MOUNT CARMEL - Beginning this weekend, church bells will be ringing again at Divine Redeemer Church after an absence of many years.
The church's 118-year-old bell tower has been silenced because the equipment that houses and rings the bells has become dangerously fragile and is in need of replacement.
The church, on the corner of West Avenue and Poplar Street, has embarked on a two-phase project to renovate the cast iron bells. The first phase is a new carillon system that will be used for the first time Saturday and Sunday at Masses.
"The church has played a major role in so many Catholic and non-Catholic lives in the community," said the Rev. Martin Moran III, church administrator. "The bells and church history connect with so many people."
The church is raising donations for Phase II of the project - the restoration of the cast iron bells. Total cost is under $60,000. The hope is to complete Phase II within the next few years.
Phase I, the new carillon system, has been completed at a cost of approximately $18,000. Moran noted that Phase I has been completed in time to close the Year of Faith, which has been celebrated by Catholics throughout the world.
The carillon bells will ring for the first time after this weekend's Masses - 4 p.m. Saturday and 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Church and community members are invited to share in the blessing of the new system and hear the sounds by gathering at the bell tower immediately after each Mass.
"It's giving the church a voice again," said Bill Ditchey, chairman of the parish buildings and grounds committee. "It's making people aware that the church is here, both in sight and sound."
The Rev. Jonathan Sawicki, a native son of the parish, said he is looking forward to hearing the bells ring again. "The call to worship became one of the hallmarks of the bells before the church services," he said. "As an altar server, I enjoyed ringing the bells by pulling the rope."
Phase II, the restoration of the church bells and ringing equipment, will be completed by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, a 166-year-old, fifth generation, family-owned firm. Moran noted that although the bells are designed to last for centuries, the bolts and equipment that hold and ring the bells have become corroded, making them unsafe to ring. The bolts and equipment will be restored in Phase II.
Contributions for Phase II may be sent to Bell Restoration Fund, Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, 438 W. Avenue, Mount Carmel 17851.