If you are registered and regularly attend the church that you want your daughter to be confirmed, it usually would not be an issue. Perhaps the pastor is being overly prudent.We are not registered parishioners at our local parish. Instead, we are registered at the parish in the next town over because of the large network of homeschoolers there. We have inquired about having our daughter confirmed but were told we needed our local pastor’s approval first.
Is this true? I thought the Church had moved away from the “local parish” model.
No. The Church has not “moved away from the local parish model.” Far from it.We are not registered parishioners at our local parish. Instead, we are registered at the parish in the next town over because of the large network of homeschoolers there. We have inquired about having our daughter confirmed but were told we needed our local pastor’s approval first.
Is this true? I thought the Church had moved away from the “local parish” model.
While he may be the Pastor of the parish they are attending, he is not **their **Pastor, that would be the Pastor of their geographic parish and his permission is required for reception of the sacraments.It means a little bit more than you are “simply on the mailing list.” It most likely means you put money in the collection basket every week and also contribute to all the secondary collections. Possibly also read, usher, sing in choir, volunteer, etc.
I understand what you are saying about where your “house” is, is the parish you are in. True, regardless of whether you ever fill out a registration form or not. Technically it’s your parish.
But most people who go to the difficulty to attend elsewhere have a darn good reason, and they DO REGISTER, usually under the smiling auspices of the pastor, and also do the things I mention above. That deserves some consideration from the Pastor.
It’s not a question of the pastor refusing to consider your activities in the parish in which you registered; it’s a question of canon law.It means a little bit more than you are “simply on the mailing list.” It most likely means you put money in the collection basket every week and also contribute to all the secondary collections. Possibly also read, usher, sing in choir, volunteer, etc.
I understand what you are saying about where your “house” is, is the parish you are in. True, regardless of whether you ever fill out a registration form or not. Technically it’s your parish.
But most people who go to the difficulty to attend elsewhere have a darn good reason, and they DO REGISTER, usually under the smiling auspices of the pastor, and also do the things I mention above. That deserves some consideration from the Pastor.
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.
Can. 519 The pastor (parochus) is the proper pastor (pastor) of the parish entrusted to him, exercising the pastoral care of the community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share, so that for that same community he carries out the functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, also with the cooperation of other presbyters or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of the Christian faithful, according to the norm of law.
Can. 530 The following functions are especially entrusted to a pastor:
1/ the administration of baptism;
2/ the administration of the sacrament of confirmation to those who are in danger of death, according to the norm of can. 883, n. 3;
3/ the administration of Viaticum and of the anointing of the sick, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 1003, §§2 and 3, and the imparting of the apostolic blessing;
4/ the assistance at marriages and the nuptial blessing;
5/ the performance of funeral rites;
6/ the blessing of the baptismal font at Easter time, the leading of processions outside the church, and solemn blessings outside the church;
7/ the more solemn eucharistic celebration on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
Can. 535 §1. Each parish is to have parochial registers, that is, those of baptisms, marriages, deaths, and others as prescribed by the conference of bishops or the diocesan bishop. The pastor is to see to it that these registers are accurately inscribed and carefully preserved.
§2. In the baptismal register are also to be noted confirmation and those things which pertain to the canonical status of the Christian faithful by reason of marriage, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 1133, of adoption, of the reception of sacred orders, of perpetual profession made in a religious institute, and of change of rite. These notations are always to be noted on a baptismal certificate.
§3. Each parish is to have its own seal. Documents regarding the canonical status of the Christian faithful and all acts which can have juridic importance are to be signed by the pastor or his delegate and sealed with the parochial seal.
§4. In each parish there is to be a storage area, or archive, in which the parochial registers are protected along with letters of bishops and other documents which are to be preserved for reason of necessity or advantage. The pastor is to take care that all of these things, which are to be inspected by the diocesan bishop or his delegate at the time of visitation or at some other opportune time, do not come into the hands of outsiders.
Basically it boils down to this: wherever you register (and whether or not you register in the first place), you are a member of the parish in which you live. Why? Because that’s who has to rush to the hospital when you collapse and call for a priest. The pastor of your parish has responsibility for you. Therefore, when your daughter is ready for Confirmation, your “real” pastor (not the one in the parish you like) will take care of all the behind-the-scenes stuff required for the Sacrament: meeting with you (he can arrange for someone else to do it), getting copies of her baptismal certificate (also delegable), etc.§5. Older parochial registers are also to be carefully protected according to the prescripts of particular law.