J
jfoges
Guest
But this is about where you live, not where you grew up or where you were born. You are a member of the parish you reside in.
- Status
C
Corki
Guest
Not necessarily. I don’t think canon law addresses parish registration at all. You are the one who claims there is a canon law requirement to register at ones territorial parish but you haven’t yet provided any source for that claim.
S
SalesianSDB
Guest
I used to attend the parish in which I was enrolled in school in and was closest to where I lived. All the priests there spoke English as a second language. Really, this wasn’t much of a problem because I am hispanic, so I understand Spanish but prefer English. The problem was that I really wasn’t being “fed.” My relationship with Jesus wasn’t improving much, all the pastor seemed to care about was his image and money. And whenever a priest joined the parish and people began to love him (as much as they love the pastor or more) he was quickly transferred out of the parish. One day at Mass a man had a heart attack in the restroom. An ambulance was called and they found that people were parked in the fire lane zone so they gave them tickets. That Mass, the priest’s homily was a lecture on parking rules in the parish and the consequences of parking wrong. He said, “Don’t come crying to me about parking tickets because I won’t care. If you park in the wrong place I will call the police to give you a ticket.” The parish lost a few parishioners after that homily. And it really became clear to me what he cared about most. He did not even mention the man with the heart attack. Not to mention, the people working at the rectory weren’t the nicest people on the planet. And while yes, I was going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist there, that was it, I wasn’t growing spiritually.
Then I moved and my family realized that we were close to a parish that was very popular. So we decided to attend Mass there one Sunday. We fell in love with the parish and the pastor. Now I only attend the parish I am registered at when I need to read at Mass or when my sister altar serves. That’s it. I recently went to take a class at that parish to become a godfather and they gave me a hard time because I am not considered a “practicing Catholic” because I don’t give that parish money (though I attend the other church every Sunday). That bothered me a lot.
I would say that it really does matter on where you are being fed. If I lived somewhere else further from the parish I go to now, I would drive the extra 20 minutes because I am spiritually fed there. It is a parish in which you see the Holy Spirit working in, unlike the parish I am registered with. Because sure, you go to your regional parish, but what good is it if you aren’t getting anything out of it. I was in a spiritual darkness when I attended the parish closest to me before I moved.
God bless.
Then I moved and my family realized that we were close to a parish that was very popular. So we decided to attend Mass there one Sunday. We fell in love with the parish and the pastor. Now I only attend the parish I am registered at when I need to read at Mass or when my sister altar serves. That’s it. I recently went to take a class at that parish to become a godfather and they gave me a hard time because I am not considered a “practicing Catholic” because I don’t give that parish money (though I attend the other church every Sunday). That bothered me a lot.
I would say that it really does matter on where you are being fed. If I lived somewhere else further from the parish I go to now, I would drive the extra 20 minutes because I am spiritually fed there. It is a parish in which you see the Holy Spirit working in, unlike the parish I am registered with. Because sure, you go to your regional parish, but what good is it if you aren’t getting anything out of it. I was in a spiritual darkness when I attended the parish closest to me before I moved.
God bless.
J
jfoges
Guest
Have you been following the thread? Other posters in this thread have provided all necessary quotes from canon law, and it has been settled that registration is not required.
C
Corki
Guest
Yes, I read the whole thread. In post #19 you were still stating that canon law indicated you shouldn’t register at another parish than were you live. You must have posted that before *you *read the rest of the thread.
D
didymus
Guest
How many pastors are aware of these Canon laws?
After attending and registering with my territorial parish I began attending one ten miles away. When I registered there they did not say, “No, you belong in St Brigid’s!”. They began sending me envelopes and St Brigid’s stopped so parishes obviously are used to folks “transferring”.
Further, my wife and I recently began making funeral plans & when I contacted the Diocese about cemetery plots I also asked if it were mandatory to have my funeral Mass at my “home” parish and the response was “???”
After attending and registering with my territorial parish I began attending one ten miles away. When I registered there they did not say, “No, you belong in St Brigid’s!”. They began sending me envelopes and St Brigid’s stopped so parishes obviously are used to folks “transferring”.
Further, my wife and I recently began making funeral plans & when I contacted the Diocese about cemetery plots I also asked if it were mandatory to have my funeral Mass at my “home” parish and the response was “???”
E
estesbob
Guest
I’m not aware of anything in Canon law that states this. Could you give us a link?
P
PatriceA
Guest
I’ve had two personal experiences with parochial boundaries. One when my husband were first married and tried to register at the parish closest to our address at the time, but we were told we could not join because our zip code did not fall within their boundaries for membership. We missed the required zip code by two blocks.
The second experience was with the parish that my aunt and uncle belong to. A couple of years back they had to close registration to everyone that lived on the other side of local interstate because the parish membership was growing faster than they could accomodate for and the next local parish was severly suffering. Anyone that was already a member of my aunt and uncle’s parish didn’t have to leave, they were “grandfathered” in, but any new members with an address across the local highway had to register at the other parish. This was in a very fast growing suburban area, still is.
The second experience was with the parish that my aunt and uncle belong to. A couple of years back they had to close registration to everyone that lived on the other side of local interstate because the parish membership was growing faster than they could accomodate for and the next local parish was severly suffering. Anyone that was already a member of my aunt and uncle’s parish didn’t have to leave, they were “grandfathered” in, but any new members with an address across the local highway had to register at the other parish. This was in a very fast growing suburban area, still is.
