Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of a parish: A person who lives in a particular parish or, more specifically, a member of a congregation who regularly attends or belongs to a particular local church.

Usage

• The word "parishioner" is used to identify an individual in relation to their local church community, known as a parish. It emphasizes membership and participation in that specific religious and geographical community.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The priest knew all of his parishioners by name.
  • The charity event was organized by a group of dedicated parishioners.
  • As a longtime parishioner, she volunteered every Sunday.

Advanced Usage

• "To minister to one's parishioners": This phrase describes the duties of a clergyperson to care for the members of their congregation.
  • The new vicar spent his first month visiting and ministering to his parishioners.

Variants and Related Words

• Parish (n): A local church community or an administrative district within some Christian churches.
  • She has lived in this parish for twenty years.
• Parochial (adj): Relating to a parish; often used to mean narrow in scope or limited to local concerns.
  • The school was under parochial administration.

Synonyms

• Congregant: A member of a congregation.
• Churchgoer: A person who attends church regularly.
• Communicant: A person who receives Holy Communion, especially regularly.

Antonyms

• Nonmember: A person who is not a member.
• Visitor: A person who is attending a church but is not a regular member of that parish.

Related Phrases

• "The parishioners' council": A governing or advisory body within a parish made up of its members.
  • The proposal was approved by the parishioners' council.
• "To be a pillar of the parish": An idiom describing a parishioner who is a very active, reliable, and supportive member of the church community.
  • Mr. Johnson, with his decades of service, is considered a pillar of the parish.

Noun

1. a member of a parish