A question that seems to generate a great deal of discussion and debate in one way or another, and one that most certainly generates a wide range of views, is the simple – though it can prove controversial – question of Where is your parish? Indeed, we can and should ask ourselves: Where is my parish?
When pondering these questions a few thoughts come to mind:
- Is one’s parish the parish within the geographical parish boundary where one lives?
- Is one’s parish the parish in which one was baptised or grew up in or perhaps where one received some of the sacraments such as First Holy Communion or Confirmation?
- Is one’s parish the closest church to a person, which may of course be outside the geographical parish boundary in which one lives?
- Is one’s parish only one’s parish if an individual is actively involved in parish activities or is faithfully attending Sunday Mass each week?
- Is one’s parish simply the parish where one feels at home, is engaged in the life of the local community, supports the parish financially according to ones means, attends Sunday Mass regularly and is registered on the parish database?
