Changing Parishes

[ukdal1]

I am in RCIA and have been wondering: Once I am in full communion with the Church, can I go to a different parish if I want?

 

[Rolltide]

Yep! Although you will register with a particular home parish, and that will be the place where you regularly attend, you can attend any Catholic Church in communion with the Holy See anywhere in the world for any service any time you like. Note that that includes Eastern Catholic services and foreign language services.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am in RCIA and have been wondering: Once I am in full communion with the Church, can I go to a different parish if I want?

OF course however you should continue with the people you have made friends with for the next year of Mystagogy.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

You do not have to register in most dioceses in your territorial parish. You should register where you feel the lead of the Holy Spirit.

But you will want to continue the year in the Mystagogy where you are- and you can still go to Mass and register where you like.

 

[stbruno]

Here’s the major difference between Protestant faiths and the Catholic church. No matter what country you travel, we worship basically alike. The mass in whatever language is said, is hopefully said in the same manner. So you are member of a wide family of one billion plus people. Congratulations on coming home. Worship in the church where you are comfortable and feel at home. Hopefully, you will find one that will keep you connected to our faith always…always on fire for the Lord!

Welcome home!

 

[puzzleannie]

yes, you can attend Mass in any Catholic parish, even an Eastern Rite if any are around you. You are automatically a member of the parish in whose geographic territory (boundaries) you reside. You really should give your financial support to the parish you are going to attend, where your children will be educated and receive sacraments etc. If you wish to do so you should register in the new parish so that your contributions will be recorded for tax purposes. One parish will maintain your sacramental records, and that is your baptismal parish. If your child is baptised at St. Mary’s, but later receives first communion and Confirmation at St. Michael, they will notify St. Marys so that a note is made in the baptismal register.

Please seriously consider attending mystagogy sessions in the original parish for at least a year. Experience has shown that when new Catholics do not participate in these sessions and do not become part of parish life, they are much more likely to abandon the faith.