How to choose a parish? Or does the parish choose you?

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zab said:
Then, why must you confess?
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To help you to understand the meaning of my expression, let me re-phrase it for you. I have used the expression as the equivalent to saying “I must admit that I am interested” in how Father David’s questions will be answered.

I can be even more demonstrative. I am looking forward with much anticipation to reading responses since this is an important matter in canon law. It is not something to be treated as though it were insignificant.

Thank you very much for giving me another opportunity to call the attention of the thread back to Father David’s questions.

And I also thank you for giving me the added opportunity to add a further remark: how much his comments about the issues he raises regarding canon law deserve to be very thoughtfully reflected upon by all who will read this thread – now and in the future.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
Originally Posted by Don Ruggero
I must confess that I am interested now in reading the answers of those who respond to Father David’s questions.

I seem to have been misunderstood. I was expressing my interest in how people will answer Father David’s questions. I am not anticipating what anyone is going to say but I am genuinely interested, as a priest, in how they will answer.
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Many of us have been misunderstood. But I must admit that I am curious as to why you are interested in how people will respond.
 
Wesrock said:
Are there any resources to help with finding parish boundaries?
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In the local Roman diocese where I live, the official boundary maps can be obtained through the diocese’s website via pdf file. Every parish has its own listing with a boundary map. That being said, I am not aware if every parish office knows what their ‘official’ boundaries are. I was given misinformation through parish offices. So check with your diocesan office.
 
I wonder if Fr. David or Don Ruggero, or one of the other knowledgeable people here, can answer a question for me.

How is it usually handled when registered parishioners in one parish request baptism for their child, if the territorial parish is different? Does a request for permission happen behind the scenes? In some places, is there standing permission, based upon informal or formal agreement of the pastors? How does it work if the parish that the family attends is in a different diocese from the territorial parish?
 
Casilda said:
In the local Roman diocese where I live, the official boundary maps can be obtained through the diocese’s website via pdf file. Every parish has its own listing with a boundary map. That being said, I am not aware if every parish office knows what their ‘official’ boundaries are. I was given misinformation through parish offices. So check with your diocesan office.
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Thank you, I found maps of parish boundaries on the diocese’s website. The more you know! So, I’m definitely not within the boundaries of the church I currently attend.

Do I have obligations to my geographical parish?
 
CarmenRose said:
Hmm, I’m not sure it is in my area there are so many. No one mentioned geography in my class, they seem to recommend finding a parish that is comfortable to you, which is where I’m coming from with my question.
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A “parish” is a geographical area, think of Louisiana, which uses the term “parish” to describe their counties.
 
Kielbasi said:
A “parish” is a geographical area, think of Louisiana, which uses the term “parish” to describe their counties.
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Thinking of Louisiana doesn’t quite hit it for me. I’m not from Louisiana, so I associate parish more with the church I attend. I actually like FrDavid96’s example best:

*"…A Catholic becomes a member of a parish by living within the parish territory.

**The question is no different than asking “what state do I pick?” or “what county do I pick?” or “what city do I pick?”
**
You can certainly choose one, but the only way to change is to move. "
*
 
babochka said:
I wonder if Fr. David or Don Ruggero, or one of the other knowledgeable people here, can answer a question for me.

How is it usually handled when registered parishioners in one parish request baptism for their child, if the territorial parish is different? Does a request for permission happen behind the scenes? In some places, is there standing permission, based upon informal or formal agreement of the pastors? How does it work if the parish that the family attends is in a different diocese from the territorial parish?
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Every situation is different. Every one is unique.

It’s always going to depend on the circumstances.

I’ve had situations where a family wants a child baptised at a church because of family history. In that case, permission is usually given very easily.

I’ve had situations where a family comes to me for baptism after their proper pastor already told them he would delay the baptism (they haven’t been to Mass in years). In a case like that, I won’t do it.

Personally, I usually handle this sort of thing with a quick phone call. I know all my neighboring pastors (as do most priests, although it might take a little while when one or the other is newly assigned). If I don’t know the other priest personally, I insist on doing things in writing.

If someone requests baptism from other-than the proper pastor, the first question should always be “why?” If it’s a good reason, most priests will readily give permission.
 
Wesrock said:
Thank you, I found maps of parish boundaries on the diocese’s website. The more you know! So, I’m definitely not within the boundaries of the church I currently attend.

