St Mary's Church in Fond du Lac rededicated its 158-year-old bell, which is now part of a new automated bell system, April 15, 2024. (Photo courtesy: St. Mary's Church)
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A church in downtown Fond du Lac is celebrating the past and ringing in the present.
St. Mary’s Church, part of Holy Family Catholic Community, held a ceremony Monday to commemorate the installation of its first automated bell system. For more than a century, ushers have been ringing the church’s 158-year-old bell by hand.
With the new system, the historic bell will continue its legacy by ringing each day on the hour up until 9 p.m., as well as five minutes before church services and prior to funerals and weddings. At noon and 6 p.m., the prayer “The Angelus” will ring out over the city.
“St. Mary’s has always stood as a great testament to the faithfulness of Catholics in the area and so to be able to have this bell ring, now throughout the day, reminding the faithful of the significance of God in their life, really is a great testament to the beauty of people’s faith here in the city of Fond du Lac,” said Father Ryan Pruess.
Church officials say this is the latest chapter in the storied life of the St. Mary’s Church bell, which is named the “Immaculate Conception.” It was installed in the original St. Mary’s 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.
In 1878, the bell 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.
Parishioners gathered for Monday’s ceremony, which included a blessing and a reception.
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