FOND DU LAC – On Monday, April 15, another chapter in the storied life of St. Mary Church’s 158-year-old bell will begin with the installation of a new automated bell system.
St. Mary’s bell, named the “Immaculate Conception,” was installed in the original St. Mary Church in 1866. The 2,000-pound bronze bell was cast in New York and inscribed with the words “Mary conceived without sin, pray for us” in German to reflect the language spoken by many of the parishioners, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. Since then, the bell has rung throughout downtown Fond du Lac. In 1878, it even saved the church from fire, when lightning struck the spire. The force of the strike caused the bell to ring, which alerted the local policemen and in turn the Engine No. 5 firefighters, who spared the church from extensive damage. When the current St. Mary’s Church was built in 1902, the bell was moved into the tower, and it has remained there since. For the past 158 years, generations of ushers have rung the bell by hand prior to Mass and other special occasions. Beginning on Monday, the new automated system will allow the original bell to ring on the hour up until 9:00 pm, as well as five minutes before Mass, and with funerals and weddings. At noon and 6:00 pm, the prayer “The Angelus” will ring out over the city.
“As one of Fond du Lac’s oldest churches, St. Mary’s and its bell have a rich history in our community, particularly in downtown, and we are excited to continue its legacy of
beauty, welcoming, and faith with the installation of this new system,” Holy Family Catholic Community Pastor, Very Rev. Ryan Pruess said. The community is invited to join Holy Family when it celebrates the new bell system with a Bell Rededication Ceremony beginning at 11:50 am on Monday, April 15 outside St. Mary’s Church, located on the corner of Merrill Avenue and Marquette Street. The ceremony will include a blessing, and following the 12:10 pm Mass inside the church, a small reception.
Please note: this event date is based on the system’s current installation schedule. Please visit hffdl.org or Holy Family Catholic Community Fond du Lac’s Facebook page
for any possible updates.
