San Juan Capistrano : Bells for Church Tower Will Be Blessed Sunday
Eight bronze bells that will hang in the 103-foot bell tower of the new San Juan Capistrano Church will be blessed Sunday at a special outdoor ceremony to be officiated by the Most Rev. William R. Johnson, bishop of Orange.
Dick Landy, director of tourism at Mission San Juan Capistrano, said the new church will open for services in mid- to late summer.
The bells range in weight from 253 to 4,730 pounds. They were cast especially for the new mission church at the Royal Bellfoundry Petit-Fritzen in Aarle Rixtel, Holland, before being shipped to Southern California, Landy said.
They were donated by Arthur and Gay Birtcher in behalf of the family. The Birtchers are parishioners, Landy said.
The dedication is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the church, at Camino Real and Acajema Street.
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