Has your parish gone through a reverification of their records?

[Hopey]

You are not the only one that has missed a sacrament or the sacrament of Confirmation.

Just behind the scenes, I can tell you if a Bishop sees he has 12,000 receiving 1st Holy Communion and then, when it comes time for them to receive Confirmation, only 800 are requesting it, he knows not all have moved away but some are not making it - finishing it.

The way they have dealt with it in other place is run in the bulletin for those who need a the sacrament of Confirmation, etc, please call the office. I have seen them receive it when the others are scheduled. I have seen some do it at Easter time.

The way each diocese handles it varies. Some may do it better than others. If I were to go to a place where they did not know us, I would have to verify from our parishes of Baptism we have received the sacraments of initiation, etc.

It sounds like the way they are handling it is confusing and frustrating. I am sorry but glad you had no problem at the Maronite Parish.

 

[maryjk]

The way each diocese handles it varies. Some may do it better than others. If I were to go to a place where they did not know us, I would have to verify from our parishes of Baptism we have received the sacraments of initiation, etc.

It sounds like the way they are handling it is confusing and frustrating. I am sorry but glad you had no problem at the Maronite Parish.

No, I am sorry, but this doesn’t make any sense.

For example, when I moved here, I had received all of my sacraments. The only sacrament that a priest will now give me, is the Anointing of the Sick. (And Confession, which isn’t kept as part of the parish records.) I did not, nor should I have to verify from my past parishes, my sacraments of initiation.

Now, when we moved, my son had not received Confirmation. So, when it was time, they checked with the parish of his Baptism. And received his records. But not to keep for themselves. In fact, after Confirmation, they sent information about that Confirmation BACK to the parish of his Baptism. Because that is where ALL of the information belongs. Now they may have kept his information. But that is so they know where to refer if he decides to marry while he is living here.

Again, there is no reason to verify everyone’s sacraments. None. And to say this was done for an entire diocese? I am sorry, but that doesn’t make any sense at all.

 

[Hopey]

No, I am sorry, but this doesn’t make any sense.

For example, when I moved here, I had received all of my sacraments. The only sacrament that a priest will now give me, is the Anointing of the Sick. (And Confession, which isn’t kept as part of the parish records.) I did not, nor should I have to verify from my past parishes, my sacraments of initiation.

Now, when we moved, my son had not received Confirmation. So, when it was time, they checked with the parish of his Baptism. And received his records. But not to keep for themselves. In fact, after Confirmation, they sent information about that Confirmation BACK to the parish of his Baptism. Because that is where ALL of the information belongs. Now they may have kept his information. But that is so they know where to refer if he decides to marry while he is living here.

Again, there is no reason to verify everyone’s sacraments. None. And to say this was done for an entire diocese? I am sorry, but that doesn’t make any sense at all.

So, when you moved to another diocese, you were not asked what your parish was where you were baptized to verify that you were Catholic and had received the sacraments of initiation?

 

[Hopey]

BTW, the only sacraments that are recorded (dates) are Baptism/Confirmation/1st Holy communion. They also record marriages and ordinations.
They do not register officially anywhere anointing of the sick or Extreme Unction, etc.

Some times parishes will do this without you ever knowing it - a phone call for verification. Some, it seem like from OP, want YOU to provide the info. Some people have copies of their baptismal certificates, etc and can provide it.

 

[maryjk]

So, when you moved to another diocese, you were not asked what your parish was where you were baptized to verify that you were Catholic and had received the sacraments of initiation?

Never. And I have moved, a lot. And they did ask me if I were receiving a new sacrament. Which tells me that they didn’t look up stuff when I moved. Nor did they have it on record.

Think about it. Do you have to prove that you have received Baptism and Communion, when you visit a parish? Or do you simply walk up for Communion if you are properly disposed? I know I simply walk up. I don’t show a copy of my Baptism certificate and driver’s license to the priest.

And if a parish was to do this when you moved? There would be no need to check it again. So there would be no need for a “reverification.”

 

[Hopey]

When I have registered at parishes and those in a different diocese, I had to put the parish I was baptized at - city, state- approximate date - and if I could remember the other sacraments (date/place) put that also.

That way, they could verify what I was saying was true. I may never know they made the call, but most likely someone did.

For our children, I did have to provide info and request a baptismal certificate for one child. I have copies anyway so, that is covered. They have received all sacraments of initiation anyway so the only other thing for them would be if they married or were ordained.

 

[Hopey]

Never. And I have moved, a lot. And they did ask me if I were receiving a new sacrament. Which tells me that they didn’t look up stuff when I moved. Nor did they have it on record.

Think about it. Do you have to prove that you have received Baptism and Communion, when you visit a parish? Or do you simply walk up for Communion if you are properly disposed? I know I simply walk up. I don’t show a copy of my Baptism certificate and driver’s license to the priest.

