‘Fabbricerie’ and Confraternities

‘Fabbricerie’ are bodies dating back to ancient times, organised as foundations (fabbrica ecclesiae) or associations (consilium fabricate), tasked with the maintenance and renovation of building intended for worship. Although they are regulated by a legislation based on agreements, they are not ecclesiastical bodies, but they have the status of private law bodies administered by boards of directors made up of both clergymen and laypersons. 

A special importance is attached to the ‘fabbricerie’ of cathedrals and churches which are of particular historic and artistic interest, whose boards of directors are composed of seven members appointed to serve a three-year term: two of them are appointed by the diocesan Bishop and the remaining five by the Minister of the Interior, after consultation with the Bishop himself.
The ‘fabbricerie’ of the other churches are appointed by the parish priest (or rector) and by other four members appointed by the Prefect to serve a three-year term, after consultation with the diocesan Bishop.
A ‘fabbriceria’ without a legal personality, ceases to exist if the church for which it works looses its legal status, in other words property is no longer available for administration. 

Within the framework of ecclesiastical bodies, Confraternities deserve a special attention since they are among the most ancient non-clerical corporate groups and have pursued different aims, in devotional and charitable activities, over the time. They can be involved in a series of activities, including assistance to their own members, provision of funerary and requiem services to their associates, care of sick people, promoting the cult of sacred images, church direction and management. Confraternities assume different denominations according to their geographical location, e.g. congregations, mercies and confraternities. 

New confraternities are established to form associations of believers governed by the relevant legislation. Historical confraternities, instead, which were established as pious associations, had to cope for a long time with a number of vicissitudes related to the changing legal regime regulating charity and assistance activities. Confraternities devoted to civilly recognised cult are bodies that are recognised an exclusive or prevalent purpose of cult, in compliance with the 1929 Concordat.