Hispanic 'personal parishes' in the contemporary U.S. Catholic Church. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bruce, Tricia C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of prevention & intervention in the community. Volume 46:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 339
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Hispanic Catholics -- immigrant integration -- personal parish -- religious belonging; Preventive health services -- Periodicals; Preventive health services -- United States -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Community health services -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1080/10852352.2018.1507494
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1085-2352

Abstract

Abstract: U.S. Catholicism spawned hundreds of national ("personal") parishes, most serving early European immigrants. Hispanics' later population growth, by contrast, coincided with Church leaders' emphasis on integrated, territorial parishes. This paper examines more recent practice around personal parishes with explicit, named service to Hispanic Catholics. One in six new personal parishes serves Hispanics. Hispanic personal parishes' minimal presence among American dioceses, however, does not mirror Hispanics' larger presence among Catholics overall. Findings from an original National Study of Personal Parishes reveal commonalities in diocesan explanations for establishing – or not establishing – Hispanic personal parishes. Personal parishes operate as an alternative, non-assimilative parish structure alongside the "ideal" of an integrated, territorial parish.