Does your parish still use altar bells?

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We had a priest that rarely used the alter bells. He mentioned something about them in that he didn’t like them, but would do as he was told. So I guess the Archbishop or one of the other Bishops of the Diocese told him he must. Since then they began being used more frequently. After the priests were moved around on the last 6 year cycle we always have the alter bells.

Last year we had a big church bell that was from the original church, but now had a design without a tower. It sat near the entrance and was stolen around the same time that crooks were cutting down power lines for the copper. Insurance refunded the monetary value and quickly the congregation collected funds to make a small tower out in the lawn of the church and another bell was purchased. So now just before Mass the church bell now rings. Through I think there may be an exception to the use of the church bell for 8 AM daily Mass.
 
Yes. Our parish has always used them. In fact, I’ve never been at a parish that didn’t use them.
 
At Masses held in the main church, my parish uses a smaller cluster of shaken altar bells and a medium sized single altar bell.

At early morning daily Masses held in the chapel, there is usually silence, but like gracepoole, I can “hear” them anyway.:heaven:

Since we opened the new church building, we no longer have a large belfry and steeple bell. We do have a small belfry on the roof, but I think it may house a speaker which plays pretty sounding bells at different hours each day and for certain special Masses.

All in all, yes… got bells!
 
hm. In the 80’s we switched from sanctus bells to one of those little hand-held dinner chime thingies that cruise ship stewards used to walk around with to announce mess call – you know, the three-tone mini-xylophone thing that sounds like an old NBC radio chime on the hour?

Well, that didn’t last long. It must have required too many motor skills of the acolytes?! After that associate left, it reverted (quickly) back to the old sanctus bells. It’s remained that way since. Mercifully. 🙂
 
altar bells or cow bells??? ;):D:D:D:D

I’m so thankful to see on the poll many parishes still using the bells.
 
Both the parishes I belong to, one here in the Middle East and the one at home in South Africa. (And both parishes are wonderfully ordinary and wonderfully devout.)

And in all my years in various Anglican churches too. In my youth I was an altar server and sometimes had the responsibility to ring the altar bells, it certainly made you focus on what was happening (even if it was not quite the same as proper Catholic consecration).
 
Our parish uses them, and we didn’t use them for a long time. I believe they only started using them about six or seven years ago. A few parishioners had asked why we don’t use them, and Father said it would be a good idea.

Now, during Lent we use a clapper instead, which really sets the tone.
 
Zooman77 said:
Our parish does not use altar bells or insense. Our pastor at our parish keeps the church “simple” if you will. Sometimes I feel/wish our priest would educate and or prepare himself for things better than he does. For instance when I was baptised(I went through RCIA) it came time for the second anointing with sacred Chrism and he looked at his binder with the baptismal rite info in it as if he was confused then looked up at me and asked if I knew if the second anointing was to happen just on the head or on the head and breast. He had no clue, but luckily the director of religious education was present and knew.
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Good grief! A Pastor who doesn’t know how the anointing with chrism is done?!? I’d immediately suspect dementia rather than not being prepared, unless he never does infant baptisms either.
 
We don’t use altar bells, steeple bells, nothing. No incense ever not even for funeral mass. Our physical church is so ‘sterile’ and was built so new age looking in architecture, style and function that we often remark to each other we are in a country club.

Also the Eucharist is tucked far out of the way - not centralized as was in my church growing up.

Also not one candle not even a sanctuary candle and other than Jesus on the cross (which isn’t even part of the altar but to the side) not one statue or image of any saint.

Sadly this is the trend. The children are not getting the entire experience at all by attending Mass. The Church, the Body is spiritual, physical and mental.

Where we worship can be anywhere but the environment should reflect our history, traditions and most of all glorify Him which my church doesn’t do by looking at it inside or out.

It looks like a combination country club/restaurant inside. Poor kids.
 
if you mean the bells that the altar boys use at the moment of consecration (ringing them): YES. what is sad is that in my sister’s parish in another diocese there are NO bells rung at all. Oh and this is not a Latin Mass.
 
detoutcoeur said:
Our parish uses altar bells at all Masses, and sometimes the steeple bells, too. The silence that follows is powerful.
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We do the same, altar bells all the time, and steeple bells ( actually, they are electronic) on Sunday. I really love hearing the powerful ‘gong’ coming from outside.
 
Brendan said:
We do the same, altar bells all the time, and steeple bells ( actually, they are electronic) on Sunday. I really love hearing the powerful ‘gong’ coming from outside.
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Often the steeple bells (that are electronic) begin ringing just as the priest is finishing up the Mass and getting ready to dismiss the crowd. They ring to announce the beginning of an hour. also. I think it is neat also.
 
omegapd said:
We didn’t use them for years and I was blessed to take over the altar server program last month. Guess what the first thing I did was? Brought back the bells. 😃
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Similar thing happened here in our parish. The bells were brought back after being on hiatus for the tenures of 3 consecutive pastors. Praise God!
 
My closest church uses a little thing that makes one single “bing” noise and that’s it (sometimes nothing at all). It’s unfortunate, I love when the bells are going off during the consecration. I know of another nearby church which uses the altar bells. I guess it just depends on the parish.
 
I’m surprised, albeit pleasantly, at the results of the poll. Nice to know they are making a comeback of sorts.
 
My parish has a silver one with fore bells on it . we normally ring them three time when the priest the elevates the host
 
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