As hard as it is to stomach the reality, it IS ok to say 'no'. If you have a fair bit of driving to do, and you're only being paid a pittance and you feel like you're being taken advantage of, then it might very well be prudent to save your talents for a place that would actually value them. Sadly, the church knows how to treat her own. I think many of us here on the forum have experienced that at one time or another.

Now, to give the parish the benefit of the doubt, perhaps there are financial troubles and so it is possible that the pastor is hamstrung in this department (then again, if it's a medium-size parish...). Regardless, that does not need to guilt you, or preclude you from seeking better employment elsewhere.

I had to walk away from a job once, and it broke my heart, too, because then they really struggled in the music department after my departure (didn't even have music Christmas morning, for Pete's sake!). So I understand the pain of not wanting to see a parish suffer for wont of decent music. But it is also healthy to draw boundaries. If the pastor doesn't respect your (I presume, genuine) needs, then I doubt you'll get that much more support once you're in the job.

The American Catholic Church's historically preferred parish staffing model has been to rely heavily on women religious whose orders would be paid relatively small stipends if anything. Though the time when that model was "viable" has long past, its half-life in the worldview of pastors and bishops is much longer than it has any right to be.

In the past musicians of the Catholic Church had a day job in addition to playing the organ on weekends, scheduling choir practice, etc. The organist at St. Mary's for example worked for a company who made wooden pallets and shipping containers (wooden boxes). Our current organist plays for one Mass at St. Mary's on Sunday, he is working as a nurse during the day and going to school at night, he also plays at the Saturday Vigil Mass at parish north of us.

In the past, if Catholic musicians weren't working a day job, then they were busy composing music, publishing music and hymn books, giving lessons, etc., in short, making something of themselves to supplement their meager pay from the Church.

If you find yourself in a parish whose weekly income from church envelopes is for example $1,000, it is unrealistic to hope that you will be paid anything more than meager amount. It's a real struggle for parishes whose income falls in this range to make ends meet, let alone pay what you might consider a fair wage.

What I was trying to say is that the church has outsourced 90plus percent of music that is happening there, funerals, weddings, months minds, whatever else to people who have no idea what they are doing.

this

The American Catholic Church's historically preferred parish staffing model has been to rely heavily on women religious whose orders would be paid relatively small stipends if anything. Though the time when that model was "viable" has long past, its half-life in the worldview of pastors and bishops is much longer than it has any right to be.

Yet current Canon Law states that parishes should pay a fair a livable wage if one is not able to volunteer their services.

At least my parish pays fair wages to our organists/MD.

I agree with @Diapason84 . Either you're hiring me to run the full music program at this parish or you're bringing in someone to do a weekly one-off gig.

In the past, if Catholic musicians weren't working a day job, then they were busy composing music, publishing music and hymn books, giving lessons, etc., in short, making something of themselves to supplement their meager pay from the Church.

Find the flaw.
If this was the 'glorious' past, then it's no surprise that things aren't improving in times where parish incomes tend to decline... especially when there are collegues around who proudly declare that they don't need the money, and happily offer their time to the church for free...

As my new priest has reminded me when speaking with me about how much I do or don't do at Church regarding my position,

"A worker is worthy of his wages."

He doesn't want me taking on too much, but when I do extra things, he expects me to report them so I can be fairly compensated.

I'm learning to cherish this.

I was one of those musicians who was fortunate enough to not need the money. I took it anyway to keep from undermining other musicians who do need it. I donated it to charity and no one was the wiser.

All I know is, my graduate degree in music (which is what facilitates my ability to do what I do at this level) didn't pay for itself. Brides don't pay me for "one hour's worth of work". They pay me for 7 years of college and countless hours spent in a practice room until 1am.

I tried that with HR once. It didn't work.

Tandrews… I hope you walked away