At 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th, 2024, the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown pealed its bells in union with the Rite of Opening the Doors of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, France.
The doors of Notre Dame have been closed since being devastated by a fire on April 15th, 2019.
On the day of the tragic fire, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., responded immediately with prayerful support, appealing to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her intercession, while tolling its bells 50 times at midnight (Paris time) to mourn the tragedy as well as to mark the beginning of a new day of hope and resurrection.
Whereas five years ago the Basilica had tolled its bells in mourning, this past Saturday, churches across America pealed their bells in jubilation over the triumphant return to glory of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the eldest daughter of the Church.
Click here to hear the bells pealing at the Cathedral on that special day.
