Moving from parish

[Momism]

I am really torn. I’ve been at my current parish for over 20 years. All of my children have attended the grade school and I am very involved in a women’s group with my 2 best friends
We need to move for financial reasons
To be honest I am not in love with the new /area which is about 35 minute drive from my current parish but it affords us the nicest home and helps us to move financially as we are strapped right now . We cannot find a home in our area that is affordable and offers us the size we are looking for
I just don’t know if I should consider the parish in making the decision
My husband has no ties so he does not feel the same but respects my feelings
Though I know my friendships will continue, a big part of it has been intertwined with all the work we do as part of a ministry we formed and plan activities for. We’ve been close for over 15 years as friends and sisters in Christ
I am really torn . I’m considering that I could still be part of this parish but wonder if they makes sense

 

[FOG]

To be honest I am not in love with the new /area which is about 35 minute drive from my current parish but it affords us the nicest home and helps us to move financially as we are strapped right now . We cannot find a home in our area that is affordable and offers us the size we are looking for
I just don’t know if I should consider the parish in making the decision

Don’t let this dictate you love for Christ, or your faith…in the grander scheme, faith matters, not the parish.

 

[Joe_5859]

It’s hard to give blanket advice as it is ultimately up to you, of course.

For some people, driving 35 minutes to their parish is no big deal. My parents do it several times a week as they are in a rural area where parishes are further and fewer between. They have to drive 30 minutes to get anywhere, so they are just used to doing that.

But for other people, driving that far that often would get old pretty fast and make it difficult to maintain those community ties.

What are you willing to do? Are you willing to be intentional about maintaining your involvement, even when it requires an extra hour of driving each time you have to go to the parish for something? Is there another parish closer to where you would be moving to where you could establish new ties and be just as comfortable? Would you prefer to make due with a smaller house in order to more easily maintain things as they currently are?

These are the types of questions to ask yourself. Of course, you want to take it all to prayer and ask what God wants for you, too.

 

[Momism]

Thank you for the (name removed by moderator)ut and taking the time to offer it
I am willing to go the extra mile so to speak
I’m wondering if it is wrong to do so as I’ll no longer be living in the parish
It will be hard to leave my friends whom I am very close with and our joint parish ministry and activities really binds us and enriches our friendship
My friendship with them and our parish activities is really what I value and what most enriches my life and I feel happy to work in ministry with them
They are close friends so we will always be , but not in the same way

 

[Joe_5859]

It is not wrong to continue to attend the parish and be involved there.

 

[TheLittleLady]

A parish is a geographic territory, like a county or a state.

You have moved into a new parish. This does not mean you cannot visit your former parish, go to the ladies’ group meetings, etc. any more than moving means you cannot go eat at your favorite restaurant in the old neighborhood.

Go ahead and let the new parish know you have moved inside their boundaries, get put on the mailing list and start reading the facebook page, website, bulletin, to find what might interest you.