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A BELL RETURNS TO CRISTO REY
The Solemnity of Christ the King on November 23, 2008 was especially significant for our friars and community at Cristo Rey Church in Los Angeles. This marked the patronal feast of the parish which has been under the care of our religious since 1940 when Fr. Jesus Domench began celebrating Mass for the residents of Atwater Village in a rented home. The present church structure was built in 1943 under the watchful eye of Fr. Domench and the generosity of faithful parishioners who asked that their new church be named “Cristo Rey”, a title so important to their faith and culture. It has been a tradition here for many years that various parish groups and families present floral tributes each evening of the novena preceding the patronal feast. The feast day was enhanced by the blessing of the new bell for the tower of the church, culminating in several months of ambitious fund-raising efforts on the part of our friars and the generosity of parishioners. Early photos of the church with a bell in the tower prompted an interest in trying to locate the bell, however, this did not prove to be an easy task. It seems that nobody had any idea of the whereabouts of the church bell. After further inquiry, several of the long-time parishioners provided Fr. Michael Stechmann with holy cards which were souvenirs from the Solemn Blessing of the new electronic carillon system in the tower which was held on May 11, 1969. The new system was installed under the pastorate of Fr. Gabriel Salinas who served at Cristo Rey from 1956 until his death in 1972. Even though it was a “state of the art” carillon system from Schulmerich Bells of Pennsylvania when it was installed, the system had not been operating for many years and the last reported invoice for any service was in 1985. The carillon remained silent for many years with the four large speakers protruding from the arches of the church tower, along with a series of wires leading to nowhere. There were several attempts to inquire from Schulmerich representatives as to the disappearance of the tower bell when the carillon system was installed but it remained a mystery. Most people in the parish presumed that the bell was still in the tower and just hidden by the speakers from the electronic system. With no bell to be found, bids were sought from several foundries and Fr. Galo Espinoza signed a contract on August 4 with McShane Bell Foundry located in Glen Burnie, Maryland for a 200lb (21” diameter) cast bronze chapel bell. The call for donations went out to all parishioners so that the “bell project” would be a community effort. The generosity of the parishioners enabled the work to proceed with the production of the bronze bell and fabrication of the frame for manual swinging, yoke, wheel, clapper and tolling hammer, along with the cost for shipping to California. Donations came from parishioners young and old with an abundance of meager but heartfelt gifts, along with “small change” from the weekly allowance of children in the Religious Education Program. The younger children and also the young adults in the Confirmation Program realized that their gifts would be part of something they would be able to recall as they grow into adulthood and remember their own participation in the project. Following each of the Masses for the feast of Cristo Rey, the parishioners were invited to gather outside for the blessing of the new bell and it was a special moment for long-time parishioners who were quick to mention the names of our religious who would so faithfully ring the bell to call the community to Mass and devotions, along with individual parishioners who were eager and willing to assume such a noble task. A small fiesta was held in the parish parking lot during the day and Fr. Euben Capacillo led the procession of the statue of Cristo Rey through the streets of the neighborhood. The blessing and ringing of the bell following each of the Sunday Masses not only added to the joyful spirit that prevailed throughout the day but was also a visible sign of a community that has been so generous with their faithful presence to the church and to the Augustinian Recollect community. Fr. Michael Stechmann, OAR
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