What makes you a member of a parish

[Gorgias]

She’s correct that a priest is not supposed to baptize anyone who is a member of another parish without their pastor’s permission.

Is that more by convention and politeness than by canon law or diocesan policy? I don’t think I’d heard that one before. Marriage, yes – but not baptism.

 

[twf]

That’s an interesting possibility and may be the answer. Parishes can be personal rather than territorial. The chancery should be able to clear this up for the OP.

 

[Phemie]

I will check with the diocese but as far as I know, none of the 26 parishes in our diocese were erected as personal parishes.

 

[Phemie]

Can. 857 §1. Apart from a case of necessity, the proper place of baptism is a church or oratory.
§2. As a rule an adult is to be baptized in his or her parish church and an infant in the parish church of the parents unless a just cause suggests otherwise.

Most pastors don’t have a problem letting their flock go “home” to have their babies baptized and consider that a just cause.

I’ve just looked at several parish websites and most have this or a variation of it:

Can our child be baptized in a parish if we do not live within the parish boundaries?

Baptism is a celebration of a living relationship with God and with community (the parish). As such, the sacrament is normally celebrated in your worshiping community. Exceptions are made, however. To have your child baptized in a different parish:

1. seek permission from the parish’s pastor;
2. obtain a letter from the pastor of your home parish, granting permission to have your child baptized elsewhere;
3. attend Baptismal preparation program in your local parish (also to be confirmed in the pastor’s letter).