"Each parish is to possess a set of parish books including baptismal, marriage, and death registers as well as other registers prescribed by the conference of bishops or the diocesan bishop; the pastor is to see to it that these registers are accurately inscribed and carefully preserved."  (c. 535, §1)

Parish sacramental registers are a valuable asset to the individual, the parish and the Church,  They are, therefore, to be attended to carefully and preserved diligently.  In addition to those registers listed in canon 535, §1, parishes will ordinarily maintain record books for Confirmation and First Communion.

Parish sacramental records were microfilmed during 2007.  The master and duplicate copies are housed in the Chancery.  Persons seeking access to sacramental records for the purpose of genealogy can do so through the Office of the Chancellor.  To facilitate the process, requests should ordinarily be made in writing.

Requests for personal sacramental records should be issued a certificate by the parish verifying the factual data contained in the register.