Should the tabernacle be placed in church or chapel?

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Seatuck:
The church is often used for gatherings other than Mass.We have 5000 families . We need to use the church sometimes for meetings, rehearsals, musical gatherings etc. It would not be fitting to have the tabernacle in a room which is not observing reverence. We have a niche in the back wall for the tabernacle. On special occaisions we can put a tabernacle there.
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Perhaps instead of building seperate chapels, we should be building seperate meeting places where we can have rehersals, meetings and the like. As far as large concerts go, perhaps going in with other parishes to rent out a larger hall, or some other such alternative. This way, the tabernacle can stay where it belongs…
If a scenario like this were to happpen, I think it would bring a lot of people back to the right mind as far as the Mass goes. It would draw attention to Christ in the Tabernacle. The main church would only be used for what it was meant: The worship and reverence of our Lord and Saviour.
 
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St.Claire:
When I’ve visited these churches for the first time I don’t even know which way to direct my genuflection because I can’t locate which side the tabernacle is located.

It makes me sad to think that the body of our lord is housed in a tabernacle that is sometimes so hidden away that we must search to find him.
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I’ve had the same experience. Which way do you genuflect when you don’t know where the tabernacle is?
 
Marialis Cultus:
I’ve had the same experience. Which way do you genuflect when you don’t know where the tabernacle is?
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If the Body of Christ is not present in the church, there is no need to genuflect - nothing to genuflect to. A bow toward the altar is appropriate in this case.

Our church was built in the late 70’s when there was more of a trend of moving the tabernacle from the center. Ours was at the front of the church, set slightly to the right of the altar. It was highly visible and in the church, but not where it should be, in the center, most focal point.

We are in the process of remodeling our church, the main priority of this being to move the tabernacle to the center position in our church. We are hoping that the remodel will be completed by Easter! How fitting it will be to celebrate the most important Holy Day in a new place.

God Bless,
Regi 🙂
 
The Pope and Catechism say the Mass is the source and summit. Logically following this, the tabernacle should be the center and focus. I say the center not a side chapel.
 
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JohnPaul0:
Please don’t judge the priest or the congregation for the architecture over which they may not have had any control.
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If they are really willing they can move it.
 
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Regi:
If the Body of Christ is not present in the church, there is no need to genuflect - nothing to genuflect to. A bow toward the altar is appropriate in this case.
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Our you sure this is correct? I’ve always taught my children to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew they are about to sit in. It seems to me that children or for that matter adults whom attend a church with a hidden tabernacle would get in the habit of NOT genuflecting. When these Catholics (especially children) finally do enter a church with a tabernacle front and center they will have forgotten to genuflect.
 
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Seatuck:
I don’t object to having the main tabernacle in a side chape. We have one which is beautiful and a fitting place to honor Jesus. It is easy to see, it says Chapel above the door. We have adoration there and many small groups worship there.Our Chapel is well used. The church is often used for gatherings other than Mass.We have 5000 families . We need to use the church sometimes for meetings, rehearsals, musical gatherings etc. It would not be fitting to have the tabernacle in a room which is not observing reverence. We have a niche in the back wall for the tabernacle. On special occaisions we can put a tabernacle there.
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I agree with you. I also think it’s really hard to speak in absolutes in this matter, as the needs of the congregation have to be taken into account.

For instance, my parish is absolutely huge, and the main church, in order to accomodate everyone seats about 1250 people. We have a side chapel connected (with separate entrances) which seats probably 150 people where the tabernacle is located. I find this arrangement to be most advantageous, as the chapel is used for daily Mass (2 per day), as well as Eucharistic adoration and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The chapel is also open for daily for private prayer. It would be impractical to use the main church for all the above, thus it makes sense to keep the tabernacle in the chapel, which gets much more use.

Now, another nearby parish, which I also attend frequently, is also very large and just recently built a new large main church. They use the old historic church (the oldest continually used church in the country) as the chapel for daily Mass, Adoration, etc. Now because that is a separate building, they have two tabernacles, one in each church. That works best for that parish, but I don’t think it would be preferable in my parish (two tabernacles with just a wall separating them).

In smaller parishes, without the need for a smaller chapel, should have the tabernacle in the center of the sanctuary and highly visible…there is no question of that in my mind. However, I wouldn’t just make a blanket condemnation of all parishes that have the tabernacle placed in a side chapel.
 
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GloriaPatri4:
Our you sure this is correct? I’ve always taught my children to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew they are about to sit in. It seems to me that children or for that matter adults whom attend a church with a hidden tabernacle would get in the habit of NOT genuflecting. When these Catholics (especially children) finally do enter a church with a tabernacle front and center they will have forgotten to genuflect.
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Yep, that’s correct. You genuflect to the tabernacle. The whole point of the genuflection is to honor the Body and Blood of Christ present in the Church. If the tabernacle is not visible then you are supposed to bow to the altar of sacrafice. Same thing if the tabernacle is empty.

The one good thing about the hide and seek placement of the tabernacles in various churches is the chance to discuss this with my kids. When we are in a new church, they look for the tablernacle and genuflect in the correct direction. 🙂
 
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kmktexas:
Yep, that’s correct. You genuflect to the tabernacle. The whole point of the genuflection is to honor the Body and Blood of Christ present in the Church. If the tabernacle is not visible then you are supposed to bow to the altar of sacrafice. Same thing if the tabernacle is empty.

