St. Bonaventure University’s new bell, that was brought to campus last month, serves as a reminder of the 800th anniversary of the encounter between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al-Kamal of Egypt. It has been named “The Encounter Bell” and was blessed by Fr. Francis Di Spigno at the end of Francis Month.
The blessed bell celebrates the faiths and encourages a positive relationship between Catholics and Muslims.
A panel discussion was held last month by Fr. Michael Calabria, O.F.M., Fr. David Couturier, O.F.M., and members of the Islamic Society of the Southern Tier to discuss the joint statement of Pope Francis and Ahmed al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, titled “The Document on Human Fraternity.” This document goes over the shared values of Catholic and Muslim communities. They also gave the Encounter Bell its name.
According to Fr. Russel Murray O.F.M., “The bell has a very interesting history, past and present.It had been used as part of the ministry’s ‘Bells of Remembrance,’ which was begun by Br. David Schlatter [O.F.M.] to honor the people lost in the 9/11 attacks.”
Fr. David Schlatter, O.F.M, who is from Silver Spring, Maryland, travelled with 18 bells that made up his Bells of Remembrance Project to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11 for over 15 years in New York, Boston and Pennsylvania.
The bells made a special appearance for a show at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in 2009 where they were used by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Last year, Schlatter, along with some other Fransiscan friars, donated seven of these bells to the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. The bells each had certain pitches to match requirements for musical works for the symphony to use.
All of the Bells of Remembrance would be rung by people passing by. For those who are not sure how to vocally express their thoughts, they are able to ring the bells instead.
Di Spigno, who wrote an article on Francis Month for SBU News, spoke to Schlatter about the bells.
In 2016, Schlatter donated The Encounter Bell to the Greater Rochester Community of Churches, which was then donated to St. Bonaventure University, said Di Spigno.
The bell weighs 1,700 pounds and serves as a call to prayer. It was cast by the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1885, said Di Spigno.
The St. Bonaventure University Ministry hopes that all people, no matter their religious views, will see the Encounter Bell as a reminder to honor different faiths and see the good in others.
By Vanessa Donadio, News Assignment Editor
donadivj16@bonaventure.edu
