The sound of bells is returning to L’Orignal.

St-Jean-Baptiste parish is excited to announce the bells will ring again during mass throughout the upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons.

The return of the ringing comes amid a major restoration project for the bells and bell tower at the historic church.

According to Eric Drouin, chairman of the committee that was organized to save and restore the bell tower, “The bells will ring during the Advent masses (December 2, 9 and 16), and of course for the Christmas mass. ”

The parish used a lot of imagination with its fundraising campaign. Congregation members held music concerts, a car wash, did door-to-door canvassing, and organized a plant sale.

At each Sunday mass during Advent, bell ringing will be dedicated to different groups of people in the parish.

On December 2, the bells will ring for women or girls who have died since the bells were not rung, which is more than a year ago. On December 9, the same honour will be given to men or boys who died during that period.

On December 16, the bells will ring to honour the children who were baptized and couples who got married during the time the bell tower was out of commission and could not be used at weddings and at baptisms.

Sunday mass at St-Jean-Baptiste is at 10 a.m. and the Christmas Mass will be celebrated at 7.30 p.m. on December 24.

Meanwhile, the fundraising subscription campaign continues until December 31 and a music concert will be held on December 2 at 2:30 pm in the church. Donations by cheque can be made to Paroisse St-Jean-Baptiste with “Sauvons notre clocher” on the memo line.

According to Eric Drouin, “The repair of the bells and the installation of an impermeable membrane were done at the price of the contractor’s bid, but hidden defects were found.” Due to that discovery, the parish decided to strengthen the structure of the building, bell tower, and install a new access staircase.

Drouin said donations continue to come in towards the project.

To complete the project, the parish will hold an information session after Christmas. The restoration committee has noticed that because of enthusiasm surrounding the project, mass attendance is up and there is a feeling of new energy within the volunteer team.

Follow the St-Jean-Baptiste bell tower restoration project on the parish Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/paroissestjb2018.