The Bells of St. Mary's Are Silent

August 2004

Media Update

The Bells of St. Mary's Are Silent

For those who work and live in downtown Phoenix, the bells of St. Mary's have long been a wonderful way to count off the hours of the day. Now those bells are silent. The Carillons (electronic bells) that have been ringing for the past twenty years are broken and in need of expensive repairs.

It has been decided however, that instead of fixing the electronic bells, the original bells that have been sitting quietly in the towers collecting dust should be restored.

"We hope that someone who loves the sound of the old bells and has a deep appreciation for their historic nature will donate the estimated $40,000 to $50,000 necessary to restore them. How wonderful it would be to hear those old bells in downtown Phoenix," says Fr. Vincent Mesi, rector of St. Mary's Basilica.

St. Mary's is located downtown at 231 N. 3rd Street

For more information, please call Jeffrey Campbell, Parish Manager of St. Mary's during regular business hours (602-354-2069).

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August 2004