Any difference between Diocesan and Private churches?

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BeMyLove

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I’ve recently become interested in becoming a member of a church that offers the TLM and have come across one that is listed as “private”.
What does this mean exactly? Does it hold any merit as to whether or not they participate in approved celebration of the mass?
Thanks in advance.
 
The best thing, IMHO, would be to call the diocesean office and ask them what the status of this church is.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
The best thing, IMHO, would be to call the diocesean office and ask them what the status of this church is.
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Exactly right. This sounds suspiciously like an SSPX or “Old Catholic” and thus, schismatic assembly. If so, the spirit of division resides there and I would avoid it like you-know-what.
 
I never heard of a private church so I cannot answer. Is it a chapel attached to a monastery or convent of a religious order which is not a parish?
 
BeMyLove said:
I’ve recently become interested in becoming a member of a church that offers the TLM and have come across one that is listed as “private”.
What does this mean exactly? Does it hold any merit as to whether or not they participate in approved celebration of the mass?
Thanks in advance.
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Certainly a red flag.
Contact the diocese and ask if it’s legitimate (or just check the diocese webpage or official directory, you get the point),

It might be a legitimate church, but “private” churches are very very rare and if this is real, it’s a poor choice of words to describe them. Hopefully it’s nothing more than that–a bad description.
 
FrDavid96 said:
Certainly a red flag.
Contact the diocese and ask if it’s legitimate (or just check the diocese webpage or official directory, you get the point),

It might be a legitimate church, but “private” churches are very very rare and if this is real, it’s a poor choice of words to describe them. Hopefully it’s nothing more than that–a bad description.
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Mmm, my first thought was that it might be a private chapel in a private school or in someone’s home. They aren’t common these days, but it wasn’t unusual in the 1800s and early 1900s for a wealthy family to have a private chapel in their mansion.
 
Matrix_Refugee said:
Mmm, my first thought was that it might be a private chapel in a private school or in someone’s home. They aren’t common these days, but it wasn’t unusual in the 1800s and early 1900s for a wealthy family to have a private chapel in their mansion.
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That can mean different things. A blessed altar and certainly a tabernacle require the bishop’s permission. The fact that it can mean different things is what makes it a red flag. It’s ambiguous–which is what legitimate places are usually not (unless someone just picked the wrong word for a sign).

That’s why the best thing is to check with the diocese.

To the OP: you can also check with your own pastor. He might have received some communication from the diocese informing him one way or the other. The important thing though is to definitely check it out.
 
Private oratories (the more proper term for it) require a papal indult, if I remember correctly.
 
My first thought was that perhaps it was a “personal” parish and someone miswrote it.
 
BeMyLove said:
I’ve recently become interested in becoming a member of a church that offers the TLM and have come across one that is listed as “private”.
What does this mean exactly? Does it hold any merit as to whether or not they participate in approved celebration of the mass?
Thanks in advance.
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That doesn’t sound right. That’s a misnomer. As far as I understand it a church cannot be private whereas certain kinds of oratories and chapels can be.
 
JGMendes4049 said:
Private oratories (the more proper term for it) require a papal indult, if I remember correctly.
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Private “oratory” (as opposed to a chapel, etc.) is not always the proper term, particularly outside of a religious community. The local bishop has all the authority necessary to grant the repose of the Blessed Sacrament and the celebration of the Mass in a private chapel.
 
There are public and private oratories. A private oratory requires a Vatican approval while a public oratory needs the approval of the Ordinary.
A public oratory does not offer the same services as a parish, no baptisms, weddings, etc… yet exist within a parishs boundaries and offer special services and masses.
A chapel is private in the monastic sense, yet outsiders can be admitted to services.
A public oratory is not private but open to all at certain times.
I know of one oratory only in my archdiocese. There are many, many, chapels.
 
thomas_jd said:
There are public and private oratories. A private oratory requires a Vatican approval while a public oratory needs the approval of the Ordinary.
A public oratory does not offer the same services as a parish, no baptisms, weddings, etc… yet exist within a parishs boundaries and offer special services and masses.
A chapel is private in the monastic sense, yet outsiders can be admitted to services.
A public oratory is not private but open to all at certain times.
I know of one oratory only in my archdiocese. There are many, many, chapels.
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Do you have any proof?

A “chapel” that is part of a religious community’s facilities is often an oratory.
 
I did some more checking and found this church on another list where it is listed as “independent”.
I have not called the diocese as of yet however, I have found a church that offers the TLM and is a diocese church.
The independant church is a real church, with grounds, etc. albeit small.
Thanks for all the (name removed by moderator)ut, I’ve definately learned something.
 
Colt said:
Do you have any proof?

A “chapel” that is part of a religious community’s facilities is often an oratory.
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A chapel can be part of a oratory if mass is celebrated there. The chapel becomes a "
semi-public oratory."
 
FrDavid96 said:
One that is determined by “persons” rather than by territory.

I know you know this. You must have had a long day.
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This leads me to a question.

Is there any allowance in the canons for a truly ‘private’ Mass? In other words, I wouldn’t think this was allowed but is there such a thing as an invitation-only Mass?

The reason I ask is because I know that in some places bishops will allow private chapels, or chapels on private property. Wouldn’t they all be required to admit Roman Catholics from the surrounding community if any wish to attend?
 
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