How to change Churches?

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I came back to Mass in April an really like the Church I was attending. Here’s the problem. Even though it’s very close to where I live, it’s not the closest apparently. When I called their main office to register, they told me I needed to register at another Church in the area. Well, I attended that one tonight and just didn’t like it as much. I won’t get into the reasons, but how can I become a member of the other church? I thought that it didn’t matter which one you belong to as long as they’re in the same diocese where you live.
 
You are under no obligation to attend the church in which you are registered. (Or the diocese for that matter)

Scott
 
If I remember correctly, I don’t think you are required to register with the parish closest to your residence. In the past I believe that was the case but I thought it had been changed. Does anyone else know if this is the case?
 
When my kids were younger, I wanted to be active in the parish where they would be going to school. The parish in which I live doesn’t have a school, so I requested and received permission from my “geographic” pastor to register in the other parish. I’ve been registered there ever since. Hope that helps.
 
That is apparently NOT the rule in the Archdiocese of Detroit. In these days of a commuter mindset, you should be able to register anywhere you want. Are you in the Diocese of Lincoln, perchance?
 
you are automatically a member of your geographic parish, and cannot be required to register. however if you wish the parish to keep track of your contributions for you, they can ask you to register and get envelopes. You cannot be denied the sacraments by your geographic parish if you are otherwise eligible. You can attend Mass at any Catholic parish you wish. If you want to be active there, and if that church happens to be a mission of another church, or part of a parish cluster under one pastor, you may be asked to register with the main church since that is where the records will be kept.
 
After looking around on the internet I think I was wrong. Cannon 518 says,

*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.

*Which I believe means that parishes are “territorial” in general, thus, you have to register with your territorial parish. However, it says, “in general” so that would probably mean that it’s up to the bishop of the diocese as to whether or not he wants to enforce it. Just because you have to register in a particular parish doesn’t prevent you from attending another parish. Personally, however, I believe it’s best to attend your “territorial” parish regardless if you like it or not. Because if everyone who didn’t like their parish left to go somewhere else the things they didn’t like would never get changed. Instead of sticking around and trying to make changes people would just “flee” to another parish.
 
I go to the Cathedral downtown - its definitely not the closest Church to me - I registered with no problem.
 
I think all the catholic churches are open to anyone. They cannot deny or prevent a person especially a catholic to eneter the church.

Do you still need to register in a parish?

I dont think that there is a document saying that you must register to a parish in order to become their member.
 
Detroit Sue:
That is apparently NOT the rule in the Archdiocese of Detroit. In these days of a commuter mindset, you should be able to register anywhere you want. Are you in the Diocese of Lincoln, perchance?
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Yes, Diocese of Lincoln. We have some wonderful priests here 🙂
 
Mt19:26:
After looking around on the internet I think I was wrong. Cannon 518 says,

*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.

*Which I believe means that parishes are “territorial” in general, thus, you have to register with your territorial parish. However, it says, “in general” so that would probably mean that it’s up to the bishop of the diocese as to whether or not he wants to enforce it. Just because you have to register in a particular parish doesn’t prevent you from attending another parish. Personally, however, I believe it’s best to attend your “territorial” parish regardless if you like it or not. Because if everyone who didn’t like their parish left to go somewhere else the things they didn’t like would never get changed. Instead of sticking around and trying to make changes people would just “flee” to another parish.
Click to expand...
Generally, I would agree one should stay and try to be leaven in one’s not-so-perfect parish. But in some dioceses there is a double standard: i.e. one parish admits everyone to its registry from any locale --not just within its boundaries–and conducts itself in a way to attract Catholics that pick and chose among the Church’s teachings. So the balance is already tilted toward heterodoxy and won’t change as it has taken root in the parish through its parishioners. The pastor in this parish hasn’t really taken a stance and appears unlikely to do so in the future. If a new, “orthodox” pastor were to be appointed, he would have quite a history to unravel. In contrast, other parishes more “faithful” to the Church’s teachings are “closed” to those outside their boundaries…creates a bit of a trap if you’re unfortunate enough to be assigned to the heterodox parish and apparently both policies are condoned by the local bishop…Parishioners can, of course, attend elsewhere but their involvement in other parish activities will be somewhat limited and their children’s catechesis will be in their home parish. In a sense they are spiritual refugees not welcome in either place. Frustrating!
 
When we first moved to our area, we were empty nesters with a child in college. I called our geographical parish to register, and actually contacted the pastor, no secretary. I was told we had to bring our checkbook, so they could check the checkbook register and deterime how much we would be paying in offerings. I called the diocese. The representative not only apologized and said the atter would be handled, but said to pick any parish we wanted, as the bishop had some sort of understanding about geographical boundaries. We registered in one and made minimal conributions to it, but went to a big parish in Chicago’s Loop, as my husband worked downtown.

We currently live on the border between two parishes. We don’t go to either. When my daughter came home with her children and wanted to raise them as Catholics, they needed baptism. So, we went parish shopping, This way, we could help her if she wanted it (and at one point, she really needed it). We adults created criteria and went from parish to parish for Mass, called and asked questions, etc.

One of the two geographical parishes wanted us to come to a meeting on a particular evening, where they would tell us what they “expected” of us. We would have the next week to think about all that, then come to a second meeting where we would make a commitment regarding parish volunteerism as well as our weekly financial contribution. They didn’t get picked.

The other geographical parish was just not our family. It’s an OK parish, and as it turns out, our pastor and their pastor are good friends (we all joke about them going to “Bible camp” together every year, which is really a summer institute).

But the one we picked is one we found out had rumors of nastiness and snobbishness attached to it. We found very little, less than most places. It’s on the other side of town. Our granddaughters were baptized there and now attend the school.
 
DetroitSue,
Thank you for easing my mind on the requirement of the local church. My local church is where I attended grade school, and easily within walking distance (if I could do it as a kid, certainly now), but it doesn’t have mass every day and the priest is shared with at least one other parish (but he is extremely friendly).

I have been parish “shopping” (going back to mass after a long absence), and think I have found my church. However, when I went to register during parish office hours, the office was closed. And when I called, only got an automated service. Left my name and number and reason and never got a call back.

I can never seem to get to church early :rolleyes: , but after mass, I am saying the Rosary. By the time I am finished, everyone has disappeared.

Any suggestions?

Maggie
 
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