Registration approval?

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damooster

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A couple of weeks ago, I filled out a registration form for my home parish and placed it in the offering basket (as instructed). I hadn’t heard anything about it, so I called the office to make sure they received the paper work. The secretary said “Yes, your registration was approved, you’ll be receiving some envelopes shortly.”

I didn’t think to ask her when I had her on the phone, but what did she mean by approved? Do they do a background check on you or something?
 
Most likely they verified that you live inside the Parish boundries.
 
That DOES seem like a strange thing to say. I wonder if maybe it’s a matter of making sure that you live within the parish boundaries or something. Perhaps the diocese you live in has a strict policy about that. 🤷
 
Registration for what the Parish Church or this website ? your posting is very confusing …:confused:
 
My current parish required an interview (edit: an in-person interview was required). At the end, I was told that my “application” for registration was “approved”. When I asked, the person I met with basically said “we’re just checking to make sure you’re not a mass murderer”. I think I gave her a strange look, because she followed that up with “anyone who should be here is approved.”

I’m sure it’s a quality control measure - so people that want to join the Church don’t just register and assume that’s all that’s required (i.e. skip RCIA), so that completely off-the-wall people don’t join (e.g. a Satanist joining as some sort of joke), so that someone with an obvious problem is identified (e.g. if someone shows up drunk or obviously homeless, the person can be directed to the appropriate ministry), and so that the person is in the correct geographical parish (though I’m not sure how that works - I actually have another church that’s closer to me).

(edit: edit: there were other reasons for the in-person “interview”: to get a picture for the database, to show me around the church grounds, to introduce me to the clergy, to get information about me to suggest ministries to volunteer with, etc.)
 
FastLearner said:
My current parish required an interview (edit: an in-person interview was required). At the end, I was told that my “application” for registration was “approved”. When I asked, the person I met with basically said “we’re just checking to make sure you’re not a mass murderer”. I think I gave her a strange look, because she followed that up with “anyone who should be here is approved.”

I’m sure it’s a quality control measure - so people that want to join the Church don’t just register and assume that’s all that’s required (i.e. skip RCIA), so that completely off-the-wall people don’t join (e.g. a Satanist joining as some sort of joke), so that someone with an obvious problem is identified (e.g. if someone shows up drunk or obviously homeless, the person can be directed to the appropriate ministry), and so that the person is in the correct geographical parish (though I’m not sure how that works - I actually have another church that’s closer to me).

(edit: edit: there were other reasons for the in-person “interview”: to get a picture for the database, to show me around the church grounds, to introduce me to the clergy, to get information about me to suggest ministries to volunteer with, etc.)
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Wow, after hearing this I kind of wish they had interviewed me!
 
I know at my church everyone who does church work has to go through a background check and take a class on child abuse. It is to make sure that everyone in the church who has contact with children has been cleared and approved. Even singing in the choir they did a background check. I think it is a good thing in that it is making everyone more aware of what the signs are of child abuse.

I was confirmed in 1979 in a Catholic Church in Calif. I don’t have the paperwork to prove it. But I guess they can always find out for themselves, can’t they? How many of us have the paper work on us to prove we were confirmed? That does make one think that maybe we should have a copy of our confirmation, because if we are confirmed than they would know that we had the other sacraments leading up to confirmation.

What if you don’t like the church in your district, don’t we have a right to go to the Catholic Church of our choice? I know people who instead of going to St. Stevens go to St. Andrews now. There are many valid reasons why some people like one church over another.
 
Chrisy58 said:
I was confirmed in 1979 in a Catholic Church in Calif. I don’t have the paperwork to prove it. But I guess they can always find out for themselves, can’t they? How many of us have the paper work on us to prove we were confirmed? That does make one think that maybe we should have a copy of our confirmation, because if we are confirmed than they would know that we had the other sacraments leading up to confirmation.
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I had to have proof of baptism, confirmation, and first communion for marriage.

To get proof of confirmation, you can request a baptismal certificate with notations from your baptism parish. That certificate should have notations on the back that show where / when you received the Sacraments.

If the baptismal certificate doesn’t have a notation (mine didn’t), you can call the parish where you received each sacrament and ask them to send you a separate certificate. Or, you can ask them to send the paperwork to your baptismal parish (which they should have done in the first place), then call the baptismal parish a month or so later to get a new baptismal certificate.

I keep a copy of my baptismal certificate much like most people keep a copy of their birth certificate. In fact, I have copies of baptismal / birth certificates for my ancestors (both US and “old world”) going back hundreds of years (the Church keeps excellent records). I can tell you where my Great Great Great Grandfather received the sacraments in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
 
damooster said:
A couple of weeks ago, I filled out a registration form for my home parish and placed it in the offering basket (as instructed). I hadn’t heard anything about it, so I called the office to make sure they received the paper work. The secretary said “Yes, your registration was approved, you’ll be receiving some envelopes shortly.”

I didn’t think to ask her when I had her on the phone, but what did she mean by approved? Do they do a background check on you or something?
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Sorry to hijack! Which parish did you decide to go with?
 
damooster said:
A couple of weeks ago, I filled out a registration form for my home parish and placed it in the offering basket (as instructed). I hadn’t heard anything about it, so I called the office to make sure they received the paper work. The secretary said “Yes, your registration was approved, you’ll be receiving some envelopes shortly.”

