What to call the buildings

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929dad

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If this is in the wrong forum, please accept my apologies.

I’m on staff in a cluster of 3 parishes that are going to merge soon. We’re wrestling with what to call the 3 current churches after that happens. Chapels? Churches? Something else?

The new parish will have a new name (not one of the current ones) and each building will remain open for weekday and weekend Mass.

Thanks in advance for the assistance.
 
That should be determined by your diocese and any precedents that may have previously been established.
 
929dad said:
If this is in the wrong forum, please accept my apologies.

I’m on staff in a cluster of 3 parishes that are going to merge soon. We’re wrestling with what to call the 3 current churches after that happens. Chapels? Churches? Something else?

The new parish will have a new name (not one of the current ones) and each building will remain open for weekday and weekend Mass.

Thanks in advance for the assistance.
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They are churches.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4H.HTM

Parish A currently has one church.
Parish B currently has one church.
Parish C will have two churches.

For example:
St Michael’s parish currently has St Michael church within it.
St. Edith Stein parish currently has St Edith Stein church within it.
Holy Family parish will have St. Michael church and St Edith Stein church within it.
 
While all are considered “churches,” in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia one church is consider the “Parish Church” while the others are considered “Worship Sites.”

Basically, one is determined the main church.

In other dioceses, you have the Parish Church and Mission Church(es).

In regards to calling the secondary church buildings a Chapel, I’m not sure if a Church can be downgraded to a “Chapel of ease” or not?

There is a good article here on Catholic.com

catholic.com/magazine/articles/when-parishes-merge-or-close
 
929dad said:
If this is in the wrong forum, please accept my apologies.

I’m on staff in a cluster of 3 parishes that are going to merge soon. We’re wrestling with what to call the 3 current churches after that happens. Chapels? Churches? Something else?

The new parish will have a new name (not one of the current ones) and each building will remain open for weekday and weekend Mass.

Thanks in advance for the assistance.
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That will depend on exactly what the bishop does.

He will have to decide on a designation (he must do so). When he signs the decree making “this thing” happen, that letter will indicate the status of the buildings.

Canonically, the options are limited. The only 2 designations* available are “church” and “chapel.” If a building belongs (or is being given over to) a religious order, then “oratory” is a possibility.

The point is that you will have to wait until the bishop either signs the decree or announces ahead of time what he plans to do.

Phrases such as “worship site” have recently crept into our vocabulary. Even though such phrases are used in everyday speech, they are not canonical designations. Every “worship site” is still either a church or a chapel.

Another possibility is “shrine” but that is unlikely, given that you’ve already said the buildings will be used for regular weekend and weekday Masses. The bishop could change the cathedral church, but that’s very unlikely—I only add that to satisfy the “you forgot about…” comments.
  • if any building is already a basilica, that situation would require a decree from Rome
 
phil19034 said:
In regards to calling the secondary church buildings a Chapel, I’m not sure if a Church can be downgraded to a “Chapel of ease” or not?
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Technically he closes the church, and then immediately opens the chapel at the same location.
 
929dad said:
If this is in the wrong forum, please accept my apologies.

I’m on staff in a cluster of 3 parishes that are going to merge soon. We’re wrestling with what to call the 3 current churches after that happens. Chapels? Churches? Something else?

The new parish will have a new name (not one of the current ones) and each building will remain open for weekday and weekend Mass.

Thanks in advance for the assistance.
Click to expand...
Here in Pittsburgh, they have been alternatively called “worship sites”, “campuses” or, “chapels of convenience” (for the churches that aren’t the headquarters of the parish).
 
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