I’ve been told by the pastor that a parish I’ve been attending is considered by the diocese to be “non-territorial” due to its historic roots serving people from two countries in Eastern Europe. Does that mean technically only people who share those specific ethnic roots can join such a parish?
It depends. Some non-territorial parishes have strict requirments for official parish membership and other have looser requirements.
Obviously, you can attend mass at any Church in communion with Rome, but the who can officially join a non-territorial parish depends on its mission.
For example: some campus ministries are set up as non-territorial parishes vs being a Chapel. Some say membership is for all students, faculty & staff of the college. Others says all students, faculty, staff & local community members (so they are a hybrid), and other even include alumni.
The “National” or “Ethnic” Parishes were set up PRIMARILY because of regional devotions, not language or ethnicity. Language & ethnicity did play a role, but the primary reason was the different devotions and regional customs. In the 1800s; Italian, German, and/or Irish communities were not often open to other devotions from other Catholic countries. So this this lead to Italian and/or German Parishes in Irish Communities, Slovakian parishes in Italian communities, etc.
BTW - but this thinking contributed to schism & the creation of the Polish National Catholic Church, which is why we don’t “Ethnic Parishes” anymore.
Point is, (and this my opinion, not official teaching) you can attend Mass at any parish, but if you want to become an official member of a Latin Church from an Eastern European country, (like a Polish or Slovakian parish) then you should be developing a love of the parish’s unique devotions.
God Bless