And if a parish was to do this when you moved? There would be no need to check it again. So there would be no need for a “reverification.”

Ideally it should only apply if you were registering at a new parish. I have not seen any try to prove for those just visiting as most could not before Mass anyway!

Some places do ask you for that info, and I am just telling you what SOME do behind the scenes. How they verify a parishioner is fully initiated seems to vary. How a bishop handles it seems to vary also.

A parishioner is a little different than someone visiting.

 

[maryjk]

When I have registered at parishes and those in a different diocese, I had to put the parish I was baptized at - city, state- approximate date - and if I could remember the other sacraments (date/place) put that also.

That way, they could verify what I was saying was true. I may never know they made the call, but most likely someone did.

For our children, I did have to provide info and request a baptismal certificate for one child. I have copies anyway so, that is covered. They have received all sacraments of initiation anyway so the only other thing for them would be if they married or were ordained.

You can tell if they didn’t make the call. Because they would ask you for that information again, if you requested another sacrament.

For example. We moved in 2003. My son was Confirmed in 2009. In 2009, they asked for his Baptismal church. If they had checked in 2003, they wouldn’t have had to ask in 2009. It wouldn’t have changed.

And again, this wouldn’t mean that everyone in the parish had to go through this, *at the same time. * It would happen when they moved. And it wouldn’t explain why people that were long ago Baptized, would need to take a class. I know I didn’t take a class when I was Baptized. Heck, I was just a month old.

It just sounds like there is more to the story. Either it wasn’t parish wide. Or it was only those making another sacrament. Or something.

As I said, in answer to the OP’s question. NO, I know of no parish that has done this. And, NO, I know of no reason that a parish would do this.

 

[Hopey]

You can tell if they didn’t make the call. Because they would ask you for that information again, if you requested another sacrament.

For example. We moved in 2003. My son was Confirmed in 2009. In 2009, they asked for his Baptismal church. If they had checked in 2003, they wouldn’t have had to ask in 2009. It wouldn’t have changed.

And again, this wouldn’t mean that everyone in the parish had to go through this, *at the same time. * It would happen when they moved. And it wouldn’t explain why people that were long ago Baptized, would need to take a class. I know I didn’t take a class when I was Baptized. Heck, I was just a month old.

It just sounds like there is more to the story. Either it wasn’t parish wide. Or it was only those making another sacrament. Or something.

As I said, in answer to the OP’s question. NO, I know of no parish that has done this. And, NO, I know of no reason that a parish would do this.

Yes, I agree it is strange to require the whole parish to do it. If they really wanted to do it a better way, they could have everyone fill out the register form again and put it there.

It would seem the call of the parish as to if they call or not so I see what you are saying. You have to fill it out anyway even if the parish you are at was the one you were baptized in! That had some scratching their heads also in the past. It was just paper work for them.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

So, when you moved to another diocese, you were not asked what your parish was where you were baptized to verify that you were Catholic and had received the sacraments of initiation?

The only time I’ve been asked for that info was when receiving another sacrament. Before I received my First Communion (way back when I was a child) I had to provide a baptismal certificate. And later when I was confirmed I had to do the same. I’m not married but a baptismal certificate would be required for that as well, in part because it records any previous marriages.

I’ve never even had a parish ask where I was baptized let alone ask for proof of baptism. One parish had you check off boxes to show which sacraments you had received but you didn’t have to prove anything. Other parishes haven’t asked at all – they just wanted name, address, phone number, etc.

 

[Hopey]

The only time I’ve been asked for that info was when receiving another sacrament. Before I received my First Communion (way back when I was a child) I had to provide a baptismal certificate. And later when I was confirmed I had to do the same. I’m not married but a baptismal certificate would be required for that as well, in part because it records any previous marriages.

I’ve never even had a parish ask where I was baptized let alone ask for proof of baptism. One parish had you check off boxes to show which sacraments you had received but you didn’t have to prove anything. Other parishes haven’t asked at all – they just wanted name, address, phone number, etc.

It seems they all do it differently and the way they do it can be confusing/frustrating.
I had to check off the boxes you were talking about AND provide parish/date etc. Now, I got some of those wrong but it did say to do your best!

I have seen one in my life time that the person NEVER went through the sacraments of initiation but wanted to be Catholic and became one on his own. YIKES. But, that was taken care of very well, imo. When you have someone who wants to be a Catholic so strongly, but went about it the wrong way, you work with them while respecting that desire.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

It seems they all do it differently and the way they do it can be confusing/frustrating.

Registering in a parish isn’t anything required in canon law or anywhere else. I think it’s common in the US but not other countries. So it becomes a question of why the parish is asking for the information at all.

Contact info is useful for doing parish mailings, including envelopes. (And envelopes help track donations for tax purposes.) They may ask about other things in order to provide information or services to people, but it’s really a local decision that each parish makes.