Catholic churches in NoVA (Arlington, Burke: homes, homeschool, live in)

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

I never knew you had to live in geographic boundaries for Catholic Churches. Is that true all over the country or unique to DC area? Why do they require this?

To expound on the already great answer you received:

The reasoning has to do with the Church not liking people church shopping. The idea of a parish is that it's your neighborhood. You should be going to church in your community with your neighbors and investing your time, energy, and tithe to your community.

[michgc]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

I never knew you had to live in geographic boundaries for Catholic Churches. Is that true all over the country or unique to DC area? Why do they require this?

I'm not Catholic but grew up in a heavily Catholic area in Pennsylvania. Sometimes if you met someone in the street or at a party, they might ask, "What Parish are you in?" instead of "Where do you live?" I'd often answer, "I'd be in St. Annies, but I'm Jewish." They would then know what part of town I lived in.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by michgc

I'm not Catholic but grew up in a heavily Catholic area in Pennsylvania. Sometimes if you met someone in the street or at a party, they might ask, "What Parish are you in?" instead of "Where do you live?" I'd often answer, "I'd be in St. Annies, but I'm Jewish." They would then know what part of town I lived in.

This might be my favorite story ever.
My reaction would be "St Annies and you're Jewish? Wow thats gotta be a very old parish!"
lol!

[michgc]

Originally Posted by leighland

This might be my favorite story ever.
My reaction would be "St Annies and you're Jewish? Wow thats gotta be a very old parish!"
lol!

It's funny because I just assumed most people know how the Catholic church is set up, but after reading this thread I asked my (Jewish) husband who grew up in New Hampshire and he didn't know either. I had lots of Catholic friends and went to church with them sometimes. I know most of the sacrements and know which saints to pray to for different things (main things like travel, sickness, selling your house, losing things). I didn't realize what a good Catholic education I got growing up where I did.

[BellaLind]

I don't live in the Parish and my memory is foggy because it's been a few years since I went there and I never used it, but I think St. Timothy in Centreville has a cry room. I'd call to check.

[slowlane3]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

To expound on the already great answer you received:

The reasoning has to do with the Church not liking people church shopping. The idea of a parish is that it's your neighborhood. You should be going to church in your community with your neighbors and investing your time, energy, and tithe to your community.

Also, local churches (parishes) do not get to interview and select new priests. Priestly assignments are made by the Archdiocese (regional headquarters) - and often his race/ culture does not match the demographics of the neighborhood. You may end up with a priest with a strong foreign accent (such as Philippines, African, Polish) or conversely with a preist who mumbles his sermon with little expression, because homiletics (speaking delivery) is a subject less stressed in Catholic seminaries.

[claremarie]

If the OP is still around, St. John the Beloved in McLean has a cry room.

[roninsedge]

Originally Posted by jons_wifey

Any catholic churches in NoVA with baby rooms? or are parents with young ones, forced to sit at the back of the church by the exit?

St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria has a baby room and Our Lady of Angels has one as well. Both are in the back of their respective churches. St. Louis' door is on the left as you enter the church and Our Lady's is through a short hallway on the right of the foyer as you enter the church. I am pretty sure you can look it up on the respective church's website if neither of those are convenient for you.

[jons_wifey]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria has a baby room and Our Lady of Angels has one as well. Both are in the back of their respective churches. St. Louis' door is on the left as you enter the church and Our Lady's is through a short hallway on the right of the foyer as you enter the church. I am pretty sure you can look it up on the respective church's website if neither of those are convenient for you.

thank you!!

[roninsedge]

My pleasure. One quick thing about both baby rooms, you will need to leave the room and line up for communion on your own. The ushers don't line you up for it like the main room of either church.