The Diocese of Columbus is undergoing a project of clarifying parish boundaries. Several decrees that notably altered parishes by defining questionable boundaries or otherwise unaccounted for territory have been promulgated with more to come.
The understanding of a parish underwent significant reform during the Second Vatican Council. From a legal standpoint, in the 1917 Code of Canon Law, parishes were treated under Book III, which treated “things” in the Church. A parish was understood as a way to support the priest in his ministry, so its treatment in the former Code was in the realm of “things.” A parish was understood as a benefice providing him sustenance for his ministry.
Now, parishes are no longer considered in Canon Law to be “things” but are now treated in the canons of Book II of the 1983 Code that govern “The People of God.” So, the theological focus of what a parish is has changed considerably. No longer is it understood in terms of supporting a priest. Parishes are now described as being a certain community of the Christian faithful stably established in a diocese under the authority of a proper pastor.
The two essential elements of a parish are: 1) a portion of the People of God 2) entrusted to a proper pastor. It is important to take note that nowhere in this description of essential elements of a parish is a parish church. The parish is the People of God, not a church building. Notwithstanding, the parish is also a separate legal person in Canon Law and the pastor or administrator speaks for that juridical person. A parish is part of a diocese. The diocesan Bishop is the competent ecclesial authority to establish, suppress or alter parishes (with the necessary consultations). Parishes can be either territorial or personal. Parishes are generally erected in a certain territory and include all the faithful there, and in reality, parish priests are to have concern for everyone living in his parish. A personal parish is a parish that is established for the care of the faithful who share in some common rite or nationality.
Parishes are not autonomous from the diocese. A parish is subject to the diocesan Bishop and it depends on unity with the diocesan Bishop, who for instance appoints the pastor. This portion of the People of God is united to the diocesan Bishop, who is the sign of unity with the Universal Church when they gather together and are sanctified at the Eucharistic sacrifice. Parishes flourish to the extent that the faithful in that area avail themselves of the graces of the sacraments, engage in catechesis and are sent out on mission to evangelize. Pope Francis insists that the parish is not an outdated system because it provides for great flexibility of missionary activity (cf. EG 28). In the 2020 document On the Pastoral Conversion of the Parish, the Congregation for Clergy affirmed that in parishes “a renewed vitality is required that favors the rediscovery of the vocation of the baptized as a disciple of Jesus Christ and a missionary of the Gospel, in light of the Second Vatican Council and subsequent Magisterium.” The vocation of the baptized is supported through the parish.
The preparatory document for this current session of the 2024 Synod acknowledged that parish boundaries are readily and easily crossed every day in a more mobile society, that we live in an ever-increasing globalized world with immigrants constantly changing the demographics of a diocese and parish, and that the digital culture continues to shape how the Church dialogues with society. There is some discussion about whether a new way to form a “personal parish” could become law in the Church. We will have to wait for the conclusion of the current Synod for more on this. Still, the concept of parish boundaries remains applicable in the Church for good order and to ensure that the spiritual needs of the Christian faithful are adequately met.
The parish is an indispensable part of ecclesiastical life. A theme of the current Synod encourages accountability through participative bodies such as a parish pastoral council. In order to effectively participate in such a council, the People of God must be engaged in their parishes. The more engaged parishioners are in the life of the parish, the more the Body of Christ will grow and flourish. It is in this engagement that the faithful are built up and renewed by the sacraments and catechetical formation, which enables them to be more effectively on mission. By this engagement, the pastor is better able to know the needs of the people who are entrusted to him and thus better able to consult with his parishioners about how best to meet those needs. It is frequently in the parish church that this formational activity takes place. However, clearly your parish is much more than the building. The parish is the People of God in an area who are called to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Father Michael Hartge is Moderator of Mission Advancement and Vicar General for the diocese.
