Must I go to the nearest parish?

[GodIsGracious]

Cradle lapsed Catholic here thinking of coming back after several years. I will be attending confession at a parish that has confession tonight. I miss receiving communion.

I had heard one time that when attending on a regular basis, you should attend the parish that is local to your area. i.e. putting in a zip code on my city’s archidiocese website the parish finder would return with a particular parish as being closest to me. So I should attend that one on a regular basis but in reality, it doesn’t matter which one, just make sure you attend Mass.

Thing is, I grew up in Catholic churches that were very ornate, even gothic looking. And I love that. I love it so much. I’ve been in various protestant churches (not for services - well, one was for a coworker’s wedding) and I’ve seen how plain they are. I once asked a non-Catholic christian why they have such plain churches. She said that it would be idolotry to decorate their churches? I didn’t say this but I thought, “huh? You’d decorate your house lavishly, yet not God’s?”

But that is neither here nor there.

At anyrate, there are a lot of newer parishes in my area that, well… are plain. They seem so … protestant influenced. I don’t know if that’s the style of newer Catholic churches, the style of the area I live in (I’ll be honest, this is north Dallas, TX and I’m close to the Plano area), or what. My environment is important to me and so I’m thinking of attending one of the older churches in Dallas that I’ve been to with the style that is more inline with what I grew up and what I am used to, so to speak.

I love the art work of the statues, stations of the cross, the colourfully painted ceilings, even the ornate stained glass windows. Maybe I’m being petty and I should just go - which I will. And while worrying about my environment may seem “earthly,” well, is it so wrong to want to be in and look at a pretty church? I don’t need it to pray, but I like it.

Now I’ve come to find out that even newer Catholic churches don’t even have a crucifix! What??? What’s up with THAT???

So anyway…my question is if it was absolutely necessary to attend my local parish? To be honest, I’ll probably attend the parish that I want to attend, but I was curious about this question and have always wondered about that statement that was made to me so many years ago.

Thanks!

 

[PJM]

=GodIsGracious;4931939]Cradle lapsed Catholic here thinking of coming back after several years. I will be attending confession at a parish that has confession tonight. I miss receiving communion.

Lk. 15:7"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. God Bless you, welcome home:clapping::extrahappy:

I had heard one time that when attending on a regular basis, you should attend the parish that is local to your area. i.e. putting in a zip code on my city’s archidiocese website the parish finder would return with a particular parish as being closest to me. So I should attend that one on a regular basis but in reality, it doesn’t matter which one, just make sure you attend Mass.

Regular Sunday and Holyday attenance is mandatory for informed and practicing Catholic. You are free to pick the parish church, that best fills your spiritual needs.

Thing is, I grew up in Catholic churches that were very ornate, even gothic looking. And I love that. I love it so much. I’ve been in various protestant churches (not for services - well, one was for a coworker’s wedding) and I’ve seen how plain they are. I once asked a non-Catholic christian why they have such plain churches. She said that it would be idolotry to decorate their churches? I didn’t say this but I thought, “huh? You’d decorate your house lavishly, yet not God’s?”

A suggestion if you ever encounter this again ask your friend to open their bible to Exodus Chapter 25, which tells of God directing Moses how to build His Ark of the Covenant and cover in in “pure gold.” And God even ordered Moses to errect “golden angels” for the top of the Ark.

At anyrate, there are a lot of newer parishes in my area that, well… are plain. They seem so … protestant influenced.

Patentic, but a truthful and proper analisis!:tiphat:

I don’t know if that’s the style of newer Catholic churches, the style of the area I live in (I’ll be honest, this is north Dallas, TX and I’m close to the Plano area), or what. My environment is important to me and so I’m thinking of attending one of the older churches in Dallas that I’ve been to with the style that is more inline with what I grew up and what I am used to, so to speak.

Our eyes are a window to our Souls! Do what you know is right in your heart.

The Catecheism tells us:“1181 A church, “a house of prayer in which the Eucharist is celebrated and reserved, where the faithful assemble, and where is worshipped the presence of the Son of God our Savior, offered for us on the sacrificial altar for the help and consolation of the faithful - this house ought to be in good taste and a worthy place for prayer and sacred ceremonial.” In this “house of God” the truth and the harmony of the signs that make it up should show Christ to be present and active in this place”

{QUOTE]I love the art work of the statues, stations of the cross, the colourfully painted ceilings, even the ornate stained glass windows. Maybe I’m being petty and I should just go - which I will. And while worrying about my environment may seem “earthly,” well, is it so wrong to want to be in and look at a pretty church? I don’t need it to pray, but I like it.

