St. Julie Billart Ringing in Renovations

St. Julie Billart Parish, the bells toll for thee—or at least soon could.

The parish, located at 7399 159^th Street, purchased three new, actually old, church bells to complete its bell tower, the final phase of a two-part renovation of the church, according to a Sun Times Media report.

The three bells, one of which dates back more than a century and hasn't rung in 25 years, were purchased with funds raised by parishioners, according to the report. The three bells are currently being refurbished in Cincinnati.

The bells should find their way back to St. Julie later this year, when construction on the planned 60-foot tall bell tower is completed. The tower is designed to look like two hands raised in prayer and was designed by Dante Domenella, according to the report.

The oldest bell, which was found in a salvage yard about to be melted down, originally rang at Our Lady of Vilna Catholic Church, 2323 W. 23rd St., Chicago, for eight decades before the Archdioceses closed the church's doors, according to the report.

The bell tower is part of the second phase of renovations at the church, which also included a new roof last year in phase one and new entry doors, two new canopies and the bell tower for phase two. The cost of phase two of the project is expected to be $325,000, according to the report.