The Cathedral staff schedules the five bells in the south tower to ring on a set daily schedule with a few changes on the weekend.
The Westminster bells start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. weekdays and 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and ring on the quarter hour, plus an hourly toll.
At noon and 6:00 p.m., the Angelus rings after the Westminster and hourly toll. For Catholics, the Angelus dates back many centuries. The daily bell ringing began as a devotion to Mary, and the faithful would recite three Hail Marys in between the tolls. It continues today as an invitation to prayer and meditation. Watch the video.
For weekend Masses, we have a “call to Mass” peal of the bells five minutes before each Mass.
After funerals, a staff member tolls one bell as a family leaves the church.
