Deconsecrated nursing home

Lady Bug · Jun 20, 2024

Hi, I don't know a whole lot about this topic. There is a nursing home 10 miles away from me. I have a very strong attachment to the town it's in, but that's different story. However, it used to be under the umbrella of a Catholic hospital that was deconsecrated some time ago, I don't know when. With the hospital being deconsecrated, so was the nursing home. Also, when I was a kid, I could have sworn that when we entered the premises of the nursing home, there used to be a big cross on the side of the building. The cross is gone. The circular drive around the perimeter of the building is named after nuns. The name of the roadway was not changed, I guess. I would like to know:

- Why would a place that was once a Catholic facility be deconsecrated?
- Is it a sin to deconsecrate a facility?
- If not, why would the Bishop allow such a thing?

It does break my heart because it's a sign that society wants to "take God" out of a particular place.

AlexB23 · Jun 20, 2024

Lady Bug said:
Hi, I don't know a whole lot about this topic. There is a nursing home 10 miles away from me. I have a very strong attachment to the town it's in, but that's different story. However, it used to be under the umbrella of a Catholic hospital that was deconsecrated some time ago, I don't know when. With the hospital being deconsecrated, so was the nursing home. Also, when I was a kid, I could have sworn that when we entered the premises of the nursing home, there used to be a big cross on the side of the building. The cross is gone.

- Why would a place that was once a Catholic facility be deconsecrated?
- Is it a sin to deconsecrate a facility?
- If not, why would the Bishop allow such a thing?

It does break my heart because it's a sign that society wants to "take God" out of a particular place.

It is sad why these buildings are deconsecrated, as it is a sign that our world is becoming Godless. I am not sure on this, but maybe my fellow Catholics can answer your question.

Lady Bug · Jun 20, 2024

AlexB23 said:
It is sad why these buildings are deconsecrated, as it is a sign that our world is becoming Godless. I am not sure on this, but maybe my fellow Catholics can answer your question.

I hope so too.

The whole place has a very sad vibe to it - it's as if people die there, and they as well as their souls are forgotten.

It's kind of strange how a memory pops into your head years, if not decades after the fact. It's like - I suddenly knew that when I was little, there was a cross on the side of the building.

AlexB23 · Jun 20, 2024

Lady Bug said:
I hope so too.

The whole place has a very sad vibe to it - it's as if people die there, and they as well as their souls are forgotten.

It's kind of strange how a memory pops into your head years, if not decades after the fact. It's like - I suddenly knew that when I was little, there was a cross on the side of the building.

Here is a cool life pro tip. Type in the address of the building into Google Maps, use Street View, and click on the timeline slider, and set the time back a decade, or a few years back, and you will see what the building looked like in the past. Note, that not all buildings are captured by Google Street View. This feature has been available since 2014: Google's Street View now lets you step back in time

But yes, the place sounds like the vibe has gotten sad. Memories do pop up sometimes, years later, it is strange how God allows our brain to remember old things from decades ago.

Google Street View

Lady Bug · Jun 20, 2024

AlexB23 said:
Here is a cool life pro tip. Type in the address of the building into Google Maps, use Street View, and click on the timeline slider, and set the time back a decade, or a few years back, and you will see what the building looked like in the past. Note, that not all buildings are captured by Google Street View. This feature has been available since 2014: Google's Street View now lets you step back in time

But yes, the place sounds like the vibe has gotten sad. Memories do pop up sometimes, years later, it is strange how God allows our brain to remember old things from decades ago.

Google Street View

View attachment 350475

That is great advice that I actually did follow before you suggested it; I did come across a couple problems, though.

The furthest back I can go on Google Maps is 2007.

Also, the place is such that it is quietly nestled into a private location. It is off a divided highway in a rural area. I can Google Map the address, but it doesn't let me go further into the driveways. The building is not close enough to the highway to get a clear view. I tried to Google search for Images of the place, to see if I could find an older picture of it, but to no avail. I still swear there was a cross on the side of the building at one time. The side of the building is actually the first thing you notice as you enter the premises.

I feel like I've hit a dead end with this. Sigh.

AlexB23 · Jun 20, 2024

Lady Bug said:
That is great advice that I actually did follow before you suggested it; I did come across a couple problems, though.

The furthest back I can go on Google Maps is 2007.

Also, the place is such that it is quietly nestled into a private location. It is off a divided highway in a rural area. I can Google Map the address, but it doesn't let me go further into the driveways. The building is not close enough to the highway to get a clear view. I tried to Google search for Images of the place, to see if I could find an older picture of it, but to no avail. I still swear there was a cross on the side of the building. The side of the building is actually the first thing you notice as you enter the premises.

I feel like I've hit a dead end with this. Sigh.

Darn. Worst case scenario, you could always ask the building owners for old photos of the building, before renovation. The owners will not bite, I can almost promise with 95% certainty. My condo has an old photo before renovations hung in the lobby. Woo, we both know how to use Google Street View. And yes, Street View does not go down driveways, or deep between buildings.

Lady Bug · Jun 20, 2024

AlexB23 said:
Darn. Worst case scenario, you could always ask the building owners for old photos of the building, before renovation. The owners will not bite, I can almost promise with 95% certainty. My condo has an old photo before renovations hung in the lobby. Woo, we both know how to use Google Street View. And yes, Street View does not go down driveways, or deep between buildings.

Yeah - what you said made me wonder now if I should at least give it the old college try (asking for old photos of the outside of the building). I also wish I knew some more things that I'll probably never find out -

- what room my grandpa stayed in for the few years he was there
- if my grandpa ever received anointing of the sick before he died there

This was 35 years ago. It's kind of sad that I may never know these answers.

