Personal vs territorial parish

[commenter]

In his book the Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis is expressing the viewpoint of Hell. The devilish figure recommends that if a person is going to church, the personal parish is less dangerous (to Hell) than the geographic parish. The geographic parish is more likely to facilitate some measure of conversion than the comfortable one, and once conversion starts that could be risky.

Put aside the special category of parishes for immigrants who speak only that language, which was not what Screwtape/Lewis referred to. What are your thoughts on parishes based on personal preference?

Here are some locally:

• A diocesan TLM Community that serves almost like a parish. I visit there some times.
• Campus ministries that attract many who have no connection to the college but like “liberal” liturgy, liberal everything. (My diocese in general has gotten more conservative at parish level).
• A geographic parish that attracted “charismatics”. But it later attracted other specialty types, so it became kind of a cafeteria parish. Now closed.
• A couple African American parishes, but they are mostly geographic too. They attract some from outside the neighborhood, including Whites.

In general I share Lewis’s views on personal parishes, with exceptions. One exception would be to develop a parish for young adults. Near me the geographic parishes are de facto Seniors and over 50, parishes. We need a concerted, specific effort to build a critical mass of young adults, or else it won’t happen. But I see this as an unfortunate necessity, not a positive.

A parish that started out territorial can become mostly personal, and the reverse is possible.

Your thoughts?