Canon 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.
§1. A pastor is obliged to make provision so that the word of God is proclaimed in its entirety to those living in the parish; for this reason, he is to take care that the lay members of the Christian faithful are instructed in the truths of the faith, especially by giving a homily on Sundays and holy days of obligation and by offering catechetical instruction. He is to foster works through which the spirit of the gospel is promoted, even in what pertains to social justice. He is to have particular care for the Catholic education of children and youth. He is to make every effort, even with the collaboration of the Christian faithful, so that the message of the gospel comes also to those who have ceased the practice of their religion or do not profess the true faith.
§2. The pastor is to see to it that the Most Holy Eucharist is the center of the parish assembly of the faithful.
Can. 528He is to work so that the Christian faithful are nourished through the devout celebration of the sacraments and, in a special way, that they frequently approach the sacraments of the Most Holy Eucharist and penance. He is also to endeavor that they are led to practice prayer even as families and take part consciously and actively in the sacred liturgy which, under the authority of the diocesan bishop, the pastor must direct in his own parish and is bound to watch over so that no abuses creep in.
§1. In order to fulfill his office diligently, a pastor is to strive to know the faithful entrusted to his care.
Therefore he is to visit families, sharing especially in the cares, anxieties, and griefs of the faithful, strengthening them in the Lord, and prudently correcting them if they are failing in certain areas. With generous love he is to help the sick, particularly those close to death, by refreshing them solicitously with the sacraments and commending their souls to God; with particular diligence he is to seek out the poor, the afflicted, the lonely, those exiled from their country, and similarly those weighed down by special difficulties. He is to work so that spouses and parents are supported in fulfilling their proper duties and is to foster growth of Christian life in the family.
Can. 529§2. A pastor is to recognize and promote the proper part which the lay members of the Christian faithful have in the mission of the Church, by fostering their associations for the purposes of religion. He is to cooperate with his own bishop and the presbyterium of the diocese, also working so that the faithful have concern for parochial communion, consider themselves members of the diocese and of the universal Church, and participate in and sustain efforts to promote this same communion.
They actually have boundaries. You can inquire with the parish, and they’ll tell you “East of Route 3, north of the interstate, west of Elm Street and the river, and south of Main street.” Wherever you live, you’re in some parish’s boundaries.How would you define geographical? I live in an area that has half a dozen churches within 20 minutes of me. When I came back to the church about a year ago I went to them all and settled on one of them to register with. It is not the closest one to me but it is the one I attend and support.
Does geographical mean the one closest to where you live?
Yes, that’s true. But canonically it’s the geographic pastor, not the “registered” pastor, who’s responsible for you. Hence the discouragement (in some areas; apparently not in yours) of registering at a “wrong” parish.I know several people who are registered at a parish that is not the one inside of their geographical boundaries. For the most part, they left the geographical parish because they did not like it or the pastor. They had no difficulties joining another parish. They just asked to transfer, filled out the paperwork at the new parish and started getting envelopes for the new parish that they attend.
In one other instance, a friend of mine did not dislike his parish or pastor, but the Mass times were inconvenient due to his work schedule. Since he was already attending a different parish every Sunday for Mass, he finally went ahead and registered at that parish.
That’s not necessarily true. Some parishes are ethnic parishes, which serve non-geographical areas, such as Poles, Slovaks, or Italians.They actually have boundaries. You can inquire with the parish, and they’ll tell you “East of Route 3, north of the interstate, west of Elm Street and the river, and south of Main street.” Wherever you live, you’re in some parish’s boundaries.
I believe that’s correct, but there are issues: for example, when you get married, your territorial pastor has to handle the arrangements (luckily in this country, that’s often done behind the scenes). E.g., say you were born & baptized in Parish A, confirmed in Parish B, and now live within Parish C but attend (and are registered with) Parish D. If you get engaged and want to get married in Parish E, you’ll need to contact Pastor C (not Pastor D, though he might help out with the logistics), who will pull your records from Parish A (to make sure you aren’t already married or subject to a consecrated-life vow) and will grant “permission” to Pastor E to witness your wedding.Thanks for all this. I thought the parish that always held one’s sacramental records was the parish one was baptized in, not the parish one resides in?