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Issued by NCCB/USCC (Now USCCB), November 16, 2000.
Copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved.
Order Copies of This Statement
Guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Key to Reference Abbreviations
- Chapter One: The Living Church
The Living Church: God's Building
The Church Building
Worship in Time and Space
Christ's Presence in Sign and Symbol
Liturgical Principles for Building and Renovating Churches
- Chapter Two: The Church Building and the Sacred Rites Celebrated There
The Eucharist
- The Building: The Place for the Liturgical Assembly
- Gathered as One Body in Christ
- The Congregation's Area
- The Sanctuary Area
- The Altar
- The Ambo
- The Chair for the Priest Celebrant
The Baptistry
The Reservation of the Eucharist
- The Location of the Tabernacle
- The Chapel of Reservation
- The Tabernacle in the Sanctuary
Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum
- The Altar of Reposition
- The Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday
- The Blessing of the Fire at the Vigil Service
Accommodating the Liturgical Postures of the Congregation
- Seating
- The Place for the Pastoral Musicians
Other Ritual Furnishings
- The Cross
- Candles
- The Paschal Candle
The Gathering Space or Narthex
The Area Surrounding the Church Building
The Role of the Church Building in Other Liturgical Rites
- The Rites of Initiation
- Holy Orders
- The Rite of Penance or Reconciliation
- The Rite of Marriage
- The Rite of Anointing of the Sick
- Christian Funerals
The Liturgy of the Hours
Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest
- The Place for the Sacred Oils
The Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar
- The Liturgical Year: Seasonal Decorations
The Church Building and Popular Devotions
- The Stations of the Cross
- Sacred Images
- Conclusion
Chapter Three: The Work of Our Hands: Art and Artists
- Assisting the Church at Prayer
The Role of Religious Art
Components of True and Worthy Art
The Artist Within the Christian Community
The Special Requirements of Liturgical Art
The Integration of Art Within the Liturgical Setting
- Materials of the Artist
- Vessels and Vestments Suitable for the Liturgy
The Disposition of Works of Art No Longer Needed for Sacred Use
Chapter Four: Building A Church: Practical Considerations
The Master Plan
Beginning the Process
The Role of the Apostolic See and the Diocesan Church
The Role of the Parish Community
- The Assessment of Need
Roles Within the Parish
- The Pastor
- The Parish Building Committee
- The Parish Pastoral Council, the Parish Worship Committee
- and the Finance Council
The Parish Self-Study
- Liturgical Education
- Priorities and Stewardship of Resources
- Surveying Existing Churches
The Role of Professionals
- The Architect
- The Liturgical Consultants
- The Contractor
- Compensation and Professional Standards
- Collaboration
The Design of the Church and Its Surroundings: Special Concerns
- The Site Plan
- Accessibility
- The Choice of Building Materials
- Change Orders and Modifications
- Building Maintenance
- Sound in the Place of Worship
- The Placement of the Organ & Other Musical Instruments
- Lighting the Place of Worship
- Sacristies
- Security Issues
- The Sacrarium
Special Issues in the Renovation of Churches
- Alteration of Historic Structures
- Renovation of Churches
- The Altar
- The Space for the Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament
- Preservation of the Artistic Heritage of the Church
Conclusion
Index - The Building: The Place for the Liturgical Assembly
Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Second Edition, copyright © 2000, Libreria Editrice VaticanaUnited States Catholic Conference, Inc., Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the Code of Canon Law, Latin-English Edition, copyright © 1998, Canon Law Society of America, Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from documents of the Second Vatican Council are taken from The Documents of Vatican II, Walter M. Abbott, SJ, general editor, copyright © 1966, The American Press, New York, New York. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the English translation of the Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass © 1974, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of the Rite of Penance © 1974, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of Dedication of a Church and an Altar © 1978, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of the Address to participants in a national congress of diocesan liturgical commissions of Italy, Address to the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Art, Doctrina et Exemplo, Eucharisticum Mysterium, Laudis Canticum, Mysterium Fidei, and Opera Artis from Documents on the Liturgy, 1963-1979: Conciliar, Papal, and Curial Texts; excerpts from the General Introduction of the Order of Christian Funerals © 1985, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults © 1985, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of the Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest © 1988, ICEL; excerpts from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal from The Sacramentary (Revised Edition) © 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved.
Scripture texts are taken from the New American Bible, copyright © 1970, 1986, 1991 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, D.C. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
In 2001 the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference became the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.
Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship is available in print edition and may be ordered by telephoning 800-235-8722. Ask for publication number 5-395 for the unbound edition (three-hole-punched, with tabbed dividers) or 5-408 for the bound edition; the cost is $11.95 for a single copy.