Saints' Discussion Forums

The Church is the family of God, while individual parishes are communities and dioceses are groups of communities that form a region.

The Creed says One Holy Catholic Church.
I don't really know if it is necessary to join multiple parishes under one priest, each parish is it's own community and is lead by the head pastor of each parish. Insular Catholicism has always been an issue but the Catholic Church is an evangelistic Church that must preach the Gospel and save souls for the glory of God.

Here in New England we have many more parishes than active priests, which has resulted in closing and selling many parishes, and "twinning" others, some times more than just one.  It is a very sad day when a parish is told there is no available replacement for their retiring priest, and the parish must close or twin.  I prefer to think the term community is useful at every level: mission, parish, diocese, region, nation, continent, and world.  Recently I spoke with a Canadian priest who said he has 6 parishes.  I can't imagine what that would be like.

I think the term twinning is generally applied when a priest is given responsibility for a second parish, if each of the parishes is allowed to remain open and generally operational.  I don't think the term is used when one of the parishes is closed.