Catholic Diocese of Arlington - which parish to join?

[Anonymous]

We are mixed religion family (Christian) and want to join a parish but not sure we want to join our assigned parish. DS attends Catholic school at different parish and prefers we join where he attends school. Is that allowed or do we have to obtain permission to establish elsewhere?

Also, if we join a parish I assume we will qualify for reduced tuition at the Catholic rate (DS is baptized Catholic) even if both parents are not Catholic and lapsed ? We live in Arlington. Is there a church more welcoming to mixed religion families?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

How is your son baptized catholic if you aren’t catholic? I’d try at jakes in falls church.

[Anonymous]

So many rules. Are you sure you want to join at all?

[Anonymous]

These are not strange question sorry for the jerky response. A lot of people return to faith when they start a family. Generally speaking the diocese of Arlington is a conservative diocese. I’ve attended about four different churches though and have known divorces mixed marriages at all of them. I do not think that will be an issue whatsoever. If you register with a parish you would be getting the discounted rate for that particular parish school.
About 10 years ago I tried to register at a parish that was outside my parish boundary and they would not let me. However in more recent times I know many many families who have registered at parishes based on their liturgical preference not the boundary with no problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are not strange question sorry for the jerky response. A lot of people return to faith when they start a family. Generally speaking the diocese of Arlington is a conservative diocese. I’ve attended about four different churches though and have known divorces mixed marriages at all of them. I do not think that will be an issue whatsoever. If you register with a parish you would be getting the discounted rate for that particular parish school.
About 10 years ago I tried to register at a parish that was outside my parish boundary and they would not let me. However in more recent times I know many many families who have registered at parishes based on their liturgical preference not the boundary with no problem.

We’ve moved parishes four times over 11 years. No one ever, ever said no. Went to the new parish’s office and registered. When asked why I moved, I said I wanted a change of scenery. Got my envelopes a week or two later. Some people are so focused on rules.

[Anonymous]

The Arlington diocese parishes that we have attended have been pretty strict in requiring that you live within the parish boundaries to register as members, although there may be some that are less lax in enforcing so it doesn’t hurt to try.

Most of the schools that we have experience with have a parishioner rate, a Catholic non-parishioner rate, and a non-Catholic rate. If you don’t live inbounds it’s unlikely they will give you the parishioners rate, but you should qualify for the Catholic rate even though you and your husband are not Catholic since they typically just ask for the child’s baptismal certificate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not strange question sorry for the jerky response. A lot of people return to faith when they start a family. Generally speaking the diocese of Arlington is a conservative diocese. I’ve attended about four different churches though and have known divorces mixed marriages at all of them. I do not think that will be an issue whatsoever. If you register with a parish you would be getting the discounted rate for that particular parish school.
About 10 years ago I tried to register at a parish that was outside my parish boundary and they would not let me. However in more recent times I know many many families who have registered at parishes based on their liturgical preference not the boundary with no problem.

We’ve moved parishes four times over 11 years. No one ever, ever said no. Went to the new parish’s office and registered. When asked why I moved, I said I wanted a change of scenery. Got my envelopes a week or two later. Some people are so focused on rules.

Were your moved within the Arlington diocese? I find them to be strict here in a way I haven’t experienced elsewhere in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not strange question sorry for the jerky response. A lot of people return to faith when they start a family. Generally speaking the diocese of Arlington is a conservative diocese. I’ve attended about four different churches though and have known divorces mixed marriages at all of them. I do not think that will be an issue whatsoever. If you register with a parish you would be getting the discounted rate for that particular parish school.
About 10 years ago I tried to register at a parish that was outside my parish boundary and they would not let me. However in more recent times I know many many families who have registered at parishes based on their liturgical preference not the boundary with no problem.

We’ve moved parishes four times over 11 years. No one ever, ever said no. Went to the new parish’s office and registered. When asked why I moved, I said I wanted a change of scenery. Got my envelopes a week or two later. Some people are so focused on rules.

Were your moved within the Arlington diocese? I find them to be strict here in a way I haven’t experienced elsewhere in the country.

Yep. I know others who’ve done the same. Reasons ran the gamut but I never saw anyone told they can’t join a parish they were not zoned for.

[Anonymous]

We were able to register as parishioners of St. James in Falls Church four years ago even though we’re technically “zoned” for another parish. It wasn’t an issue, but I don’t know how that would affect tuition, if at all.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the responses! To clarify, I’m not Catholic but DS’s father is Catholic (we’re not married and his local parish is not convenient for weekly mass unless DS is visiting).

Since posting, I spoke to a priest who wasn’t entirely clear on the matter but said I’d likely need permission from my assigned parish. Hopefully it won’t be an issue since DS attends school and mass at desired parish. I didn’t bring up tuition question so priest wouldn’t think that was my primary motive... it’s not, DS is religious and wants to be more involved.

I’ll post update in a few weeks, FYI.

[Anonymous]

we are members of an arlington diocese parish that we're not zoned for. no one said or did anything.

[Anonymous]

OP- we are in Alexandria. I know some parishes here will let you join without question BUT when it comes to allowing in-parish acceptance and tuition they may rely on the in-geographical parish boundaries if the number of families exceed their class size limits. This is only to prevent families from outside the area or within another parish boundary applying to other schools.

That being said, we often visit another nearby parish for Sunday Mass b/c of schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we are members of an arlington diocese parish that we're not zoned for. no one said or did anything.

Did you get tuition benefits from the membership? I think you’ll find most parishes will happily recognize your membership when there’s a potential financial gain on their end, but less so when it comes to tuition discounts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are members of an arlington diocese parish that we're not zoned for. no one said or did anything.

Did you get tuition benefits from the membership? I think you’ll find most parishes will happily recognize your membership when there’s a potential financial gain on their end, but less so when it comes to tuition discounts, etc.

i don't understand. we pay the diocese of arlington tuition rate. parishes don't set the tuition; the diocese does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are members of an arlington diocese parish that we're not zoned for. no one said or did anything.

Did you get tuition benefits from the membership? I think you’ll find most parishes will happily recognize your membership when there’s a potential financial gain on their end, but less so when it comes to tuition discounts, etc.

i don't understand. we pay the diocese of arlington tuition rate. parishes don't set the tuition; the diocese does.

Most schools have a sliding scale of preferential admission and even tuition. Parish children, Catholic children from other parishes, Non-catholic children.