Archdiocese promotes church bell call to prayer

Cardinal Blase Cupich is asking Catholic parishes in Cook and Lake counties to ring their church bells five times a day, as a means of calling all to unite in prayer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prayer times will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and continue every three hours each day, with the last bells rung at 9 p.m. Each of the five prayer times will be dedicated to a specific group particularly affected by the pandemic.

"Our hope is that people will have the experience of being united in prayer, especially at a time when we are isolated," Cupich said. "We invite our neighbors throughout the archdiocese to join in pausing and lifting up in prayer all affected, so they will know of our support. And if a parish does not have bells, we encourage parishioners to set their alarms to remind them to stop for a moment and unite in prayer."

The archdiocese has short prayer intentions on its website (archchicago.org under news releases) and social media pages in English, Spanish and Polish and a special intention of the day will be announced at the daily Mass aired on the archdiocesan website and on its Twitter account.