Signing Up for A Parish

[TN_Catholic]

Hey, haven’t been on for a while, but to people who have seen my previous threads, I’ve been in and out of struggles with the faith. During this Lenten season, I’ve been reflecting on furthering my involvement in the Church. I had some questions about registering with a parish.
I am an unmarried college student who lives on her own during school and goes home for breaks (mostly the month of December, then May-August). I go to the church next to my apartment (literally walking distance). It is the only Catholic church in town. They have many activities and two priests who, from what I can tell, teach solid doctrine. However, the head priest holds LGBTQ Vespers, and I have confirmed he holds views that are directly in opposition to the Church’s official teachings.
I really love the Latin Mass, and I have found that in general, the presence of regular Latin Mass in a parish is a good barometer so to speak for the members’ and priests’ orthodoxy (until you get to the extreme of sedevaticanists, I’m aware of them and there are none in my area that I know of). There is a church in my home town such as this, but I do not have access to it while I am at school. There is also a church in a town about an hour’s drive from me that offers Latin Mass several times a week. I have been there, and while the priest was criticized for making a technical error (I believe the complaint was that there was too much singing in a Mass he had labeled as a Low Mass, and he addressed it during his homily), his homilies demonstrate orthodox values that he is not afraid to impress upon his congregation. The church doesn’t have many activities or groups with the exception of a Legion of Mary meeting I may be able to attend most Saturdays after a Latin Mass.
Is it an appropriate time to register for a parish, and how do I choose? I plan to go back home after graduation, but that is over a year away, and things could change. I have a car to get to the Latin Mass church during school, but the distance would limit my involvement, and there aren’t many activities/groups there in the first place. The last church is very close and easy to become involved in, but I fear the content of teaching and influence of what seems to be a largely lukewarm congregation headed by a priest professing false doctrine.

 

[crenfro]

Hello.

Don’t know if this will help, but this is my experience with choosing a parish that would put up with me.

Many Catholics frown on changing parishes, but it took me four tries to find one. The first parish, there were liturgical abuses and it was not wise to say anything about them, so I protested with my feet. The next parish was better, but still, there were some serious problems which I won’t go into, so away I went. The parish after that, everything was even better, but, well, there was one problem that I sent a confidential letter to the Bishop about, I had a real crisis of faith due to this problem, so I eventually left that parish. The parish I’m at is apparently what I need. The pastor is orthodox and straight with me, yet loving. I am led by the example of holiness there. There aren’t any abuses or fallacies masquerading around. I need to be led and I need holy examples. This was the last parish left around near me, so I was lucky to find it, or I would have had to drive a distance.

While I know it’s better to be in a parish and like Ghandi said, “to be the change you want to see,” I’m not strong enough to do this. I only seem to make it day by day, week by week, and certainly not on my own power. I need holy examples.

This has all happened over a period of 12-plus years.

Ask God and the Blessed Virgin Mary to help you and to lead you where you need to be. Seek and ye shall find!

You are in my prayers, please pray for me.

 

[TheLittleLady]

You are a member of the parish where you reside.

In most parts of the US you are free to sign up for the mailing list for any parish.

The Church welcomes people regardless of their sexual preferences, so, the fact that a parish has outreach to the LGBTQ community is a good thing.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

You are a member of the parish where you reside.

Is this strictly true? I know for some dioceses, like my home city, it is, and in NYC, it is. But others on here have noted that in some US states, parishes aren’t set up along geographical lines and you can choose which one you want to register in.

To be honest, if you are not planning at this time to stay in the area longer than a year, I would not bother formally registering with a parish and would just continue to attend services and activities as you have been doing. If you should happen to decide you’re definitely staying in the area for work or a relationship, then that would be a better time to choose a parish, and if you were seeing someone seriously (who I presume would also be a good Catholic based on your post) then they would want to have some (name removed by moderator)ut as well.

 

[TheLittleLady]

In most Dioceses they are cool with people getting on the mailing list (known colloquially as “registering”). We who work for the Church have to do the legwork when someone is on our mailing list but they reside inside another parish getting permission for sacraments and such.

The best thing about “registering” somewhere, if the OP would be asked to be a godparent it is difficult to get the proper credentials if your parish has never heard of you.

 

[SunSeeker]

I “parish-hopped” for about two years when I first moved out of my parents place. It was a necessity at first. I worked sometimes 10 hours on Sunday (healthcare) so while I always made it to mass, there were several times where there was only one mass time I could make, and the earliest mass in my city is at a different parish than the latest mass, so I had to frequent different parishes. After quitting, I just continued to choose.

Now I’ve registered at the main cathedral as it’s close and very welcoming to newcomers. There’s a parish closer to me, but they have only one mass a weekend, none during the week, and few activities. I was told everyone in my archdiocese can be a member of the cathedral, regardless of location, as it’s our main parish.

I’d second the suggestion that if you’re life is still involving a lot of moving, you don’t need to register. You want as simple a switch as possible once you graduate, which involves not having your registration potentially under multiple parishes. Wait til you find one that feels right, and a parish you want to settle down with. I’d also point out that you can probably volunteer and get involved with the parish without an official registration. I did. Kept my “records” at my parent’s parish til I decided I wanted donation envelopes and no longer wanted to be confused on if I should fill out “parishioner” surveys at the new parish LOL. Just an administration formality in my mind.