A Church should be easly recogonized as “a House of and for God,”. Today’s bishops call it “a gathering space.” Not all bishops support this idelogy that make “us the church,” rather than a place of Divine Sacrifice and Divine Worship!

Now I’ve come to find out that even newer Catholic churches don’t even have a crucifix! What??? What’s up with THAT???

Like I just shared, in oh so many once catholic, now what we might accurately term; “protestant-catholics” gathering spaces, we can’t have any sign of Christ presence. I’ll bet they don’t have a Tabernacle visible to all, all of the tome either? Dear God help us!

So anyway…my question is if it was absolutely necessary to attend my local parish? To be honest, I’ll probably attend the parish that I want to attend, but I was curious about this question and have always wondered about that statement that was made to me so many years ago.

No it is not!

Welcome home, and please don’t buy into all the new innovations. It is still BEST, although other ways are “permitted” to receive your Lord and your God on your tongue!

Do not get caught up in becomming an Ordinary lay distributor of Holy Communion. There is nothing “Extrodinary” about neary every church, nearly every Mass, Everyday, using lay folk to do what only a Priest and Deacon are Commissioned by God to do.

It’s another one of those Protestant innovations, even if a after the fact, Indult has been granted.

Welcome home friend!

 

[CapIV]

You don’t need to attend the parish closest to you. You can attend whichever you please. You should however, try and find one and stick to it as to support the individual church. Especially today when funds are tight and churches closing across the country. Although, parishes that tend to be more traditional, in my experience, tend not to have as much trouble with funds.

 

[Lurgid]

Here is a good summarized post of this:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=4891560&postcount=4

 

[lizaanne]

I’m sure there are MANY members here at CAF who travel outside their immediate area to attend and belong to a parish that has a sound and appropriate Mass and a priest who is sending the right message of the Gospel.

You will not be alone!!

As a matter of fact, there is a parish that we go to (not our home parish which is still far away from us) a parish that has late Sunday night Mass, we probably pass at least six Catholic Churches on the way to get there.



I go where I’m fed. And I’m just not fed by snazzy modern music, lack of kneelers, and priests who use the latest movie or his latest vacation as the topic of his homily.

Welcome HOME!!!

~Liza

 

[Schluns]

Go visit St Thomas Aquinas. My husband has been down there when in Dallas on business.

BTW, There are a lot of us in Indianapolis who pass through many parishes to get to our church. You will be in good company if it is wrong.

 

[GodIsGracious]

Thank you, everyone! I’ll reply to everyone in one post for brevity.

Schluns: Yes! St. Thomas Aquinas will be the church I want to attend. I’ve been to quite a few churches here in the Dallas area and St. Thomas Aquinas is the one that draws me as far as how it is decorated. Plus also he draws me. I have not studied him, per se, but I am interested in him. My boyfriend (Byzantine Ruthenian) has studied him and loves St. Thomas Aquinas. So if he attends a latin rite with me, we’ll probably go to that church anyway based on it’s patron saint.

PJM: your first line made me cry. Also Lizaanne and all of you welcoming me home. I don’t know why I get so emotional. Especially when it concerns communion. BTW, PJM, I was around when the change occurred for receiving communion in the hand. I think I was a teen or there abouts. Didn’t this happen in the 80’s? Even then I didn’t like. While I have received communion in the hand, I just didn’t feel right (although IMO, my mouth is no more holy than my hand) so I receive in my mouth. No worries there.

Lurgid: Thank you for the link. I’ve had to read it several times to undersand. I have more questions from that link for anyone who can answer as I’m trying to make sense of it.

I am referencing Lurgid’s linked post here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=4891560&postcount=4 with my numbers.

1. 
   *]Does this mean that while I may attend another parish, I am a member of my local, closest parish?
   *]Do I register at my local parish? Or the one I wish to attend on a regular basis?
   *]As for this one, I realize that attending another parish is A-ok. Thank you.

 

[PaulinVA]

As Lurgid posted, parishes are territorial, and, according to Canon 518, you are supposed to go to the parish that you are assigned to.

The fact that there is “parish shopping” to find the parish that most suits you just shows that, well, what? That some Canons don’t have to be followed? No, there must be a better reason than that…

 

[GodIsGracious]

As Lurgid posted, parishes are territorial, and, according to Canon 518, you are supposed to go to the parish that you are assigned to.

The fact that there is “parish shopping” to find the parish that most suits you just shows that, well, what? That some Canons don’t have to be followed? No, there must be a better reason than that…

Question, then.

