PARISH TERRITORY AND MEMBERSHIP
For approximately the first four centuries of the history of the Church, the bishop and his presbyters cared for the spiritual needs of the faithful within the diocese. With the end of the persecutions and the increasing number of faithful, provision needed to be made for those in outlying areas and villages. At first some of the cathedral clergy were assigned to permanent outposts creating parishes within the diocese.
The 1917 Code of Canon law described the common understanding of “parish” through the centuries. A parish was understood to be a territorial section of the diocese, with a proper church building, to which a Catholic population was assigned, under the leadership of a proper pastor, who was responsible for the care of souls. (canon 216) By way of exception, personal parishes were possible based on language, nationality or rite; but the clear preference in the law was the territorial parish. It was highly visible and practical as a basis for a faith community.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law stresses the parish as community above organization (canon 515) but continues to favor the territorial structure as a practical and necessary value (canon 518). The Pastor has the obligation to provide sacramental and catechetical ministry to all the Christian faithful within his territory and to collaborate in the building up of a Christian community. The faithful living within the territory of the parish have their own obligations to build up the kingdom of God by participation in worship and the life of the parish and to support its work.
The parish church is present in the community as a sign and rallying point for the parish family. Baptisms and weddings take place there because they are not only personal family events but also celebrations of the parish family of faith. The more parishioners attend the weekly celebration of the Eucharist the more real this faith community becomes. Parishioners have a right and obligation to be present and worship at the altar of their parish church. They have a right to receive sacraments, education and pastoral care from their parish. They also have the obligation to give good example by being present at liturgy as much as possible, to make themselves known to their pastor, and to be supportive of their parish with their time, talent and treasure.
In our mobile society people are used to traveling around to shop or dine according to their tastes. The official church regulations regarding parish boundaries seem arcane today. A recent study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University indicated that about a quarter of Catholics regularly attend parishes outside of their neighborhoods. While it is true that you may attend Mass wherever you may wish, it is not true that you can register as a member of a parish if you do not live there. Pastors cannot give permission for their parishioners to join another parish. Neither can the diocesan bishop grant such permission.
The law of the church is not unlike civil law in determining membership in a given parish. While we might be free to make certain choices in our lives, some things are determined for us, and for good reason. Just as membership in a school district or township is governed by the territory in which one lives (one cannot freely choose to belong to some other township without moving), this same principle is applicable to membership in a parish.
Pastors should be welcoming to all who come to worship at their church. They should, however, encourage people to be active members of the parishes where they live. For the good of the Church at large, pastors should suggest that people be registered in their home parish, be known to their proper pastors and supportive of their territorial parish even if they have good reasons to frequently worship elsewhere. It can be tempting and flattering to ignore the issue of territory in signing up new members. Yet, neighboring pastors working together in respecting parish boundaries can foster a greater spirit of Unity and Church.
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