The Pillar Podcast Ep. 217: Territorial parishes, and the US Church of tomorrow
Jun 20, 2025
Stephen White, a Pillar columnist and passionate baseball fan, dives into the evolving landscape of the U.S. Catholic Church. He discusses the challenges faced by U.S. bishops in regulating liturgy and the implications of territorial parishes on community life. White emphasizes the importance of adapting to demographic shifts, the need for deeper community ties, and how liturgical choices affect families and children’s spiritual growth. The conversation also touches on the role of seminaries in shaping future liturgical practices.
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Episode notes
Traditio Custodes Limits Extraordinary Form
- U.S. bishops are implementing Traditio Custodes with specific restrictions on the Extraordinary Form of the Mass.
- This includes limiting it to designated chapels and stressing territorial parish membership by law.
Self-Selection in Parish Communities
- Parishioners often self-select communities that align with their preferences, even within the same parish.
- This reflects larger US Church trends beyond just the traditional Latin Mass groups.
Territorial Parish Model Faces Challenges
- Territorial parishes are evolving into larger entities with multiple worship sites due to priest shortages and suburban shifts.
- This challenges the idea of parishes as communities of immediate neighbors living together.
