Expert Answer Forum
Liturgy or rubrics QUESTION from Ophelia Lee May 15, 2000 Our parish is planning to close a mission church that is in poor repair and will be too expensive to bring up to code. Are there special ceremonies or rites for closing sacred places? Or is the last Mass performed as usual and that's it?
ANSWER by Mr. John Miskell on May 15, 2000 Dear Ophelia,
I don't know the answer to this interesting question. My guess is that the general principle for a special Mass to commemurate the closing of a church or chapel would be covered in the guidelines in Chapter VIII, Part I: Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, which is found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, but I'm not certain. I'll root around and see what I can come up with. In the meantime if any of our readers could help it would be greatly appreciated.
John Miskell
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