Catechism rule on Church Jumpers

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ServentsOf_Mary

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What rules and sections apply to laity responsibly in the parish?
What is said in the catechism about these issues / responsibilities?

Leaving a parish prior to exploring all options? Fewer parishioners causes more burden to those who remain behind.

PAX
 
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As a Catholic, I believe, you are free to attend Mass in any Catholic church you wish to attend.

I believe you can stay or attend somewhere else as you wish, but don’t think less of others who decide to go elsewhere, you might eventually get to that point yourself.
 
The harvest is great and the laborers are constantly fewer.

I don’t think less of those folks. Personally I am asking for my own thoughts. Thinking of that path more and more.
 
I like visiting other Catholic Churches, & sometimes honestly I do it because due to scheduling I may not be able to attend at my own parish, so I’ll attend at the next one nearest me having mass.

I’ve attended at a Maronite Liturgy as well as the TLM & a Byzantine Catholic church…
 
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It might be worth a try. Over the past year I attended masses at different parishes to make sure I was there for Jesus and not the social atmosphere, which is fantastic at my home parish. I came to realize I belong right where I am, and that it is about Jesus and not just pleasant personalities.

Now your situation sounds like the opposite of mine. But at the same time if you were to attend mass somewhere else for a few weeks and honestly allow yourself to be open to the possibility of joining that parish, the Holy Spirit may well advise you one way or the other. Then at least you’ll have His encouragement to follow whatever path seems right, and overcome the difficulties of either situation.
 
Am I the only one who thought this was going to be a thread about clothes?

A parish is a geographical territory. All of us live inside a parish boundaries, and we are members of that parish.

We may choose to attend Mass, be on the mailing list/database of a different parish, join groups or things as the pastor permits.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Am I the only one who thought this was going to be a thread about clothes?
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LOL, no!! I was bracing myself for another is-this-modest thread. 🤣
ServentsOf_Mary said:
Seeing good people leave and vowing to try to improve the situation instead of walking on that path is a worthy fight? What is said in the catechism about these issues?
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I’m not aware of any Magisterial statements, but if I’m wrong, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

Church-jumping doesn’t always occur for nefarious or petty reasons. We’re considering another parish simply because the youth group is HUGE and LOUD and overwhelming for my daughter. We once moved parishes because we wanted a cry room with speakers for our perpetual-motion toddlers.

There are some things about a parish that are just impossible or extremely difficult to change. Some people move because they don’t understand a priest’s accent. My friend goes to Mass across town because her neighborhood parish has no kneelers and therefore no kneeling at the Consecration. And if you personally find tamborine-and-drumset Masses too distracting, good luck getting the musicians to change that! (The operative word here is “personally” - no flames, please).

All said, however, these are First World problems. I was telling a woman from a nearby small town about my struggles in selecting a parish. She just laughed and said, “We have one parish in a 50-mile radius. We make it work!”

I do have a lot of respect for that. 🙂
 
TheLittleLady said:
Am I the only one who thought this was going to be a thread about clothes?
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My first thought was of a fund raiser for the Parish in the form of jumpers similar to football colours , perhaps a St Patricks Parish jumper , green with a Shamrock,

or maybe jumpers in liturgical colours for the Mass. We are asked to wear red on Pentecost, and many love matching purple during purple liturgical season.
blackforest said:
I was bracing myself for another is-this-modest thread.
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I was thinking, a nice blouse and twin set vs a crocheted jumper knitted by granny, for Mass

@Servant of Mary

It is fine to go to another Church in your Diocese for Mass. The Mass should be so focussed on worshipping God and that is our joy in attending Mass , to a large extent. If you cannot focus on the worship of God in that Parish Mass, find another that suits you. There are plenty of people I know who attend different Masses depending on their travel arrangements, special Masses, EF along with OF Masses. Your children will also benefit from a broader experience in faith worship, and likely meet some wonderful new people.
 
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Me. I thought it was about wearing a jumper to mass. Well if it’s a modest jumper, go right ahead.
 
No rules as far as I know besides going through the local parish for weddings and things like that. Getting approval at least.

I changed parishes. Best decision I ever made after becoming Catholic. After seeing the cliques and politics at the parish where I was confirmed, along with a lot of other things I don’t think it’s prudent to go into, I got frustrated and nearly lost my faith to be honest. Moving to the next closest parish made sense as I knew the priest, I went there for confession, and generally felt more comfortable at Mass. I finally registered this year but I don’t feel comfortable getting involved in activities. I don’t want it to become like last time.
 
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The answer is that, technically, you belong to the parish in which you geographically reside. (unless you qualify for membership in a personal parish, but that’s a different situation).
However, you are free to attend Mass in any parish you wish.

In many dioceses, my own included, the diocese recognizes registration in a parish outside your parish boundaries and allows that pastor the same rights and responsibilities over a registered parishioner as he would have over a resident parishioner.

There’s no obligation in the Catechism to attend a certain number of Masses in your ‘home’ parish – if you find you are more spiritually fed in another parish, you are free to attend Mass there.
 
The Catechism does not cover this issue. Canon law does, somewhat.
Can. 518 As a general rule a parish is to be territorial, that is, one which includes all the Christian faithful of a certain territory. When it is expedient, however, personal parishes are to be established determined by reason of the rite, language, or nationality of the Christian faithful of some territory, or even for some other reason.
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You are a member of a parish because you live in the established boundaries of that parish, unless there is a special parish. Most parishes are normal. You may attend mass or go to confession at a different parish, as you wish. If you want to be buried or married, etc., then it will matter what the local custom is in your diocese, since those are normally done in your parish. In the USA, often there is this thing called “registration”, and if you do so they might treat you mostly like you live in that parish, from your perspective.
 
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Me, too! That’s the mode my household is in at the moment. School shopping.
 
It’s already been shared what Canon Law has to say and how that’s applied in reality in most of the US. I’ll concur with those that have said it’s unfortunate that people don’t support their proper parish, but I’d have to simultaneously lecture myself in a mirror. For those non-nefarious reasons alluded to, I’ve never been inside the door of my territorial parish church. I was well-incorporated into a neighboring parish in another diocese long before I knew we had territorial parishes and related ‘obligations’ - at which point making any changes wasn’t feasible.
 
One shouldn’t “parish-shop”. Joining a parish isn’t like joining a country club (or any other social or even service club) or selecting which college to attend.

One should usually select a nearby parish with guidance from the Holy Spirit and leave it at that.

One should avoid “consumerism” in regards to selecting which Catholic Church one should register at and attend.
 
The only thing in the Catechism is that support of your parish is one of the precepts of the Faith.

You may attend and support 100 other parishes, but, also support your geographical home parish.
 
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