Switching parishes. Anyone ever done this?

[EasterJoy]

Just to address this registering with a parish business, I have been at mine for 30 years and from time to time I fill out the parish directory info and send it in, and I’m never once found on any register or roll.

I honestly think the parish lists and documented parish memberships are a farce. As a priest told me about choosing/going to a Church, he said “go where you are fed”

Did you take the list and go to the office and ask why you had been left off? I would be curious to know what happened!

As 1ke said, canon law gives you the rights of the faithful at the parish in which your home is geographically situated, and no sign-ups are needed. Some bishops also extend those as a courtesy to those who regularly attend a different parish, provided that those members of the faithful register and perform the duties of the faithful at that other parish on a regular basis.

Every parish would like you to inform the secretary of your name and contact information as soon as you move in. The only parish I have ever been in that I would count on to have correct parish rolls was so small that it was literally impossible to move out of the parish without the news making it to the parish secretary via the grapevine. Everyone, even a little parish like that, appreciates being told when you move away, so that their mailing lists will be correct.

 

[Jeannie52]

My husband and I got married in the Catholic Church where my husband went to grammar school and was confirmed. After a few years of my husband being an Usher and me in the choir, regrettably, we found the politics with some church members to be such that we both felt it would be better for us to search for a different parish. We found the parish where my husband was Baptized. My husband and I really like the parish and the priest is a ‘people person’ and very approachable and very friendly to talk to.

 

[1ke]

Just to address this registering with a parish business, I have been at mine for 30 years and from time to time I fill out the parish directory info and send it in, and I’m never once found on any register or roll.

That isn’t what makes you a member of a parish. Registration is not found in canon law anywhere.

I honestly think the parish lists and documented parish memberships are a farce.

Not relevant to what parish you belong to.

As a priest told me about choosing/going to a Church, he said “go where you are fed”

Bad advice. I suggest instead you actually talk to the pastor you know at the basilica and ask about what your bishop has established for his diocese.

Is there a reason you do not want to do so?

 

[EasterJoy]

Bad advice. I suggest instead you actually talk to the pastor you know at the basilica and ask about what your bishop has established for his diocese.

Is there a reason you do not want to do so?

You are right. You do not want to come to the day when you are told you cannot have a family funeral or a family wedding at the parish you have learned to call “home,” all because you did not take the trouble to confirm that you had been given the right to be treated as if you have domicile there. It is not a good idea to wait until it is too late to investigate the marriage, funeral, and sacramental preparation policies for your diocese.

Even in that case, you have to be ready for the possibility that any time he sees fit to do so a bishop can decide not to extend the courtesy of being treated as having domicile to established regulars who do not actually have domicile at the parish they regularly attend. The right to the sacraments are normally something you only have the right to claim in your territorial parish. You approach other pastors at the pleasure of the bishop, who can tell them not to accept outsiders, tell them they are to accept outsiders under certain conditions, or allow them to do as they see fit.

(I would particularly expect that a basilica might have strict instructions about who may have their wedding or a funeral there.)

 

[Jeannie52]

Just to address this registering with a parish business, I have been at mine for 30 years and from time to time I fill out the parish directory info and send it in, and I’m never once found on any register or roll.

I honestly think the parish lists and documented parish memberships are a farce. As a priest told me about choosing/going to a Church, he said “go where you are fed”

This makes so much sense.

 

[EasterJoy]

This makes so much sense.

It makes a lot of sense until your daughter is in tears because she isn’t going to be allowed to be married in what you consider your “family church.”

Listen to 1ke, and you won’t be given reason later to complain about people who are “too caught up in the rules” for you. None of us have an excuse when we choose not to follow the rules and then don’t have things go the way we want them to go.

 

[GLam8833]

The only concern I might have is that if you
live in a certain parish and go to another
parish for worship, St. Vincent de Paul will
only serve those w/i the parish. I don’t know
about Knights of Columbus or Catholic Women’s
groups.

 

[Jeannie52]

Go where your heart and soul are being fed and nourished. You can always visit the church close to your home where you are currently a member.

I agree with this completely.

 

[pianistclare]

This makes so much sense.

It’s not a “farce” in this Archdiocese. The Assessments are based on those records.
It’s a big tax. It costs parishes a bundle. And Pastors do fret over it. They don’t want to have to pay and take money away from ministries on an accounting of 100 families who don’t worship there and don’t participate in the life of the parish.

It makes sense if you’re going to be a practicing Catholic that you register somewhere and make it your parish home.

 

[EasterJoy]

The only concern I might have is that if you
live in a certain parish and go to another
parish for worship, St. Vincent de Paul will
only serve those w/i the parish. I don’t know
about Knights of Columbus or Catholic Women’s
groups.

Really? Our St. Vincent de Paul does not even restrict their services to Catholics. I think they ask for a referral from county or state social services if you are out of parish, as a way to verify need, but that’s it. Even that is probably something they’d waive in an urgent case where the county referral would be too slow.

 

[808Catholic]

Long.story.short.

There is an older basilica here in town that is very traditional, (ancient form a few times a month).

My wife and I were married in what was my home parish. It’s a fantastic parish, dont’ get me wrong. Turns out the priest who married us 7 years ago now is in charge at the basilica. He is a fantastic priest who is very, very steeped in the ancient rite and a lot of pre-Vatican II stuff that we find appealing lately.

We are seriously thinking about changing parishes, but are nervous. Kinda like we are “abandoning” our current parish for this other one.