AlexB23 · Jun 20, 2024

Lady Bug said:
Yeah - what you said made me wonder now if I should at least give it the old college try (asking for old photos of the outside of the building). I also wish I knew some more things that I'll probably never find out -

- what room my grandpa stayed in for the few years he was there
- if my grandpa ever received anointing of the sick before he died there

This was 35 years ago. It's kind of sad that I may never know these answers.

It is sad how we may not know the answers about the past, but God will reveal everything when we reach heaven. But yes, I recommend going around asking about old exterior photos for a few days, and see what answers your turn up. Anyways, it is getting late here (10:43 PM), but please update me and the forum on this.

Lady Bug · Jun 20, 2024

AlexB23 said:
It is sad how we may not know the answers about the past, but God will reveal everything when we reach heaven. But yes, I recommend going around asking about old exterior photos for a few days, and see what answers your turn up. Anyways, it is getting late here (10:43 PM), but please update me and the forum on this.

I feel like a dork thinking about asking the nursing home any of those questions.

They might think I'm a security risk, lol. Not just about the photos, but if they have archives of previous occupants of the home (i.e. my grandpa).

Michie · Jun 20, 2024

All deconsecrated means is removing a blessing from something that used to be used within the realm of the Catholic faith religious/use. The building is up for grabs for secular uses now. Any residents who lived or died there were still under that blessing.

AlexB23 · Jun 20, 2024

Lady Bug said:
I feel like a dork thinking about asking the nursing home any of those questions. They might think I'm a security risk, lol. Not just about the photos, but if they have archives of previous occupants of the home (i.e. my grandpa).

There might be a nondisclosure or something, so just be careful. Anyways, it is late here. We can talk tomorrow. It is awesome that we are both Christian, and it is great that you have started on the Catholic journey.

Lady Bug · Jun 20, 2024

Michie said:
All deconsecrated means is removing a blessing from something that used to be used within the realm of the Catholic faith religious/use.

Yeah, but that sounds like a bad thing, though.

AlexB23 said:
There might be a nondisclosure or something, so just be careful

I'll try. I have a feeling that if I asked in person, it wouldn't look so weird, but it takes time to go out there, and I don't like my dad for me to know if I'm driving in a rural area.

Michie · Jun 20, 2024

Lady Bug said:
Yeah, but that sounds like a bad thing, though.

Not if you know what it actually means. The Church is not going to keep a blessing on a place when it is no longer used for religious purposes to let whatever secular venture the building could be used for work under that blessing. For instance, an abortion clinic? Of course it would be deconsecrated. I know movies, etc. give the word a bad tone but it’s not as terrible as it can be portrayed. It’s just common sense.

Lady Bug · Jun 21, 2024

Michie said:
The Church is not going to keep a blessing on a place when it is no longer used for religious purposes to let whatever secular venture the building could be used for work under that blessing.

Oh. I think I'm seeing things in different chronological order. It looks like, based on you describe it, that the building was no longer being used in a way that rendered it suitable for that blessing anymore. I guess I was looking at it the other way around - that they (whoever "they" are) decided to deconsecrate first.

Michie · Jun 21, 2024

Lady Bug said:
Oh. I think I'm seeing things in different chronological order. It looks like, based on you describe it, that the building was no longer being used in a way that rendered it suitable for that blessing anymore. I guess I was looking at it the other way around - that they (whoever "they" are) decided to deconsecrate first.

Right. If the Church conferred the blessing for its original intent to further that goal and the Church is no longer involved when the building is sold or whatever the case may be.. it is deconsecrated. The Church will not let a blessing remain on a ground or building where they no longer know what the intent may be in the future. It’s really not a bad thing.

Lady Bug · Jun 21, 2024

Michie said:
Right. If the Church conferred the blessing for its original intent to further that goal and the Church is no longer involved when the building is sold or whatever the case may be.. it is deconsecrated. The Church will not let a blessing remain on a ground or building where they no longer know what the intent may be in the future. It’s really not a bad thing.

I hope I'm not getting dumber; you may have to explain like I'm five

I don't know the history of this particular deconsecration. I have no idea if the nursing home was sold or if the church was uncertain about the building's future.

Michie · Jun 21, 2024

Lady Bug said:
I hope I'm not getting dumber; you may have to explain like I'm five

I don't know the history of this particular deconsecration. I have no idea if the nursing home was sold or if the church was uncertain about the building's future.

I do not know how much clearer I can get. It’s obviously no longer under the Catholic umbrella. Hence the deconsecration. Another idea is asking your priest about it. He probably knows the story. But I can assure you that it’s nothing nefarious or weird.

AlexB23 · Jun 21, 2024

Lady Bug said:
Yeah, but that sounds like a bad thing, though.

I'll try. I have a feeling that if I asked in person, it wouldn't look so weird, but it takes time to go out there, and I don't like my dad for me to know if I'm driving in a rural area.

Ooh, so then this would be hard. Just use discernment. Maybe your dad would let you do this, if it is to find out history about your family.

JimR-OCDS · Jun 21, 2024

It could be that the nursing home had a chapel in it and the church deconsecrated the chapel.
The entire facility isn't consecrated as far as I know.

RileyG · Jun 21, 2024

Michie said:
All deconsecrated means is removing a blessing from something that used to be used within the realm of the Catholic faith religious/use. The building is up for grabs for secular uses now. Any residents who lived or died there were still under that blessing.

Yes. That sadly happens, even at my former work place.

Deconsecrated nursing home

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