I got married in another parish–and in fact in another country, and such a problem never came up.
Personally, I have registered in a local parish–though I don’t even know if it was one covering my geographical area–since I wanted to support it financially. But more often than not I went to mass at another parish. There was never any problem over that.
As far as baptisms and funerals go, I don’t know if they are supposed to be in the parish in which you have registered or in which you live. But even if this happens to be the case, you can still go to mass wherever you choose.
If there is a parish more like the one you grew up with, that is not your local parish, perhaps you could simply register with that one (though this is starting to get beyond my knowledge).
Sy Noe and mgdspencer:
Technically, the pastor of a particular parish does have a geographical boundary, and is responsible for Catholics in that geographical boundary.
However, let me explain a few things here:
In this day and age, it is my experience that most pastors and parishes do not mind Catholics attending Mass outside of their geographic location. I think pastors have too many other things to worry about, and know that many Catholics today “church shop” to find a parish that suits them. As mgdspencer says, “you can still go to Mass wherever your choose.” 50, 60, or 70 years ago, cradle Catholics who are that experienced tell me it was a different story.
Frankly, my parish has about 60% registered parishioners technically living “outside” parish boundaries. Most people today go where they feel comfortable. I attended there and make a 20 minute drive because I like it, and the parish I originally lived closest too had a reputation for “watering down”. I also like to go where I get a teachable homily, and not just the “status quo” or a “Father Nice” who makes the Mass last only 45 minutes. I also like a church that looks like a church and not a bank building.
A case in point: Several of the TLM parishes staffed by the FSSP have parishioners driving 45 minutes or more to attend every Sunday. In all my years as a Catholic (and even as a younger Catholic) I never once had a pastor or a parish administrator tell me I couldn’t register because of my residence, and at one time I even belonged to a parish that was in the Diocese of Fort Worth, even when I lived about a mile into the Diocese of Dallas boundaries.
Another example: Before Bishop Carlson came to Saginaw (MI) in 2004, a large number of Catholics in Saginaw drove 30 minutes or more every Sunday to attend Mass either in the Diocese of Gaylord or the Diocese of Lansing, and I wouldn’t be surprised back in those days if many were registered in those dioceses, even though they lived in another diocese. Fortunately, Carlson implemented a huge housecleaning (i.e. restoring orthodoxy to that diocese) when he became bishop of Saginaw (he is now the Archbishop of St. Louis), so I would say that crossing boundaries there today is uncommon.
Another example: An old buddy of mine liked to attend Mass at a university, but he registered in a parish with a solid priest who was in a bad part of town. My buddy registered at that parish and sent a large check there monthly, because this priest is on board with the church’s teachings, and the money went to good use.
It is good to be registered at a Catholic parish, because you are counted by the diocese as a registered Catholic. I was told this years ago as a young adult, even if I attended some other parishes.
As far as sacraments (baptism, confirmation, marriage, first communion), my understanding is for recordkeeping, a pastor wants the Catholic to be registered at the parish, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the closest parish to the Catholic’s residence (particularly if he or she drives 20-30 minutes to attend the parish where he or she is registered).
Mgdspencer brought up his marriage - I’ve had friends that have gotten married at a Catholic parish where they were not registered, and my understanding is this was fine because they had permission in advance from their own pastor. This is often the case if you are getting married in another city or another country (i.e. your wife or wife’s family is registered at the parish where you got married in that city or another country).
About weddings - some couples choose to get married at a different parish than where they are registered. This can be done as long as the couple has permission from both pastors - the pastor at their parishes and the church where the wedding is being performed. Oftentimes, this is not hard to do, and many times their local pastor will be given permission by the resident pastor to do the marriage at the other parish. Most of the time (and I have attended weddings like this), the couple wants to get married either in a larger church, or a church that looks like a church and not a bank building.
As far as funerals, I’m told if a Catholic dies, and the Catholic is not registered in any parish, oftentimes the Catholic will have a Catholic funeral at the closest parish to his or her residence.
I hope this explanation helps and is not too confusing. Thank you.
P.S. I don’t come here very often anymore, and I usually only contribute on topics related to colleges, vocations, bishop and bishop changes, and educational-type topics (even seminary topics), and a little bit about some dioceses.
I actually called a couple of parishes once and they said they allow people to register even if outside of their geographical area. But I know when I had a relative who was dying who was not registered anywhere but who before she was ill attended a parish that was not her geographical parish, I nevertheless called her geographical parish.