Has this happened to anyone else, how did you feel about it?

I’ve “changed” parishes several times in my life. There is one Church.

 

[pianistclare]

Really? Our St. Vincent de Paul does not even restrict their services to Catholics. I think they ask for a referral from county or state social services if you are out of parish, as a way to verify need, but that’s it. Even that is probably something they’d waive in an urgent case where the county referral would be too slow.

St. Vincent DePaul here go by your zip code, not parish. but they do go by zip code.

 

[808Catholic]

During the troubled 70’s, I went to many parishes in our large town. When some one asked me what parish I belonged to, I used to say I belong to the diocese. I lived in one parish, Had my kids in school in another, taught CCD in another and went to Mass wherever I wanted. We got the best of all. I knew many of the priests very well. God Bless, Memaw

Same here.

 

[Memaw]

It makes a lot of sense until your daughter is in tears because she isn’t going to be allowed to be married in what you consider your “family church.”

Listen to 1ke, and you won’t be given reason later to complain about people who are “too caught up in the rules” for you. None of us have an excuse when we choose not to follow the rules and then don’t have things go the way we want them to go.

I know many parishes that have buried someone that wasn’t a member.
When one plans to get married in the Church, it takes 6 month to do so and that’s plenty of time to become a member. God Bless, Memaw

 

[signit]

As 1ke said, canon law gives you the rights of the faithful at the parish in which your home is geographically situated, and no sign-ups are needed. Some bishops also extend those as a courtesy to those who regularly attend a different parish, provided that those members of the faithful register and perform the duties of the faithful at that other parish on a regular basis.

A Catholic priest posted here a while back and addressed the question.

You’re a member of a parish based on where you live.

You may of course register (and attend Mass, etc.) at any parish.

Where being a member comes in is (as the others suggested) if, for example, you’re planning a Catholic wedding or funeral. If you go to a parish where you’re not a member they may, but are not required to, provide the service for you.

 

[pianistclare]

A Catholic priest posted here a while back and addressed the question.

You’re a member of a parish based on where you live.

You may of course register (and attend Mass, etc.) at any parish.

Where being a member comes in is (as the others suggested) if, for example, you’re planning a Catholic wedding or funeral. If you go to a parish where you’re not a member they may, but are not required to, provide the service for you.

YES. And please be aware that while anyone is certainly welcome to attend Mass on any given day any where they find themselves…pastors build their budgets on the number of people registered.
This is the data that the Archdiocese uses when he asks can he build an addition? How much tax should the parish be charged by the Diocese to support the chancery, the men in seminaries, the school administration, the outreach and social service agencies that they offer. The registration also tells people who teach how many students in any given age they should expect to have? How many books do they need to order, how many desks are necessary? How many Bibles should we have on hand? How many people can we reasonably expect to give based on age and income? It’s not merely about “gee I love Fr. so-and so’s homily”. That’s GREAT! But people get all upset and worked up when they NEED services and the parish is not equipped to help them.
They have to know who you are, that you’re participating in the life of the parish so they can waive fees if necessary for you, that you have children that need catechesis that they can write letters of recommendation when you come in and ask for them, when people want to be Godparents and the other priest who never heard of you asks your pastor if you are good to go, and HE has heard of you.
Bottom line: does switching impact your spiritual life negatively?: Absolutely NOT.
Will you eventually have problems from hopping around? You might.
Just land somewhere you like, and make your presence known by registering.
Maybe you’ll never need anything. But somebody else will, and hopefully things have been put in place to better serve everyone. Even the destitute.
God Bless.

 

[jeannetherese]

Your parish is always based on territory. You will always belong to the territorial parish in which you reside.

I believe there are a few exceptions to this situation.

In my diocese, there is an parish-at-large established by our bishop into which one might register. This is a FSSP parish with two locations (Seattle and Tacoma) which provides the Latin Mass.

 

[Memaw]

A Catholic priest posted here a while back and addressed the question.

You’re a member of a parish based on where you live.

You may of course register (and attend Mass, etc.) at any parish.

Where being a member comes in is (as the others suggested) if, for example, you’re planning a Catholic wedding or funeral. If you go to a parish where you’re not a member they may, but are not required to, provide the service for you.

My son and his wife were married in the same parish where her parents were married, even tho they neither lived in that parish and did not intend to after the wedding. God Bless, Memaw

 

[SilverLight]

My family switched parishes two years ago. My son just received two sacraments at new parish this past year. Our bishop has no problem with this.

I do not know why a bishop would have a problem with that.
I’m 23 now myself and have thought of joining a nondenominational church when I get older. The church that my family is at right now seems kind of in some way a little rude. The people who have kids that go to the churches school seem to stick to those other people and no one just reaches out to talk really. I would be happy to make friends with others there but it seems like it would be hard to do so.

I wen’t to a Presbyterian church as part of an assignment for a Theology class. The people there have groups that organize activities and the people just seem happier. That is the kind of church I wan’t and need to be in. I need it in order to have the wan’t to keep going and my church does not offer that really. It sort of makes me sad almost because my church is a big one and I would think more people would be interested in making groups and clubs there. My mother said she knows someone who goes to the Presbyterian church and I think she is involved in a few things there. I may very well start doing some of the things they offer.

 

[pianistclare]

My son and his wife were married in the same parish where her parents were married, even tho they neither lived in that parish and did not intend to after the wedding. God Bless, Memaw

All priests will marry the children of legacy parishioners.