Is parish hopping ok?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shinywooper
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shinywooper

Guest
Hi, I know parish-hopping is frowned upon and I totally understand why, it’s better to be grounded in one for the community aspect. However I’m in college and my schedule is different every day, and I do try to go to daily mass, but sometime I have class during the parish’s daily mass. I have about 4 parishes I can go to during the week that work with my work and school schedule. Should I just try to only go to one or would it be ok just to go to different ones during the week? (I try to go to the same one on Sunday) anything helps 🙂
 
More than fine, I think it’s wonderful you are trying to attend daily Mass. I know many working people who do the same during the week.
 
It depends. Strictly speaking we fulfill our obligation to attend Mass by attending any Mass celebrated in the world.
 
Last edited:
Go where you can.

Being a member of a Parish Community is more than just attending Mass. A lot of people seem to think that the Catholic Church is some kind of free entertainment that’s other people’s responsibility. Because of your college schedule, you are probably not in a position to take a full active part in Parish life, but I recommend you do so during holidays.
 
We’re only obliged to hear Mass on Sundays & Holy Days of Obligation - so at other times e.g. through the week attend whatever Mass fits in with your schedule, wherever that may be.
 
People in irregular situations sometimes end up hopping a lot, but in a stable living environment most people would agree - purely in terms of spiritual and psychological health - that it is best to have a regular parish.

This isn’t a requirement, it’s just practical wisdom.
 
Last edited:
I’m a “roaming” Catholic at times. You go where you have to according to your situation. The only thing that matters is that you go. Sometimes we prefer the Latin Mass, sometimes we go to another parish to go to Mass with family, and sometimes we go to visit another priest, and sometimes we just like the surroundings during certain times of the year, like Holy Week during Lent. Just go. It can be refreshing and you get to meet other Catholics you might have never got to know.
 
As long as you to mass, you are fine. I think it’s amazing you are trying so hard to go even with your schedule!
 
Make sure you are known at your actual, territorial parish. Sign up to be in the database, introduce yourself to the office staff, to the priest, volunteer occasionally, give a dollar or two in an envelope. Should you need a letter that says you are a “Catholic in good standing”, your territorial parish is the one that will be asked. It can be a challenge when it is a person who is completely unknown to the pastor or anyone on staff.
 
The thing about the Church is that it is universal. Attend any Church you want to attend.
We go to Mass to give glory and praise to God.
Sometimes, we gain a different perspective on our lives by attending Mass at a different parish. I find this is true when I go to confession where the priest I confess to is different. Different priest prescribe different throughs in the confession and give different penances.
God bless you, and all of us, who try to attend Mass as often as we can!
 
That’s isn’t really what people mean by “parish hopping” when they use that term.

What people generally mean is someone who shops parishes for superficial reasons and bounces from parish to parish over time never staying long for one reason or another— don’t like the music, don’t like Father’s homily, etc.

You are not “parish hopping” because you attend daily masses that align with your schedule. What you are doing is just fine.
 
1ke said:
That’s isn’t really what people mean by “parish hopping” when they use that term.

What people generally mean is someone who shops parishes for superficial reasons and bounces from parish to parish over time never staying long for one reason or another— don’t like the music, don’t like Father’s homily, etc.

You are not “parish hopping” because you attend daily masses that align with your schedule. What you are doing is just fine.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with this response.
 
Go where God calls you. Regardless of where you go, it’s the same Mass…universal and complete.

As far as “church hopping being frowned upon”, (this is my thought and not doctrine) that is because it is hard to get a census if people keep moving around. It is also difficult to project a fincial budget if tithes are sporadic.

I would recommend having a “home Church” for your pastoral needs and go to other Churches as needed.
 
First, your parish is determined by where you live. It is a bit more complicated than that but it is close enough.

Secondly, what you are doing is not ‘parish hopping’. Indeed, what you are doing is commendable. Each day you are locating a church whose Mass times fit in with your class schedule.

On days of obligation you can fulfil your obligation anywhere; it need not be your proper parish church.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top