Is there an actual map of who is in what parish territory?

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I’m just curious - if one wished to know what territorial parish one is actually part of, would there be some form of map or other resource to consult? In many places I’ve lived there are multiple parishes within a fairly close area, and it would be unclear to your average layperson which one they properly belonged to.
 
The short answer is yes, there is. But it might not be online or accessible.

The question really is how strict is boundariy usage in a Diocese. But in theory, you should be able to call your local parish to find out the boundaries of the Diocese.

The practice of the Diocese will dictate how readily available the answer will be to the person who answers the phone.

God Bless
 
phil19034 said:
The short answer is yes, there is. But it might not be online or accessible.
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I suppose whether it was accessible was my real question. It certainly isn’t anywhere on our diocesean website. (Interestingly, the USCCB does have a widget up that tells you what diocese you’re part of - although I did know the answer to that question.)
 
phil19034 said:
The short answer is yes, there is. But it might not be online or accessible.

The question really is how strict is boundariy usage in a Diocese. But in theory, you should be able to call your local parish to find out the boundaries of the Diocese.

The practice of the Diocese will dictate how readily available the answer will be to the person who answers the phone.
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If the person who answers the phone cannot answer the question, ask to speak to someone else, even if you need escalate to your bishop.

You acquire a territorial parish by your residence* and you have parochial rights. it would be unjust for these details to be withheld from you.
*
Except in very unusual circumstances. But even then, it is your right to be informed of the circumstance.
 
DarkLight said:
I’m just curious - if one wished to know what territorial parish one is actually part of, would there be some form of map or other resource to consult? In many places I’ve lived there are multiple parishes within a fairly close area, and it would be unclear to your average layperson which one they properly belonged to.
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A person can be properly of more than one parish, or of no parish, depending upon if they are:
incola (resident), advena (temporaly resident), peregrinus (traveler), or vagus (transient). These are determined by domicile and quasi-domicile.

Maybe what you are interested in is acquisition of pastor or ordinary?
CIC Can. 107 §1. Through both domicile and quasi-domicile, each person acquires his or her pastor and ordinary.
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Vico said:
A person can be properly of more than one parish, or of no parish, depending upon if they are:

incola (resident), advena (temporaly resident), peregrinus (traveler), or vagus (transient). These are determined by domicile and quasi-domicile.

Maybe what you are interested in is acquisition of pastor or ordinary?
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The question is - how does a layperson come to know what parish their domicile is in? Is there a map that one could look at to see the geographic boundaries of the different local parishes?
 
Yes, there are defined parish boundaries and maps thereof. Some diocese publish them and some do not. Ask the pastor of a nearby parish.
 
DarkLight said:
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Vico:
A person can be properly of more than one parish, or of no parish, depending upon if they are:

incola (resident), advena (temporaly resident), peregrinus (traveler), or vagus (transient). These are determined by domicile and quasi-domicile.

Maybe what you are interested in is acquisition of pastor or ordinary?
Click to expand...
The question is - how does a layperson come to know what parish their domicile is in? Is there a map that one could look at to see the geographic boundaries of the different local parishes?
Click to expand...
Some boundary maps are published on the web and others must be inquired about from the Chancery of the Diocese (or Eparchy).
 
This came up in our recent Parish Pastoral Council meeting. For our diocese, in modern Australia, the answer is “No”. The parish boundaries were created, and then moved, over a hundred and fifty years and the records of the decisions have been lost. It is not clear what the parish boundaries in our diocese are. Maybe they’re on the web? (jk).

That’s just 150 years to manage, with modern record keeping. I suspect that many dioceses in the world don’t have maps of the parish boundaries.
 
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As an example: The Archdiocese of Philadelphia lists the boundaries of each territorial parish on the website, with statistics of each parish. Here’s the boundary’s for one parish, listed on their information page
Paper Mill Rd. from Terwood Rd. (Mill Rd.) to Tomlinson Rd.; to Bustleton Ave.; to Verree Rd.; to Pennypack Creek; to intersection of New York and Newtown R.R.; to Terwood Rd.; to Paper Mill Rd.
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And we have this map, which isn’t detailed: http://archphila.org/pastplan/MAPS/Arch.pdf, plus this service with is pretty good: https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/...h=true&searchextent=true&displaybasemaps=true

We also have deanery maps on with details, such as this one: http://archphila.org/pastplan/MAPS/1.pdf

NOW, all of this is on the website in our Archdiocese, but I would guess that most have never seen it and if they have, they have only seen the words in the block quote above.

God Bless
 
I just called the office of the archdiocese and asked whether I can find out which territorial parish I belong to. She told me there’s no need and I can attend whichever parish I want to. Not really the answer I wanted but she sort of insisted that it doesn’t matter and I didn’t want to cause a fuss…so I thanked her and hung up…

(Edit: Fixed a word.)
 
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It’s mostly relevant for baptisms and weddings and the like. One is supposed to either be married by the ordinary for one of the parties to the marriage, or obtain permission from the ordinary to have the marriage performed elsewhere. Same thing with having one’s kids baptized. However one is free to attend Mass wherever it is celebrated by a priest in communion with Rome.
 
In my diocese the parish boundaries are listed on line but you have to dig to find them. It only took me forty minutes to find what parish I am currently residing in. If you can’t find them on line you can call the parish office and try. You may hear that you can attend any parish and that we don’t enforce boundaries anymore. But I imagine that someone knows where they are and that the boundaries are indeed there.
 
I mean, honestly at the moment I’m mostly curious - it seems like important information for certain sacraments, but I’m not in need of any of the relevant ones at any point soon.
 
So how do they know which pastor has the authority to marry people?
 
Eh, who knows? Do weddings have to be held in your own territorial parish? Up until yesterday, I didn’t even know it was “preferred” to attend Sunday Mass in your own parish…never even thought about weddings (or funerals).
 
It’s my understanding that only one’s territorial pastor can lawfully marry one (unless he gives permission to another priest / deacon).
 
I think she meant well…but I really just want to know if I “belong” to St. Mary’s or St. Anthony’s…lol
 
NuclearReceptor said:
I think she meant well…but I really just want to know if I “belong” to St. Mary’s or St. Anthony’s…lol
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you can call the parish and ask them… they should know. Just tell them that you are aware that according to canon law you are supposed to attend the parish you live in, so you would like to know which parish that is.
 
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