Help with being a registered Parishoner

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Kenny_Kamel

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I have some general questions about being a registered Parishoner. Let me start off by saying that prior to moving where I have lived for two years now the Priest at my home parish advised me to register with a certain parish in town which I did not do and am now regretting. I registered at our Cathedral which I live a block away from, I serve as a lector at daily Mass (at least 2 weeks every month) and have worked to do more in the parish with little or no meaningful results. Here are my questions:
  1. Can I “un-register” from my current parish and register at another parish of my choosing?
  2. Regardless of the answer to #1, I do my best to make an offering of at least 10% of my gross income to the parish every month. Am I required to make an offering to the parish I’m registered at or can I make it to any parish of my choosing?
The biggest reason behind why I’m asking these questions is because at my current parish I feel like I am not part of any actual community because it seems like none actually exist for me to be a part of. I go to Mass seven days a week unless I truly am unable and every Sunday Mass I attend… well I feel like I’m just going to Mass with everyone else and leaving afterward because I have no one to socialize with in any meaningful way.

The “other” parish which I would like to be a part of, I know far more people there and the parish itself seems warm and welcoming to everyone. People want me to be a part of that parish and participate whereas in my current parish I’m just there with everyone else feeling like I’m just going through the motions more often than not. It is also difficult because all parishes in my local area are family-centric above all else, I’m 31 and am not a parent or child as I don’t have any family in the Church. I truly value my connection to the community I’ve found myself to be a part of in the “other” parish as it is the foundation of my life in this city.

Any thoughts?
 
We recently transferred parishes; we had to visit with the priest at the new parish before we could officially join. He asked us where we were currently registered, and once we told him, he said it was no problem. (Our former parish has liturgical abuse issues, among other things.) However, each diocese may have different rules regarding ‘districts/home parishes’. We are now members and have the same rights/responsibilities as those who live inside the boundaries.

You could also ask the diocesan office of the process.
 
You are free to register at any parish you wish. You can do so easily by calling the parish you are currently registered with and telling them that you are no longer a parishioner. They will take you off their mailing lists and stop sending envelopes and/or newsletters. Then just register at your new parish.

You are free to donate and not donate to either parish, regardless of where you are registered. I recommend donating to the parish where you are officially registered because it it’s a way for them to know you are an active, participating member. Some churches require/request this type of demonstration of support if they don’t know you personally or recognize you and yet you need them to confirm that you are an active member to be sponsor or godparent for someone or to get a school tuition discount.
 
Kenny_Kamel said:
I have some general questions about being a registered Parishoner. Let me start off by saying that prior to moving where I have lived for two years now the Priest at my home parish advised me to register with a certain parish in town which I did not do and am now regretting. I registered at our Cathedral which I live a block away from, I serve as a lector at daily Mass (at least 2 weeks every month) and have worked to do more in the parish with little or no meaningful results. Here are my questions:
  1. Can I “un-register” from my current parish and register at another parish of my choosing?
  2. Regardless of the answer to #1, I do my best to make an offering of at least 10% of my gross income to the parish every month. Am I required to make an offering to the parish I’m registered at or can I make it to any parish of my choosing?
The biggest reason behind why I’m asking these questions is because at my current parish I feel like I am not part of any actual community because it seems like none actually exist for me to be a part of. I go to Mass seven days a week unless I truly am unable and every Sunday Mass I attend… well I feel like I’m just going to Mass with everyone else and leaving afterward because I have no one to socialize with in any meaningful way.

The “other” parish which I would like to be a part of, I know far more people there and the parish itself seems warm and welcoming to everyone. People want me to be a part of that parish and participate whereas in my current parish I’m just there with everyone else feeling like I’m just going through the motions more often than not. It is also difficult because all parishes in my local area are family-centric above all else, I’m 31 and am not a parent or child as I don’t have any family in the Church. I truly value my connection to the community I’ve found myself to be a part of in the “other” parish as it is the foundation of my life in this city.

Any thoughts?
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You can register at any parish you want and even at many parishes.
However, your parish is only the one in which you are resident and only in that parish can you and your family have access to baptism, marriage and burial. Any other parish (even ones you register with) is not allowed to baptise, marry or bury you or any of your family. That would require the permission of your own parish priest.
 
Well, Thistle, what you say may or may not be true (I don’t really know) but in actual practice where you are registered can do Baptisms, marriages, funerals etc. The parish where I was baptized hasn’t been my parish for 40 years. I was Confirmed in another parish, married in yet another parish and have been registered member of at least 7 parishes since then.

