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The ringing bell harkens to Fernie’s rich history
By Mary Giuliano
Op-Ed Commentary
Who could have predicted a year ago that the world would be in lockdown due to a pandemic?
Spanish flu, SARS, H1N1 and influenzas have come and gone and although they caused many to lose lives none had the effect that COVID-19 is having. Nevertheless, despite the present devastating loss of human and economic life impacting so many there is still a silver lining in that this has managed to bring the world together in a positive way.
The lockdown is giving nature a break from the pollution of daily human life resulting in many cities seeing blue sky for the first time in years.
Citizens from around the world have obeyed the distancing regulation and have isolated at home. However, ever so clever individuals found ways to still connect and from windows, balconies, and sidewalks they came together physically apart to sing and to thank the many people who have still had to go to work in order to care for the sick and dying and to make certain vital services are kept going.
Here in Fernie we have incredible, creative individuals as well and it is heartwarming to see how family members and friends have banded together to celebrate birthdays by organizing decorated vehicles driving by and honking, stopping and placing gifts on sidewalk in front of the home or playing music.
Perhaps the most wonderful gesture has been the way frontline workers are being recognized and appreciated for their amazing courage. They are the ones that are facing daily contact with the virus and putting their lives at risk.
Holy Family Parish Church decided that these workers needed to have a show of appreciation and that a good way would be to ring the church bell to let them know.
This gesture was so appreciated that it was decided to continue the Wednesday evening ringing of the bell to thank all workers.
Holy Family Church has continued to be integral to Fernie from when it began in 1896 with arrival of 200 miners to work at nearby Coal Creek mine
Father J. Welch, the priest from the Oblate Mission of St Eugene was given the assignment of administering to them and the responsibility of constructing a church building.
In 1897 many Cape Breton families arrived and they were so devoted that Father Welch dedicated the church the ‘Holy Family’ in their honour. This first church burned to the ground during the 1908 fire that devastated the town and left only a handful of buildings standing.
In 1909 Cape Breton miners volunteered one day’s pay each month towards the construction of the present structure built in a traditional cruciform pattern measuring 112 feet by 50 feet with bell tower soaring to a 100 feet and outfitted with a bell that had been made in France in 1904. The church is sandstone brick on a concrete base; heating was by a steam plant with the nave lit by what were called “four handsome electrolliers.”
For over 100 years Holy Family Parish has sustained a vital presence in town not only as a place of worship but also for the hall used by parishioners and the public and for many years also supporting a rectory and a nunnery.
The bell has resonated for all kinds of events from the ending of the Second World War to weddings, funerals, celebrations and now also each Wednesday the bell can be heard pealing across the community as a way to thank all of the frontline workers serving during this current pandemic of COVID-19.
I personally taped the first bell ring in honour of the frontline workers and placed it on social media and was astounded at the response from the many people who had heard it over the years either as children raised in Fernie or as adults visiting. Comments were that on hearing the bells they had lumps in throat and tears in eyes because they were so moved at hearing them again.
Holy Family Parish Church is not only a valuable place of worship it’s also a continuing, visible piece of history to generations of citizens and to visitors while also adding to the beauty and history of Fernie.
Thank you all frontline workers; your courage, compassion and love is keeping our community safe and strong. May God bless you and keep you all safe and well.
– Former Mayor and long-time City of Fernie council member, Mary Giuliano has been writing about Fernie and its residents for decades.