The one good thing about the hide and seek placement of the tabernacles in various churches is the chance to discuss this with my kids. When we are in a new church, they look for the tablernacle and genuflect in the correct direction. 🙂
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Yes, yes I know that we genuflect to the tabernacle, thanks anyway for clarifying. What I meant was, when I go into a Catholic church that I’m not familiar with I like to look around to see where the tabernacle is even if it is in a Blessed Sacrament chapel. I will still genuflect towards it (even if it’s hidden) when entering or exiting my pew or passing by it.
 
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RomanRiteTeen:
This is terrible! Would the Masses this priest celebrates then be invalid? :mad:
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Ever hear of the miracle of Lanciano?
Check it out…
 
I believe by moving the tabernacles out of our churches it will only encourage more irreverence in the main body of the church.
 
OK, I voted “other” in the poll because I don’t think there is one placement that works for every situation.

Ideally, the tabernacle would be “front and center” with the church open at all times for the faithful.

Realistically, this doesn’t work in many places. For example, a parish in a large city or “bad” neighborhood might want to secure the main church at night but have the Blessed Sacrament available for visits and adoration 24/7. This is best done with a seperate chaple that has a secure access system. This was done in a church in Houston before it’s remodel. There was a big double door between the main church and the tabernacle that was open when the main church was open but at other times, the door was closed and access was through a seperate outside door. You couldn’t see the tabernacle from everywhere in the church but it wasn’t hidden either. I could see the rationale for this.

As many parishes face consolidation due to fewer priests, very large churches are becoming more common. It is often nice to have a smaller chaple for daily Mass or other smaller groups. So I can see the rationale there too.

Another parish in Houston moved the tabernacle to a chapel in the back of the church. This was just silly. You had to go into the main church to reach the chapel (no seperate entrance) so it wasn’t a security issue. The chapel is too small for use for daily Mass or really anything else. It is very visible and encased in glass but people have to spin 180 degrees to genuflect when they come into church. No logical rationale for that one. :eek:

The very best layout that I have seen is at a church in Katy, TX. The chaple and main sanctuary are front to front (altar ends). In between the two is what could be described as a glass room with doors on both sides. The tabernacle is inside. The tabernacle is in a worthy place of honor and is centrally visible from both the chaple and the main church. The main church can be secured at night while 24/7 adoration continues in the chaple. Daily Mass is said in the chaple which seats about 80. (that may change soon since it is getting too crowded 👍 ).

I couldn’t make the picture work but you can see it here
 
In smaller parishes, without the need for a smaller chapel, should have the tabernacle in the center of the sanctuary and highly visible…there is no question of that in my mind. However, I wouldn’t just make a blanket condemnation of all parishes that have the tabernacle placed in a side chapel.
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Sorry, but this is incorrect.

What is the purpose of the Church and its sanctuaries? The celebration the Eucharist and recognition of the Presence of Christ. It is not designed as a meeting place for the Immanent Church. That is what parish halls and basements are for. It IS designed to be the gathering place for the Transcendant church, a recognition and continuing pledge of fealty to Christ.
Realistically, this doesn’t work in many places. For example, a parish in a large city or “bad” neighborhood might want to secure the main church at night but have the Blessed Sacrament available for visits and adoration 24/7. This is best done with a seperate chaple that has a secure access system.
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This is easily solved with the formation of a second chapel designated for Eucharistic Adoration. I have attended parishes all over the West with this arrangement.
The very best layout that I have seen is at a church in Katy, TX. The chaple and main sanctuary are front to front (altar ends). In between the two is what could be described as a glass room with doors on both sides. The tabernacle is inside. The tabernacle is in a worthy place of honor and is centrally visible from both the chaple and the main church. The main church can be secured at night while 24/7 adoration continues in the chaple. Daily Mass is said in the chaple which seats about 80. (that may change soon since it is getting too crowded
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This sounds brilliant, if I understand it correctly.
 
I voted for the main body of the Church. However except when the Church as noted in the liturgy documents is in constant use for visitors, funerals, weddings, etc. These would tend to interupt private devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. In that case a side chapel would be better suited to prayer.
 
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JohnPaul0:
Please don’t judge the priest or the congregation for the architecture over which they may not have had any control.
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We should certainly be careful about judging anyone. However: because my husband is an architect who’s firm is almost exclusively engaged in the design of churches, I know that architects ARE strictly subject to the bishop’s directives regarding the design of Catholic churches. The priest and congregation, however, usually have little say in the end about their new church, so be careful about pointing the finger there.
 
I am at a parish that has 24 hour Adoration,it has truly been a blessing for this parish. The tabernacle is located in a side chapel .
The main Church seats over 1000 people, it is in heavy use due to the frequent regularly scheduled Masses . It is also used quite often for weddings as well as funerals.

Having the tabernacle in a seperate side chapel has allowed a lot more people to come and adore the Lord.

Is it possible to have two seperate tabernacles at a church, I of course think a tabernacle should be up front and center at the main altar, but I also know what a blessing it is to have 24 hour access to our Lord in the side chapel.

Trick
 
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Trick:
I am at a parish that has 24 hour Adoration,it has truly been a blessing for this parish. The tabernacle is located in a side chapel .
The main Church seats over 1000 people, it is in heavy use due to the frequent regularly scheduled Masses . It is also used quite often for weddings as well as funerals.

Having the tabernacle in a seperate side chapel has allowed a lot more people to come and adore the Lord.

Is it possible to have two seperate tabernacles at a church, I of course think a tabernacle should be up front and center at the main altar, but I also know what a blessing it is to have 24 hour access to our Lord in the side chapel.

Trick
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No there is only allowed one tabernacle in each parish church.
 
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