Ringing in restoration: Denver joins worldwide celebration for Notre Dame’s reopening

(Photo: Unsplash)

Mark your calendars! Soon, cathedrals around the world will ring their bells in joyous harmony!

On Saturday, December 7th, the beloved Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen its doors to visitors after five years of restoration following a devastating fire in April 2019.

Our very own cathedral in Denver is chiming in on the celebration — literally!

In a beautiful gesture of solidarity, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver will join churches across the globe in paying homage by ringing its bells in conjunction with the Rite of Opening the Doors of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Other parishes across the Archdiocese of Denver are also invited to join in the show of support on Saturday, Dec. 7 at noon.

The event, initiated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), aims to celebrate Notre Dame's reopening while honoring the deep historical and spiritual ties between Catholics around the globe, many of whom gave sacrificially to support the restoration of the great Marian cathedral.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB, expressed his support for the show of solidarity, saying: “In addition to the funds donated, this gesture of uniting our local Churches with the Cathedral of Paris would be one more sign of our union to the eldest daughter of the Church whose forefathers contributed so much to the U.S. struggle for Independence.”

The Denver bells will join the nationwide peal at noon local time on Dec. 7, resounding a message of unity, joy and triumph.

Notre Dame’s $760 million restoration journey has been nothing short of miraculous, involving intricate cleaning, expert reconstruction and countless prayers. The cathedral’s first Mass in its restored interior will take place on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, marking not just a structural resurrection but a spiritual one.

So, whether you’re near the Cathedral Basilica or across town, keep an ear out for the bells this weekend, and join us in a prayer of thanksgiving for this grand symbol of faith rising again.

Denver is ringing loud and clear: welcome back, Notre Dame!