I didn’t think to ask her when I had her on the phone, but what did she mean by approved? Do they do a background check on you or something?
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I’m sure the form included some information about where you were Baptized, when and what Sacraments you have received (RCIA), your address. They may have checked that you were not registered in another nearby parish, and resided in their parish boundry. They may have verified your Sacraments with your Baptismal parish???
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I’m sure the form included some information about where you wer Baptized, what Sacraments you have received your address. They may have checked that you were not registered in another nearby parish, and resided in their parish boundry. They may have verified your Sacraments with your Baptismal parish???
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They didn’t ask for information on my baptism/confirmation parish; they just asked which sacraments I’ve received.
 
damooster said:
I registered at the more reverent, more conservative parish (my home parish). Thanks for asking and checking up on me.

🙂
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Good for you! I’m in the same situation where I probably won’t be staying in the parish where I went through RCIA.
 
Canon law states that one is a member of the geographic are in which one lives, unless one is part of a “personal parish,” recognized as such by the diocese. I will allow the canonists here to explain what that means, but I personally am a member of such a parish. However, one may attend Mass whererver one chooses.

When one seeks a sacrament, such as matrimony, or even a funeral, one’s parish of membership can become important. Simialrly, one should have copies of baptismal, confirmation and marriage certificates. When one seeks to be married in a Catholic church, it is faster to provide a copy of something you already have. Otherwise, you may need to wait while your former parish checks and send a copy to you or your current parish. 😉
 
Chatter163 said:
When one seeks a sacrament, such as matrimony, or even a funeral, one’s parish of membership can become important. Simialrly, one should have copies of baptismal, confirmation and marriage certificates. When one seeks to be married in a Catholic church, it is faster to provide a copy of something you already have. Otherwise, you may need to wait while your former parish checks and send a copy to you or your current parish. 😉
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No, actually the Church requires a recently issued (within 6 months usually) Certificate of Baptism when you are preparing for marriage. That’s as much to verify if you have ever been married as it is about making sure you are in fact a baptized & confirmed Catholic.
 
I heard on one of the CAF that the geographical boundries are not enforced in the U.S. anymore. I know they are not in my diocese. I am not registered at my geographical parish and it was never even asked. However, I do know that the Sacraments of Initiation had to be verified.
 
FastLearner said:
My current parish required an interview (edit: an in-person interview was required). At the end, I was told that my “application” for registration was “approved”. When I asked, the person I met with basically said “we’re just checking to make sure you’re not a mass murderer”. I think I gave her a strange look, because she followed that up with “anyone who should be here is approved.”

I’m sure it’s a quality control measure - so people that want to join the Church don’t just register and assume that’s all that’s required (i.e. skip RCIA), so that completely off-the-wall people don’t join (e.g. a Satanist joining as some sort of joke), so that someone with an obvious problem is identified (e.g. if someone shows up drunk or obviously homeless, the person can be directed to the appropriate ministry), and so that the person is in the correct geographical parish (though I’m not sure how that works - I actually have another church that’s closer to me).

(edit: edit: there were other reasons for the in-person “interview”: to get a picture for the database, to show me around the church grounds, to introduce me to the clergy, to get information about me to suggest ministries to volunteer with, etc.)
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If a person was a mass murderer, repented, and desired to join the church to receive Confession and live a Christian life in union with God, wouldn’t that be a good thing?

Why would a homeless person not be allowed to join? Yes, they need to be connected to the appropriate ministry, but I don’t see why they couldn’t be a member of the parish and start receiving the Sacraments (and yes, I know you don’t need to be a member just to receive the Sacraments)? Would it be right to exclude them from becoming a member of the parish because they are homeless??? How is that charitable?

Or were you phrasing it that they would be allowed to join, but would also be connected to the appropriate ministry as part of joining? You can read what you wrote both ways, and I’m just curious for clarification.
 
AHapka said:
If a person was a mass murderer, repented, and desired to join the church to receive Confession and live a Christian life in union with God, wouldn’t that be a good thing?
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I think she was joking, hence my look and her response.
AHapka said:
Why would a homeless person not be allowed to join? Yes, they need to be connected to the appropriate ministry, but I don’t see why they couldn’t be a member of the parish and start receiving the Sacraments (and yes, I know you don’t need to be a member just to receive the Sacraments)? Would it be right to exclude them from becoming a member of the parish because they are homeless??? How is that charitable?

Or were you phrasing it that they would be allowed to join, but would also be connected to the appropriate ministry as part of joining? You can read what you wrote both ways, and I’m just curious for clarification.
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The second. I assume she’d alert the Society of St. Vincent de Paul if the person gives his/her address in such a way to indicate that he/she is homeless or in serious need. Similarly, if the person indicated that he/she has not received all of the Sacraments (such as Confirmation), she would probably let the the appropriate person know to contact the new parishioner.

I know for a fact that the parish has many members that are homeless and the SSVP and clergy work with those individuals.

The big downside to this process, though, is that it might drive away some people that want to join but are easily intimidated (for instance, someone that his been away from the Church for awhile and wants to “ease” back in).
 
Good it just be that it was meant that the registration was completed or accepted. She might have just said the wrong word.
 
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