Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-12-25
PAROCHIAL BOUNDARIES.

Sacred Heart CnurCb kew. rather
Altendorf read the following letter
form Bishop Trobec:
st. Cloud, MIMI, Dec Is, 1903.
Rev. and Dear Father:
In view Of the present legislation on
marriages it becomes specially neces-
sary that pastors be most careful to
know the exact limits Of the territory
OF their parish.
Where no specifically defined terri
tory has been assigned to parish. the
boundary between that and the adlOin.
ing parish is the halfway line"
persons living nearer to one church
than to another being parlshioners Of
the former.
Where different parishes have been
established to serve Catholics Of
different languages. the territory
assigned to each one is altogether
independent Of the lines circumscrib-
ing the territory Of adjoining parishes
of other languages Over this terri
rory the pastor has full jurisdiction,
territory embraced with" the lines OF
the parishes Of other languages.
1t may not. huwcver be always so
easy 70 determine whether certain
!erooue or families belong to a parish
of the English language or to one
where some nth"" language is in use.
lccr!dillH 70 ~" i,ri>luN Of the :.
congregation ~ I;4r Propaganda.
:tthOllr> 81 parishes IL which the
English IANS,!;.4' i ~: !.>ltl. Knowing
sufficiently the i:-,!l~i! language to
lullii] IL il ,ll,.! s.l:I:uc> dutlrs have
the right {, 'l"''u;!:r lu"'ui'erS OF the
RAJ ssh in Whi''u trc RI .,n>h Language
- spoken. Eat e. ~ when and boz"
'.:ec,"ol:, 81: .l~%..-:.v@ uf their
,rtrochiul nli"G' :.'lrc becomes opera
tive. the cpuSE"~:t>tlul. has given no
anal rulings. ,nt:l further orders
the following observations VIII govern
pastors OF the 'liorc~e OF st. Cloud:
The transfer Of one, purorhiai
allegiance mast be made, III bon;,
tGe. because Of az avowed preference
for the use Of the English language IN
matter, Of religion not through q
temporary WhiDl. on As the reslll, Of q
local or personal quarrel or Disagree
men1
It must be pIl1n that persons Or
families Wishing to adhere to an
English speaking parish understand
and speak the English language quite
sufficiently to acIult themselves
readily OF their religious obligations
IN that language.
Once their adherence i given to an
EnSIl> speaking parish persons On
families are not allowed to return t,
their former parish. The adherence
must h. definite and final.
no II 1,IjnHt.t 70 an 1SIl ISL
becomes in established fact either by d
formal announcement made to the
pa>tor Of such parish, or by public
Attendance at its services, and par
ticiration IN Its affairs continued
sufficiently long to show clearly thai
the intent and purpose Of the pArtie:
. is to adhere definitely to such English
speaking parish.
Occasional, ol even frequent atten
dance at mass in the church Of ar
: English speaking parish, for con
! vcnience sake. does not constitute Of
Indicate permanent membership.
Minors belong to the parish of theil
/ parents or guardians, ana are moi
allowed to choose for themselves al
English speaking parish.
Pastors of English speaking parishes
/ must not make advances to Catholic
OF other languages to induce them t.
abandon the parish of their first al
legiance: and when doubt exists as t
which parish persons or families he
long the presumption is always il
favor of the parish of their former
language
Where doubt exists as to parisl
lines, pastors will have recourse to tn
ordinary for the settlement of sucI
doubt. These rules shall be in fore
after their publication.
Yours very sincerely.
JAMES TROBEC,
Bishop of st. Cloud