Abstract: The image of the church as a pilgrimaging community under the sacramental authority of the bishop as the high priest of his flock (SC 41) is central to liturgy in which church buildings and altars are dedicated. This article sums up the reform of that part of the Roman Pontifical, which contains these rites. It also offers some liturgical and ecclesiological insights, which could be of interest in the context of the current worldwide synodal process in the Roman Catholic Church. An undoubtably positive result of the reform of these rites is the pneumatical effort which can be observed throughout the entire celebration. Much more important than the church building is the trinitarian focus on the church as People of God, Body of Christ and Temple of the Holy Spirit. 

Keywords: liturgical reform, Vatican II, dedication, consecration, church, altar, Bishop, shepherd, high priest, local church, ecclesiology, sacramental life, communion, pilgrim, synodality, communio viatorum, communio sanctorum, Caeremoniale Episcoporum, Pontificale Romanum, Sacrosanctum Concilium.