Filial church
A branch church is a church building (low church), that lies next to a main church, the parish church. The name is derived from the Latin ( Filius = Son, Filia = daughter).
The term is not clearly defined. It is used regionally and religiously different and also says nothing about the size or features of the building. Other names are Succursalkirche, Lokalie, Pfarrkuratie, Pfarrvikarie, Rector, Expositur, Stationskaplanei, or Kuratbenefizium.
Organization
A branch church is named after the Roman Catholic Canon Law ( can. 1214 CIC) for a particular public service buildings. However, it has a higher status as a chapel or an oratory is not legally independent parish. In a Auspfarrung affiliated churches may be charged with their assigned parish to parish area. Conversely, in the merging of parishes previously independent parish churches to branch churches in the new larger parish. One branch church may be associated with the place of a priest.
Generally applicable rules about the circumstances under which there is a branch church or can be set up, do not exist. Appropriate measures are up according to canon law the bishop of the diocese of each, which also decides whether and to what extent ( etc. Plot of the church building, interior decoration ) legal personality shall consist of the assets, that is assigned to a branch church.
As a branch churches (for example, in art historical documents such as monuments directories) also referred to churches where there is no separate municipality more in the present, but in the past a certain self- possessed, without implying a particular legal position is expressed: for example, because of their local distance from the center of the respective parish or because it is a former parish church. Monastery churches existing monasteries are usually but not referred to as affiliated churches.
The frequency of branch churches varies regionally. While there is almost no affiliated churches, for example, in the ( large ) Austrian Upper Austria, there are in the ( relatively small ) Flachgau almost 40 The presence of branch churches depends on the respective parish Constitution and the practice of the respective diocese. In the medieval " Saxon parish constitution" there was a " mother parish " with responsibility for the neighboring villages within a radius of about 10 to 15 kilometers. In order to spare the villagers the long walk way, originated in the neighboring villages gradually affiliated churches. In the area of German Ostsiedlung first was even the Saxon parish constitution in Lower Lusatia, in West Mecklenburg and in the country Jiiterbog. From about 1200 it was usual but due to Dutch traditions, especially in the Mark Brandenburg, that every village got its own church. Here later emerged even sometimes affiliated churches, but in the form of a legal supply and subordination, if a priest had simultaneously to serve two communities.
The difference between a branch church and a measuring chapel is the Catholic Church is that of a branch church at least in the past, in the long run its own priest with independent pastoral tasks and their own administrative organization was assigned to ( church property, etc.), while at at a measurement chapel as distinct other chapels appropriate authorizations and equipment to the ( regular ) celebration of religious services (so-called " measurement " licenses, tabernacle, bells, etc.) are present, but no priests after location. On the size of the building, in which, however, can express the sum of the Bauspenden or the wealth of a donor, it is important here, in any case, only to the equipment and the associated permits and the internal church organization.
For church building of the Evangelical Church of the term " branch church " is also used, as for the Pankratius chapel in Niebelsbach, community vats in Baden.
Legal organization in the Catholic Church law before 1983
Meant for branch churches with the collected to the respective church building believers may be a replacement form or precursor of a parish, if for reasons determined (yet) can not establish a parish or should. Such forms of organization were called to 1983 right after the church as " Permanent Vikarie " her priest ( vicar, parochial vicar, vicar perpetuus, local vicar ) were equivalent to a minister in the rules. Such Vicariate, branches (or branch churches, etc.) denote an ecclesiastical subspecialty that was either not a parish or area which was created by dividing a parish church after the legally stipulated procedure and conditions. As a parish, they had to have their own church and its own priests, the ordinary priestly powers possessed in the long run ( for administration of the sacraments and similar functions for the guidance of church records, parish registers ). Reasons for creating a branch church ( ngemeinde ) can local ( long ways to the parish church ) but also be of a different nature. Such an event could be, for example, the foundation of a church space and other assets ( Beneficium ), under the condition of the transfer of certain rights to the benefice (Rector, local Kaplan ), etc. This priest can eg transmit the pastoral care of a specific population be, for example, to celebrate divine worship in a particular (eg traditional ) form or in a particular place, altar, etc. basis for the creation of permanent Vicariate was pending the revision of the Code of Canon Law (CIC ) on 27 November 1983 ( first Sunday of Advent 1983) of canon 1427 of the CIC in the version of 1917.
There were various other forms of " filial churches ": So as Stationskaplanei, pastoral district, Kuratkaplanei or " dependent Rector " a church called that is already possessed a certain independence, but whose priests (yet) owned the rights of the Standing Vicar of Lokalie.
Legal basis from 1983
The word branch church ' is not a term of the current canon law of the Catholic Church. Since 1983 is the basis of canon 516 of the CIC.
This uses the concept of " quasi- parish ": After this ( can. 516 § 1) a quasi parish a particular community of believers with its own pastor. It is equivalent to a parish, but not yet built as a parish because of special circumstances. In addition, ( can. 516 § 2), the diocesan bishop if " any communities" (Latin: " quaedam communitates ") are not built as a parish or quasi- parish, " in other ways " (Latin: " alio modo " ) arrangements to meet. The procedure and the name of the organization shape can still be different in the various dioceses. Organizational forms as " vicaria perpetua " (eternal Vicariate, permanent vicariate Lokalie, Pfarrexpositur, Kuratbenefizium, Rector, Parish Vicar, Kuratie, Pfarrkuratie ) etc. have been referred to in older documents are usually set up as a quasi parish, provided they own administrative organization should have ( Secretariat, church records, etc.). In areas or church buildings, although they have their own pastors, but should be managed by the office of the respective parish of, may ( in addition to the organization in can. 516 § 2 CIC) have also set up an organization within the existing parish (Canon 545 § 2 CIC: parochial vicar for a certain part of the parish ).
For chapels ( CIC Latin: " Oratory ", plural " Oratorii " private chapels " Sacellum privatum " ) embodies the rules of canons 1223-1229 CIC apply what liturgical celebrations in such buildings (only ) with the agreement - which, for B may be restricted to certain times -. should take place. The difference between a branch church, measuring Chapel and Chapel or Oratory is the result ( churches ) or jurisdictional
After these remarks should be noted however, that a branch church rule is not quasi parish, namely only (mostly) when the church a church rector is constantly assigned. Then it is often referred to using one of the above-mentioned name.
In addition, a branch church is simply a church, the chapels by size, previous legal position exceeds a parish church or a village center and is not a parish church. The believers do not belong to an existing at the branch church community, but their ( the branch church sprengel moderately comprehensive ) parish whose pastor (or Kaplan, retirement pastor - Seelsorgsmithelfer, etc. ) to the branch church with some regularity (not necessarily every Sunday ) Holy Masses celebrated.
Presence
2005 in various dioceses in Germany started (farthest -reaching in the diocese of Essen) to combine several parishes to large communities. Here we find a church, to ( more ) arise parish churches with possibly ever own affiliated churches and possibly " other churches ". This " other churches " get in many cases, no funds from the diocesan budget more. It must therefore be found other financing models. If this does not succeed, they need to be profaned and applied to another use or demolished.
In Austria, close to Catholic parishes parish associations together with parish churches are not " demoted " to a branch church, but a priest of the parish in all parishes of the Association takes over. Aside from churches that belong to a religious community, including branch churches of the diocese, mostly along the country and often the Federal Monuments Office, provides for the preservation.