In an increasingly secularised society, where the number of faithful is steadily declining, the presence of the Catholic Church within local territories calls for reconsideration. This process often entails the transformation, suppression or merger of parishes, prompting a rethinking of the very notion of the parish. At the same time, it raises the need to address the reuse of deconsecrated or underused places of worship, including forms of mixed use in space or over time. In this context, the contribution explores how canon law can help interpret the signs of the times and support new models of ecclesial organisation, territorial presence and the sustainable management of ecclesiastical heritage.