Do I have obligations to my geographical parish?
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Not obligations articulated in canon law.*

There is no canonical obligation to attend X number of Masses, or to make contributions, or anything else like that. There were some under the 1917 Code, but they’ve been abrogated.

You have rights under canon law, to ministry from your own proper pastor and parish.

I suppose someone might say that there are moral obligations toward ones own parish. I think that’s arguable. Still, there are no specific canonical obligations.

*There are times when obligations do arise. If you baptize a child in danger of death, you are obligated to notify the pastor in whose territory the baptism occurred (very specifically that pastor). However, I don’t think that’s the type of obligation you’re asking about.
 
When I was a kid in the early 1960’s, I grew up in what was then a new subdivision at the very edge of the parish. My father signed me up for CCD classes, but looked to sign me up in the church of the adjacent parish as classes were scheduled for Saturday morning as opposed to a weekday afternoon as they were in my own parish church. Just easier to get me there on Saturday as none of the other kids on the street would be going to the weekday classes- the other kids in the neighborhood were all parochial students, non-Catholic or attended ethnic churches- e.g. Italian or Polish.

It was a bit of an effort to convince the receiving church to accept my matriculation and my home parish to allow me to go.
 
FrDavid96 said:
I’ve had situations where a family comes to me for baptism after their proper pastor already told them he would delay the baptism (they haven’t been to Mass in years). In a case like that, I won’t do it.
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:nope: hindering children. Lord, have mercy
 
Casilda said:
:nope: hindering children. Lord, have mercy
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Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly:
1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent;
2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.
What’s the point of baptizing children and imposing all sorts of obligations on them when there is a good chance they will never darken the church door again?
 
Casilda said:
:nope: hindering children. Lord, have mercy
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Its not the priest who is hindering the children. Its the parents. If the priest is not pretty sure the children will be brought up properly in the Catholic faith he can delay baptism. In this case it would appear the parents hardly ever attend Mass which makes it likely the children will not be brought properly in the Catholic faith.
 
thistle said:
Its not the priest who is hindering the children. Its the parents. If the priest is not pretty sure the children will be brought up properly in the Catholic faith he can delay baptism…
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“Founded hope” isn’t quite the same as “pretty sure”.

Can’t say the priest was right or wrong on this, but your standard sounds a bit higher than what is stated in the canon.
 
Kielbasi said:
“Founded hope” isn’t quite the same as “pretty sure”.

Can’t say the priest was right or wrong on this, but your standard sounds a bit higher than what is stated in the canon.
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That’s not exactly the topic here.

We don’t need such exacting precision when the sentence itself is secondary to the topic.

My point (my original point) is that when the proper pastor of the parents decides to delay baptism (according to the norm of law) then I will not perform the baptism myself in my parish church (since I am not their proper pastor). I am not going to defy that other pastor’s decision about a matter that the law clearly says is his decision to make ( and specifically not my decision).
 
Kielbasi said:
When I was a kid in the early 1960’s, I grew up in what was then a new subdivision at the very edge of the parish. My father signed me up for CCD classes, but looked to sign me up in the church of the adjacent parish as classes were scheduled for Saturday morning as opposed to a weekday afternoon as they were in my own parish church. Just easier to get me there on Saturday as none of the other kids on the street would be going to the weekday classes- the other kids in the neighborhood were all parochial students, non-Catholic or attended ethnic churches- e.g. Italian or Polish.

It was a bit of an effort to convince the receiving church to accept my matriculation and my home parish to allow me to go.
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Good for your father, who was trying to do the best that he could to get you the Catholic education that he wanted you to have, knowing that it would be difficult for you to go on a weekday. Yes, there are rules and guidelines but sometimes exceptions can be made. Thankfully, the priest listened and made a decision on what was best for the child (you). No doubt he called your family’s pastor and worked it out.
 
rondirect said:
Why is “shopping around poison?” And I believe that music, homilies, pastors, etc. are valid reasons to do so. Why should you go to your local church and be miserable? For some one parish fits their needs, while for others it may not.
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I’m late coming back. I’m going to have to look at that article everyone seems to like.

BUT… If you, and enough like you, don’t abandon your parish, you might not be miserable.

There’s a lot of reasons to attend a different Parish, but I don’t believe music and homilies are valid. Pastor might be, but shouldn’t be.

Nothing prevents you from doing stuff at other parishes, if it’s possible you might even go to vigil at yours and be “miserable” for an evening while you receive there and do morning at another you prefer.
 
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