M
Mintaka
Guest
Parish territorial boundaries used to be a much bigger deal. People even got admonished by their pastors, in public, for going to Confession somewhere else than home! (Which was an abuse, even by the rules back then.)
But since the advent of the automobile and Vatican II, there is a lot less emphasis on such things. At this point, the ordinary Catholic has a wide assortment of rights on where to attend and how to participate in parish life. Meanwhile, pastors continue to have tons of responsibility. This is why, recently, there’s been such a push to get people to “register”. Pastors want to know who’s supposed to be there and who’s not.
The basic thing is that, most of the time, you probably should try to attend the same parish and participate in it. Looking around can be useful, and your obligations may force you to travel lots and lots, but you probably want to find yourself a parish and then keep going there. Being part of a community is not the end-all be-all, but it is a great spiritual help.
But since the advent of the automobile and Vatican II, there is a lot less emphasis on such things. At this point, the ordinary Catholic has a wide assortment of rights on where to attend and how to participate in parish life. Meanwhile, pastors continue to have tons of responsibility. This is why, recently, there’s been such a push to get people to “register”. Pastors want to know who’s supposed to be there and who’s not.
The basic thing is that, most of the time, you probably should try to attend the same parish and participate in it. Looking around can be useful, and your obligations may force you to travel lots and lots, but you probably want to find yourself a parish and then keep going there. Being part of a community is not the end-all be-all, but it is a great spiritual help.
C
Corki
Guest
Your second scenario is one that is similar to what I have seen when a parish splits into two. People are told based on their address which of the two they belong to. At the beginning at least, it’s pretty strict in order to get the new parish off to a good start.
S
super_squirrel
Guest
I skimmed the New Testament the last few days. I don’t see any mention of “Parochial boundaries.” Seems to be something made up out of thin air long after-the-fact.
J
jilly4ski
Guest
This is incorrect, just because it isn’t in the New Testament doesn’t mean it isn’t useful or needed. Indeed Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, etc. This is a “parochial boundary.” The Church did this so that all faithful would have full access to the sacraments. No matter how busy the priest is, he would have to do a funeral mass, wedding, baptism, or other service to those within his territory.
“Registration” is no where mentioned in the cannons. It is merely a tool used by parishes to keep keep track of people who attend regularly to administer the sacraments, donations and all the tax implications that go with tha and other purposes. Therefore, “registration” as it is used today is not governed by cannon law. But like others have mentioned, a parish can obviously restrict their formal registration to those within their parochial boundaries.
J
jmcrae
Guest
Not everything necessary was put in the Bible. Jesus gave the Apostles the authority they needed, to govern the Church. As you can see by reading the Epistles, the Early Church was dividing up territories by city, and St. Paul, along with others, was sending them instructions from the central authority of the Church, which in those days resided with St. Peter and the other Apostles, including St. Paul.
W
wisdomseeker
Guest
i agree. the holy father has already come out and talked about this if i recall, he said that Catholics can go anywhere where there is a Catholic church. the CC is not is just some build around the corner. some people would like to think so. some people are developing this sort of idea like protestants who confined to one building found by a pastor. i for one i am used to go any where i want to go. i am not bound by any parish and refuse to be. i am Catholic and the Catholic Church for me is wherever there is one. i am a part of the CC and not just a member of some parish.
H
hwriggles4
Guest
This was a well done post - Thank you.
I’ve had friends who have been involved in a parish, and it seemed liked when it came time to get married, the only way a priest knew your name was by your registration and your tithe - I agree that is a turnoff.
While I’ve never been asked why I attended a certain parish, I will say being “fed” makes a difference. If it’s a half hour drive - do it. For 6 years, I drove an extra 10-15 minutes for that reason. The parish I was zoned for had a pastor (he was the only full-time priest there - the parish did have a couple priests who would come to assist) who would give a 45 minute Mass with a mediocre homily, and the congregation stood the whole time during the consecration.
I had a friend who lived in my local area for a number of years. My friend preferred to attend Mass near a college campus. However, he registered at a downtown parish that was known for orthodoxy and sent a check there every month - that way he was counted in the diocese. The reason my friend sent money to the downtown parish – the pastor was very orthodox, and within a very short time, this pastor revived a downtown parish.
I guess some places still enforce parish boundaries. I read an article that the Archdiocese of Detroit formally lifted parish boundaries because the Bishop (Maida at the time) wanted to encourage more Catholics to drive downtown on Sunday, since many of the parishes were empty. (Assumption Grotto is one parish in Detroit that has had a successful revival). A brother Knight (who is a Catholic convert) lived in Boston in the early 1990’s. He once told me that he and his wife were denied registration at a parish. I must be lucky that I’ve never been denied registration or told to go elsewhere.
I also know some Catholics that live on the boundaries of a diocese and attend Mass in another diocese. I used to do this sometimes myself. When I worked in Colorado (2001), I would often drive on Sunday afternoons into Denver to attend the Young Adult Mass at the Cathedral - Archbishop Chaput made it a priority for him to do a Mass on Sunday evenings specifically for Young Adults at 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening.
My brother’s parish in Minnesota is undergoing a merger between two parishes right now, so this topic on parish boundaries has recently come to light. It’s a matter of certain parishes being empty, due to things like demographics, location, and liturgical style. Other factors like operations and capital costs come to play as well. I’m also aware of parishes changing the Mass schedules due to things like attendance. I knew one parish that went to one 8:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday instead of having both a 7:30 a.m. Mass and a 9:00 a.m. Mass.
- Status