The morning of Aug. 11, 2026, marked the next step in Epiphany Cathedral’s renovation.
Four custom bronze bells were installed in a 75-foot tower at Epiphany in Venice.
The procedure was a delicate maneuver that required near-perfect weather, with little to no wind. The stifling heat was an annoyance, but the work crews remained focused on their task. A crane was used to lower the assembly in pairs, with the largest – Star of Bethlehem – and Melchior being installed first. They are mounted in pairs by a steel yoke/headstock and bearings which hold the bells in place and allow for mechanical pivoting when they are rung.
Msgr. Patrick Dubois, Cathedral rector, was overjoyed by this significant milestone in the project that began in June 2024.
“How exciting! This is great,” Msgr. Dubois said after he gave the bells a final ring before being lofted into the air. “These will ring when it’s time for prayer; when it’s time for Mass; when it’s time for different liturgies – the Chrism Mass, funerals, baptism and weddings. We can call everyone to pray at that time.”
The new church bells are made of cast bronze and together weigh 3,658 lbs. They were crafted by Marinelli Pontifical Bell Foundry of Agnone, Italy, the oldest bell foundry in the world, now in its 27th generation as a family-run business. The Marinelli bells are well-known for their elegant form and distinctive, resonant sound, and are richly decorated with custom inscriptions and artistic reliefs, including the Diocese of Venice Crest.
Pasquale Marinelli, a representative of the foundry in Italy, was present to watch the installation of the bells. He wanted to see the conclusion of this important project, explaining through a translator that the bells were born from the earth, and forged in fire. Now they are becoming part of the mystic element between the music of the bells and heaven.
The bells were blessed on May 16, 2026, by Bishop Frank J. Dewane.
Baker Liturgical Art, a leading nationwide company dedicated to liturgical design, restoration and renovation, was commissioned by Bishop Dewane to complete a major restoration and renovation of Epiphany Cathedral, including the creation of the 75-foot bell tower and custom church bells.
The bells are of particular significance, as they represent more than simply architectural additions; they are living instruments of praise, inviting hearts to prayer and lifting the soul toward heaven.
The four bells are named after the Magi, or Wise Men, who visited Jesus at His birth, as well as after the Star that led the Magi to Jesus. Hence the bells are called Melchior, Gaspar, Balthazar and The Star of Bethlehem.
The renovation and reconstruction of Epiphany Cathedral began in June 2024, and work is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving this year.
Among the major new aspects of the Cathedral will be a marble reredos (altarpiece) with a large-scale mosaic of the Epiphany, and new liturgical appointments including altar, ambo, cathedra (bishop’s chair), baptismal font, stained glass windows, mosaic stations of the cross, new pews, and more. In addition, a statue of the pieta will be added adjacent to the Memorial Garden, which will remain undisturbed.
Since the reconstruction began, Mass has been held in the Parish Hall, the original Epiphany Parish church.
Some naming opportunities for liturgical elements of the cathedral are still available. To learn more, visit www.epiphanycathedral.org/naming-opportunities, or contact William Slayton at slayton@epiphanycathedral.org or call 941-615-0284.
