Notes on Parish Membership
I’ve been getting some comments and questions about parish membership and its implications recently. Some folks are thinking about joining the parish, but are uncertain if they are able to do so. Others are asking if parish membership is necessary in order to do X, Y, and Z. So let’s start with the basics.
As defined by the Code of Canon Law (the Church’s legal code), a parish is “a certain community of Christ’s faithful stably established within a particular
Church [diocese], whose pastoral care, under the authority of the diocesan
Bishop, is entrusted to a parish priest as its proper Pastor” (Canon 515). Canon law clarifies that as a general rule parishes are territorial in nature, that is, they include all the Catholics within a given territory. Notice I did not say all the registered Catholics in a given territory. Every Catholic (man, woman, and child) within a certain area belongs to the territorial parish of St. Stephen. That means that if you live within St. Stephen’s boundaries, you are already a parishioner, whether or not you filled out a registration packet. Conversely, if you live close to St. Matthew or St. James or any other church, chances are that you are territorially linked to that parish.
“Woah!” you might say. “Does that mean I’ve never been a member of St. Stephen and have to go to church elsewhere?” Hold your horses, as my mom would say. Though geographically belonging to a parish, canon law never specifies that you are required to attend Mass there or participate in parish life (Canon 1247). You are welcome to attend any Catholic church that helps you grow in your faith, and we welcome anyone seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ. The parish exists to further the Kingdom of God for Catholics within a particular territory, but it can serve many others beyond it as well.
So what’s the purpose of registration and updating your contact information? While not required to come to Mass, the act of registering and regularly updating your contact info (you can do so with a simple email anytime) is a signal that you commit yourself to this Christian community. It enables us as clergy, staff, and volunteers to stay connected with you and inform you of the new and exciting things happening at St. Stephen. It smoothes sacramental processes like becoming a godparent or Confirmation sponsor. It ensures that the census numbers we give the Archdiocese (which are used for their long term planning) match the reality on the ground. For all these reasons, registering as a member is super important and helpful, and updating your contact info is of tremendous benefit. How many faulty addresses, emails, and phone numbers could be corrected with a simple email! So get in touch with us today if you’d like to register or update a piece of your contact info. Ok, the infomercial has ended. More to come next week!