Switching parishes advice

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CatholicOk

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Hello, Catholic Forum

I need advice on switching parishes

I have been at my current parish for six months. I like the parish. The priests are awesome. This is the parish where i started discerning the priesthood again.

But i miss my old parish. I got confirmed there. Got my first communion there. And a lot of my family friends attend that parish. I also officially started thinking about the priesthood there. I also attended Mass in my parent’s foreign language there. I want to be fluent in that language as i want to be a bi-lingual priest.

My family just started attending different parishes over the year due to work/life so we started attending that parish less. But we plan on attending that parish again.

So, how do i switch parishes without offending my current parish? I hold no grudges against them. I just want to go back to my old one because of the culture we are missing.
 
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Because i told my current parish i wanted to be a priest so they may feel like i am one of them.

I said the same thing to my old parish but i didn’t know what discernment was back then. Wanted to be a priest back then as well.

So if i switch parishes it may feel like they are losing a future priest.
 
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I wouldn’t think so as a lot of young men even in discernment don’t end up being ordained priests - and I’m sure they would realize that. Also if you were transferred due to work, you’d naturally leave that parish and attend Mass where ever you were.

If you really want to change parishes, just do so without any fanfare in either - announcing your leaving or announcing you’ve returned. Then focus on what it is that God wants from you, pray constantly for Him to make clear to you His Will for you regarding whether to pursue the priesthood or not.
 
Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate the help with this topic.

Could i just unenroll in my current parish and enroll in my old one? Then my old parish would be my “home parish” before i enter seminary in Fall 2020 or 2021.
 
I can’t see why not. As the example of moving to another territorial parish due to work, would also apply here, I would think. In my own case (female) I am not enrolled in my territorial parish, but am in my chosen parish.
 
Just explain to them both why you wish to be in one parish and not the other. I dont think it is really a big deal. Your family can go where they are going presently and you can register on your own back at your old parish.
 
Thanks for the advice

I will miss my current parish but regaining that culture connection will be nice/beneficial for me. Especially since i won’t be lonely in the pews as my family plans on returning with me to our old parish.
 
Everyone on earth lives inside the boundaries of one parish or another (except for some odd little pockets). You are free to attend any parish. Whether you can join groups, volunteer, etc at a parish that is not your territorial parish is up to the rules of the Bishop or of the particular priest.
 
In theory, you switch parishes by moving your residence out of one parish boundary and into another. Now, you can attend any parish you desire. But you are technically always a member of the parish in which you live. I am not for sure how membership is defined for extra-territorial parishes.
As for the more common thing of stop going to one parish, and go to another on a regulare basis, getting involved, registering at that parish, I have never heard of the old parish getting offended. There may be members who are disappointed, but everyone realizes that people have their own lives to lead.
 
I live closer to my current parish but my old parish is my ethnic parish
 
That should be true. I doubt anyone would be mad at me for going back to my childhood parish. Especially since I attended there for a long time and my family is going with me.
 
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