghue, the Dublin diocesan’s director of music, said: “This development follows inquiries from the people who provide the music, as well as the priests in the various parishes.

“Many of us started off as volunteers and were very happy with something at Christmas and Easter and at weddings.

“But over the years, the value of our church musicians has become more appreciated and they are by-and-large more qualified, after taking more courses, making themselves more available and offering advice at the times of weddings and funerals.

“It’s actually a bigger commitment of time now than it was in the past.”

The new set of guideline recommendations – replacing until-now voluntary donations – urges the payment of €110 for weddings and €80 for funerals, as well as varying rates for different kinds of masses and choir rehearsals.

Fr O’Donoghue said “We are recommending that, in justice, all these people should be recompensed for the hours they put it.”