Did You Know?

Following the failure of the almost 20-year-old electronic control of our carillon system, a very generous (anonymous) donor paid for the replacement system to be constructed by the Verdin Bell Company of Cincinnati! Our own Dan Pierce then spent many, many hours programming the new computer system with the daily schedule of the Angelus, the “Great Mercy” bell at 3:00PM, and the “Five-Minute bell” before each Mass! Dan also programmed the hymns to be played for the various seasons of the Church Year, and other hymns for special occasions! It was a great deal of work and because of Dan and his skills, we were spared the additional expense for a technician to come from Cincinnati! The bells of St. Andrew’s have become a very important part of the ‘soundscape’ of our community, and some relators have shared that they have had inquiries about homes within the ‘sound of the bells from St. Andrew’s’! Many of our parishioners have remarked on how much they missed the sound of the bells, especially the Angelus at Noon and 6:00 PM each day! Bells perform multiple spiritual functions: arousing devotion in private and public worship; tolling for the souls of the Faithful departed; communicating joy or sorrow; ringing out Eucharistic hymns during Processions of the Blessed Sacrament; even, it was believed, driving away evil spirits – which was why bells were rung during severe storms! Responding to the bells’ call is part of the ongoing process of conversion and renewal – learning how to respond to ‘holy time and holy space’ centered in the parish church, allowing the bells to call us to prayer in our daily lives, and connecting our outward devotion with interior spirituality! The bells are fundamental in defining, constructing, and governing the meanings of time and space and tying individuals and communities to places made sacred to Christians! Thank you, again, to our wonderful donor and to Dan Pierce for giving our church back its voice! Fr. Greg will be on Retreat this coming week and Fr. Rob the following week – please pray for our Priests during their time of retreat and spiritual renewal!