For the last 7 years I have been a registered member of 2 parishes. One being active and the other is a fall back parish (in case of bad weather). 🤷
 
Kenny_Kamel said:
I have some general questions about being a registered Parishoner. Let me start off by saying that prior to moving where I have lived for two years now the Priest at my home parish advised me to register with a certain parish in town which I did not do and am now regretting. I registered at our Cathedral which I live a block away from, I serve as a lector at daily Mass (at least 2 weeks every month) and have worked to do more in the parish with little or no meaningful results. Here are my questions:
  1. Can I “un-register” from my current parish and register at another parish of my choosing?
  2. Regardless of the answer to #1, I do my best to make an offering of at least 10% of my gross income to the parish every month. Am I required to make an offering to the parish I’m registered at or can I make it to any parish of my choosing?
The biggest reason behind why I’m asking these questions is because at my current parish I feel like I am not part of any actual community because it seems like none actually exist for me to be a part of. I go to Mass seven days a week unless I truly am unable and every Sunday Mass I attend… well I feel like I’m just going to Mass with everyone else and leaving afterward because I have no one to socialize with in any meaningful way.

The “other” parish which I would like to be a part of, I know far more people there and the parish itself seems warm and welcoming to everyone. People want me to be a part of that parish and participate whereas in my current parish I’m just there with everyone else feeling like I’m just going through the motions more often than not. It is also difficult because all parishes in my local area are family-centric above all else, I’m 31 and am not a parent or child as I don’t have any family in the Church. I truly value my connection to the community I’ve found myself to be a part of in the “other” parish as it is the foundation of my life in this city.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
You may go to any church you choose. You should be able to register and financially contribute to parishes of your choice. However, there are certainly events that must happen in your canonical parish; that is the one where you have domicile. This is a technical description. For most practical purposes it means the parish within whose boundaries you live. Baptisms and marriages must take place in your canonical parish.
 
I think each diocese have their own rules regarding this. Some will let you register wherever you want and others have strict boundaries. Some of the main reasons to register is so the church parish knows how many members it has and for you to receive notice of your charitable giving to the church for your taxes. You can participate in a parish without being registered in most areas but the more involved you become the more they will want you to register. We have parishioners from other churches who come help teach our kids at night and that is all they do with us. We have had people come from other churches in the area who had been Lectors and after doing it for a few years they are told they aren’t good enough so they come to us and they are just fine. Some churches have a small group of people who run them and if at some point they don’t like them they attempt to get rid of them. It is sad but it does happen. In my area no one has to have an interview with the priest first nor do they have to prove where they live to where they really belong but I know other areas you do. My SIL when they lived in GA called and wanted to register at a church they like and they were no they couldn’t do it so they just didn’t go. I feel it should be up to the individual where they go because I know I would not be happy in a liberal leaning parish and if my current parish changed its conservative/traditional ways I would be looking for another. God bless!!
 
thistle said:
You can register at any parish you want and even at many parishes.
However, your parish is only the one in which you are resident and only in that parish can you and your family have access to baptism, marriage and burial. Any other parish (even ones you register with) is not allowed to baptise, marry or bury you or any of your family. That would require the permission of your own parish priest.
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Bergon said:
You may go to any church you choose. You should be able to register and financially contribute to parishes of your choice. However, there are certainly events that must happen in your canonical parish; that is the one where you have domicile. This is a technical description. For most practical purposes it means the parish within whose boundaries you live. Baptisms and marriages must take place in your canonical parish.
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Well I believe there is a high probablity that I may marry a young lady from the “other” parish and I’m certain we’d be married there. Since she and her family are parishoners there I’d presume that wouldn’t be an issue. Also let’s say we do get married, do I in a sense transfer myself/registration there by default?

Thank you for all the answers, quite helpful 👍
 
Kenny_Kamel said:
Well I believe there is a high probablity that I may marry a young lady from the “other” parish and I’m certain we’d be married there. Since she and her family are parishoners there I’d presume that wouldn’t be an issue. Also let’s say we do get married, do I in a sense transfer myself/registration there by default?

Thank you for all the answers, quite helpful 👍
Click to expand...
When you get married you can obviously marry in your residential parish or in the residential parish of your wife to be.
Wherever the two of you will then live becomes the residential parish for both of you.
 
corsair said:
Well, Thistle, what you say may or may not be true (I don’t really know) but in actual practice where you are registered can do Baptisms, marriages, funerals etc. The parish where I was baptized hasn’t been my parish for 40 years. I was Confirmed in another parish, married in yet another parish and have been registered member of at least 7 parishes since then.

For the last 7 years I have been a registered member of 2 parishes. One being active and the other is a fall back parish (in case of bad weather). 🤷
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That is because the parish where you are registered will, without your knowledge, ask your parish of domicile for permission to baptize. It’s a routine procedure for these situations where sacraments are concerned.

Registering with a parish does not actually have canonical legal status. It’s just similar to the parish census in days gone by.
 
Kenny_Kamel said:
Well I believe there is a high probablity that I may marry a young lady from the “other” parish and I’m certain we’d be married there. Since she and her family are parishoners there I’d presume that wouldn’t be an issue. Also let’s say we do get married, do I in a sense transfer myself/registration there by default?

Thank you for all the answers, quite helpful 👍
Click to expand...
Of course, nowadays, couples are often from different parishes. The couple can marry in either parish with no need for permission. You can marry in your fiancée’s parish. You wouldn’t need to register in her parish.

You can also marry in another parish but you would need permission from your pastor(s).
 
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