DIMENSIONS OF THE PARISH AS THE FOREMOST PLACE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
The 1917 Code of Canon Law presented the parish as an; institution or organisation set up to serve the spiritual needs of; the; faithful; and; the; material; upkeep; of; the; pastor It; was; importantly considered as a pastoral benefice primarily for the; determination and assignment of revenue to the pastor. The Code; emphasised the place and importance of the pastor oftentimes to; the neglect of the other members of the parish. The traditional parish was determined on the basis of geography (territory) and on whether it had sufficient income to provide for clergy, Church; buildings and essential programmes. The parish was seen as the parish priests' property and the faithful were often distant and passive. It presents a picture of a drama stage where the pastor or parish priest was the principal actor while the faithful constitute the audience who had to watch and clap hands. This system of parish ministry went with a lot of limitations.
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