Does the Catholic Church have any guidelines for chapel design?

Question

I'm renovating the garage at a Newman House into a new chapel and want to make sure I don't break any rules.

Answer 1

Here is the vatican document dealing with liturgical settings

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

A book Building from Belief
Advance, Retreat, and Compromise in the Remaking of Catholic Church Architecture

http://www.litpress.org/Detail.aspx?ISBN=0814627552

And from the Office of liturgical celebrations of the Vatican

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2004/documents/ns_lit_doc_20040202_liturgia-bellezza_en.html

they deal with alot of other things besides the space so you will have to wade through them

you might also want to try

The Association of Consultants for Liturgical Space

Answer 2

Church Design Guidelines

Answer 3

Hi there,

It depends on if this chapel is only going to be a room for prayer or a place where the eucharist is going to be celebrated or where the blessed sacrament will be reserved.

If it is only a chapel for prayer, there aren't any particular regulations. If it is going to be a chapel for the priest to say mass, then the basic guidelines are to have the altar and the tabernacle in a prominant place. You would also need a lecturn or ambo for the liturgy of the word.

This document might give you some guidelines: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/livingstonesind.shtml

Your priest should also be able to give you some advice.

Answer 4

Contact your diocesan office for information.

They should have all the directions you require and answer all of your questions.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

http://www.adoremus.org/299McNamara.html

might help...

Answer 6

idk, I would for sure check with your diocese.