What is the Mass for closing a church like?

[lak611]

In another thread, a poster mentions a Mass for the dedication of a new church and gives a link to a video. What is the Mass for closing a church like? My mother’s parish will be closing. Most likely, she will not attend the Mass because she is moving a couple months before the closure and will join a new parish. I probably will not attend either, since I belong to a different parish. Has anyone attended a Mass to close a church? If you have, please describe the Mass.

 

[Goblin_Taters]

I’ve never heard of a closing Mass before. Is there such a thing? I imagine it may not be too different from any other Mass, but I could be wrong.

 

[lak611]

I’ve never heard of a closing Mass before. Is there such a thing? I imagine it may not be too different from any other Mass, but I could be wrong.

I found this in an article:

There are no specific rituals in the Catholic liturgy for closing a parish, but the diocese sent suggestions on different ways parishioners can honor their history and people, said the Rev. Michael Billian, episcopal vicar of the diocese.

from this source. I was hoping that someone would know how the Mass was celebrated to “honor [the] history and people” of the parish.

 

[chicago]

I found this in an article:from this source. I was hoping that someone would know how the Mass was celebrated to “honor [the] history and people” of the parish.

I suppose that this might include some sort of special inclusion of historical familes, the “memorabelia” of the parish (for lack of a better word), song selection, discussion of the closing as part of the homily.

Of course, what would probably be unique is if the Church or the land had to be deconsecrated.

 

[Aramis]

the mass itself is often quite normal.

The dedicating of the building to civil purpose is not a mass, it s the ritual removal of the requisite crosses, the altar-stone and relics, and the tabernacle, often accompanied by the sharing of stories of the parish. (I’ve been to several; the Archdiocese of Anchorage has a local ritual for “execration of a church” since so many parishes have grown to the point that new buildings have been required. Still, technically, a mission diocese.)

 

[lak611]

Of course, what would probably be unique is if the Church or the land had to be deconsecrated.

the mass itself is often quite normal.

The dedicating of the building to civil purpose is not a mass, it s the ritual removal of the requisite crosses, the altar-stone and relics, and the tabernacle, often accompanied by the sharing of stories of the parish. (I’ve been to several; the Archdiocese of Anchorage has a local ritual for “execration of a church” since so many parishes have grown to the point that new buildings have been required. Still, technically, a mission diocese.)

That is what I am curious about. The church would definitely need to be deconsecrated because they are going to tear the building down to build apartments.

 

[Aramis]

That is what I am curious about. The church would definitely need to be deconsecrated because they are going to tear the building down to build apartments.

You could suggest to the pastor to coordinate between the Vicars-General of the dioceses to get a copy of the Archdiocese of Anchorage’s in-use ritual.

 

[lak611]

You could suggest to the pastor to coordinate between the Vicars-General of the dioceses to get a copy of the Archdiocese of Anchorage’s in-use ritual.

I really do not know the pastor, nor do I attend the parish. Do you know what the ritual is like? Are there special prayers that are said. Are sacred items removed after certain prayers are said? All I do know right now is that the bishop of the diocese is saying the closing Mass.

 

[Aramis]

I really do not know the pastor, nor do I attend the parish. Do you know what the ritual is like? Are there special prayers that are said. Are sacred items removed after certain prayers are said? All I do know right now is that the bishop of the diocese is saying the closing Mass.

I attended. It was a prayer that God accept the return to civil use of the building, and the removal of the last few items, as well as an hour of commentary by various parishioners, and then we processed as a parish from the old building, across the highway, and over to the new building. (About a quarter mile…) with the tabernacle upon a sedan “chair” under a carried awning, accompanied by the largest pipe band in the state, playing hymns.The front of the procession was at the new church before the tabernacle left the old property…

 

[lak611]

I attended. It was a prayer that God accept the return to civil use of the building, and the removal of the last few items, as well as an hour of commentary by various parishioners, and then we processed as a parish from the old building, across the highway, and over to the new building. (About a quarter mile…) with the tabernacle upon a sedan “chair” under a carried awning, accompanied by the largest pipe band in the state, playing hymns.The front of the procession was at the new church before the tabernacle left the old property…

That sounds beautiful.

 

[Aramis]

It was… it also shut down the overpass at the Eagle River Exit of the Glenn Highway for much of an hour. Some poor sods were stuck in their cars on the on ramp, since the Anchorage Police Department blocked traffic for the procession.

Of course, the new building was built specifically because the parish was holding 4 masses on sunday: 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, and 19:00, plus a saturday 17:30… all SRO during 3/4ths of the year. (Many outlying parishes have a stable 200 or so, but have to serve 300-400 during the hunting and fishing seasons.

Old building is for sale… and until it does, the parish is in financial trouble, but we finally have enough room to park.

The Consecration of the new building was SRO. The RO/OCA Bishop of Alaska was in attendence, seated in choir, and permitted to speak during the time for announcements. He presented an Icon of the Trinity, and admonished us to be strong in our faith, and to look forward to the day the Russian Orthodox and the Roman Catholic can partake communion together freely.

Easter was SRO for all 4 masses at the new building.

The funeral mass for Rev. Fr. Al Geible (sp?) was also quite full. (Approx seating is 800, about 500 attending). He was pastor of the Parish for more than 10 years.

Summer schedule is on: 17:30 vigil, 9:30, 11:30, and 19:00 (Hunting and Fishing Special). The 19:00 is not done outside hunting and fishing seasons, and is a local indult by the ABp. It’s usually the busiest mass during the run of king and red salmon.

This give you an idea of the impact of Catholics in the local community? (The only denomination of comparable “penetration” into society in Alaska is the OCA…)

 

[Sarabande]

My family and my husband just attended the last mass at our little country parish in the mountains. I couldn’t go away with them as I had opera rehearsals back home, so had to attend mass by myself.

They apparently didn’t do anything different at that last mass, except it was very somber and sad. The parish and the pastor (who is pastor of two other parishes) fought to the bitter end to keep those churches open. They even tried to focus the point that this parish was consecrated by St. John Newman who travelled on horseback from Philadelphia through the mountains to do this. The new bishop of that diocese has everyone really ticked at him. He’s closed down so many parishes and schools. People literally are trying their best not to hate him. And this being a rural area, these people will now have to travel about an hour or more just to attend Sunday mass. It’s really upsetting. Some of the older folks can’t do it and it’s harder for some of the farmers up there.

Anyway, I’m getting off-topic, but I’ve been so depressed over this and when I saw this thread, it just re-opened my wound. It was my parish away from my home parish since I was a baby and I would visit it every day whenever I was up there because they kept it open 24 hours a day. I feel like a part of me was ripped apart.