What if the parish nearest you doesn’t have the crucifix? Shouldn’t it have a crucifix? What if the priest is leading the congregation astray? I know you should pray for him, but what if there are just some issues with it that, well, seem wrong?

Granted, my reasons aren’t as serious as the questions I am posting, and parish shopping does seem rather… well… protestant as well. Protestants shop for a church that tells them what they want to hear. The thing with the Catholic church is it is all the same liturgy all over the place.

 

[PaulinVA]

Question, then.

What if the parish nearest you doesn’t have the crucifix? Shouldn’t it have a crucifix? What if the priest is leading the congregation astray? I know you should pray for him, but what if there are just some issues with it that, well, seem wrong?

Granted, my reasons aren’t as serious as the questions I am posting, and parish shopping does seem rather… well… protestant as well. Protestants shop for a church that tells them what they want to hear. The thing with the Catholic church is it is all the same liturgy all over the place.

Well, I just deleted my post because I thought better of it. But, you quoted it, so it will live on. Oh, well.

You are right, parish shopping leads one to find a place where one hears what one wants to hear. Sometimes that is good, sometimes bad.

Your question is really could there be a Catholic Church out there that is not *really *a Catholic Church, or is not holy enough. I don’t think so. I think if you’ll look hard, there is a crucifix on the alter somewhere, for use in the opening procession.

I understand your questions, and I rejoice that you are coming home. Don’t let an issue like this (or me) keep you from going somewhere.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

I was in Dallas about three weeks ago and attended Mass at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was downtown neard the West End District and very beautiful.

Again, Welcome Home:thumbsup:!!!

 

[GodIsGracious]

Don’t let an issue like this (or me) keep you from going somewhere.

Don’t worry. You, nor it, won’t. And thank you for your time and responses. The fact that people on here are willing to help by taking the time to respond to so many numerous questions and to evangelize and be an apologist shows that God’s work can be done anywhere, even online. For a techie girl like me, that’s pretty cool.

 

[Ockham]

Yes indeed, welcome home GG. You were missed. When I think of my elementary school class mates it saddens me to know so many neglect the faith they were given.

My local parish church is a sunken clamshell design and the choir director thinks Mass is her own personal show. As a result, my wife and I drive about twenty minutes into the city core to a pre-Vatican II church with a traditional choir. We felt guilty during this process of parish shopping as we ‘tried on’ two other churches first.

At anyrate, there are a lot of newer parishes in my area that, well… are plain. They seem so … protestant influenced.

That’s the “Spirit of Vatican II” blowing through our church architecture. Hopefully someone will shut that window soon. The first time I went to my parents’ new church I wasn’t sure I was in the right place. This goofy idea that we need to see each other distracts from focusing on God. It also puts the emphasis on performance rather than prayer in the sanctuary.

Anyway, enough of my preaching. It’s good to have you back. May God bless you,

 

[PJM]

=GodIsGracious;4932529]Thank you, everyone! I’ll reply to everyone in one post for brevity.

Schluns: Yes! St. Thomas Aquinas will be the church I want to attend. I’ve been to quite a few churches here in the Dallas area and St. Thomas Aquinas is the one that draws me as far as how it is decorated. Plus also he draws me. I have not studied him, per se, but I am interested in him. My boyfriend (Byzantine Ruthenian) has studied him and loves St. Thomas Aquinas. So if he attends a latin rite with me, we’ll probably go to that church anyway based on it’s patron saint.

From the heart friend! We are so happy to have you back!

PJM: your first line made me cry. Also Lizaanne and all of you welcoming me home. I don’t know why I get so emotional. Especially when it concerns communion. BTW, PJM, I was around when the change occurred for receiving communion in the hand. I think I was a teen or there abouts. Didn’t this happen in the 80’s? Even then I didn’t like. While I have received communion in the hand, I just didn’t feel right (although IMO, my mouth is no more holy than my hand) so I receive in my mouth. No worries there.

The difference is key: we don’t touch the Body of Christ when we receive on the tongue.

Lurgid: Thank you for the link. I’ve had to read it several times to undersand. I have more questions from that link for anyone who can answer as I’m trying to make sense of it.

I am referencing Lurgid’s linked post here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=4891560&postcount=4 with my numbers.

1. 
   *]Does this mean that while I may attend another parish, I am a member of my local, closest parish?

1. 
   You should register at the parish you plan to regullarly attend, if it’s within easy travel distance from the church, say 15 -20 miles.(You can tell I’m a country boy) Maybe 5 miles are so in Dallas. But the last time I was there it wasn’t hard to get around in.
   
   Please ask what ever questions you may have. We’d love to be of service.