Dear Kate:

Well, in searching for a house one must consider price, church, school, and neighborhood. Sit down and make a list of what you can do or accept in these four categories. Decide on the priorities, which comes first, second, third in your search. Begin with prayer.

Then. for example, if school is the most important, then begin with locating schools, then perhaps parish, then neighborhood, then price.

Or if neighborhood is the most important, find possible neighborhoods, then look for the closest parish and school, etc.

You keep analyzing the possibilities until you find options that meets all four categories.

Keep in mind that in terms of what parish you go to, one does not have to go to the parish closest to you where you live. You can choose to go to any parish, even if across town, or even in another town.

Also, keep in mind that even if the neighborhood does not have a nearby parish church, there is some parish church somewhere that is assigned that area. You can call the diocese to find out what parish is assigned that neighborhood. 

If the affordable neighborhoods do not have nearby Catholic Churches, then you may have to settle on a commute to the parish church and school assigned to that area, or find a church and school of your choice outside that area.

When making this analysis and you have some prospective possibilities, pray about it as to which choice to make.

We will be praying for your decision.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary