Bells will be ringing at Sunbury St. John Neumann Church.
The sound of bells, drawing individuals to come and worship at the church located off State Route 37, might be something new for locals or those passing by.
Father Daniel Dury, pastor at St. John Neumann, said the church did not have bells previously, but that has now changed. The bells were to be installed the week of Dec. 8.
Bishop Earl Fernandes visited the church on Dec. 4 to bless the church’s new bells after their arrival.
The Order for the Blessing of Bells comes from the Book of Blessings, part of the Church’s Roman Ritual, and addresses the blessing of objects that are designed or erected in churches.
The Order for the Blessing of Bells includes a Scripture reading, intercessions and a special prayer of blessing during which the bishop sprinkles holy water and incenses the bells, said Father Paul Keller, diocesan director for the Office of Divine Worship.
“The bishop asks God to help people to hasten to church when they hear the call of the bell,” he said. “They’re summoned to prayer.”
Bells are sacramentals, meaning they are set apart or blessed by the Church with the intention of guiding individuals to the sacraments and sanctifying their lives. They are sacred signs.
The blessing of bells is an ancient Church tradition.
“Bells have always been used as signals for various things,” Father Keller said. “The bells of the church mark the call for times of prayer, especially Mass – they’re rung before Mass. There’s the Angelus bell.
“Bells are rung for big events, to notify people. For instance, when the Pope dies, bells are tolled. And when a new pope is elected, all of the bells of the churches are rung.”
“They help us celebrate at weddings and mourn at funerals,” Father Dury added. “The solemn blessing of bells indicates their role in casting away evil spirits and even protecting the faithful from deadly storms.”
At St. John Neumann Church, Father Dury hopes the bells will lead people to God.
“People have an intrinsic desire for that which is true, beautiful and good,” he said. “This is because our hearts are made for God and those three transcendentals are found ultimately in Him.
“It is our belief that, by enhancing that which is true, beautiful and good in our parish liturgical life and on our parish grounds, we will be able to more effectively lead others to a transformative encounter with God.”
St. John Neumann’s bells are stationed in a new bell tower located outside of the front entrance.
The addition of a bell tower is the final piece in the parish’s Magnify the Lord campaign. The campaign included a Marian grotto, organ, two confessionals and renovation of four classrooms for meeting spaces for the parish’s more than 60 small groups.
Planning for the campaign began in early 2023.
“Prior to my installation as pastor here at St. John Neumann Church, a plan to construct a bell tower had already been established,” Father Dury said. “There was a fund already set up for this purpose.
“Once I heard that, I knew we had to move forward with a campaign to complete this dream.”
C.K. Construction Group completed the project, Father Dury shared, and Scott Harper served as the architect.
It is also a Church custom to name bells.
At St. John Neumann, the three new bells received the names Mary, Joseph and Anthony.
An important donor to the Magnify the Lord campaign desired a bell be named in honor of his son, Anthony, Father Dury shared.
He said Joseph was named in honor of his father, Joseph Dury, as well as being his own confirmation name, and Mary, in honor of the Mother of God.
“Mary was selected because I know she desired and guided this entire project,” he said. “This was all about leading people to a transformative encounter with her Son, Jesus Christ.”
