Fort Collins bells toll to remember shooting victims

Before she plays the bells at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Fort Collins, Carillonneur Marcia Piermattei takes a moment and remembers an old Celtic legend.

"The ringing of bells is the only sound from earth that can be heard in heaven," she said.

That sentiment is on her mind every Wednesday at 1 p.m., when she rings the bells at the church 49 times — once for each victim of the shooting last month at an Orlando nightclub.

​The sound of the bells encourages people to stop and pray for the victims of gun violence, said St. Luke’s Associate Rector Father Greg Foraker.

“It’s a way of remembering those who died, not only in Orlando, but in all of the violent acts we’ve seen lately, remembering their grieving families,” he said.

ORLANDO:  Fort Collins comfort dog travels to shooting scene and beyond

Foraker said the bells are also intended as a call to action, encouraging people to ask what they can do in our community to eliminate prejudice and to “look for ways that we can join in bringing healing and reconciliation.”

The 49 Bells Project began at a church in Orlando and was brought to Colorado by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Boulder, Foraker said. Bishop Robert O’Neill in Denver then invited all Colorado churches to participate.

In Fort Collins, two churches in addition to St. Luke's — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Lutheran Campus Ministry — have accepted the invitation so far.

“We’re all looking for ways to remember the people who are victims of gun violence,” Piermattei said. "(The bells) hopefully carry our message to them that they’re not forgotten, they’re loved and we grieve their loss.”

RELATED VIDEO:  Vigil for Orlando shooting victims