If you've heard a bell ringing intermittently throughout downtown Prince George and wondered what it means, Fr. Rectorino Mendoza Tolentino, rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Diocese of Prince George, sat down with The Citizen to explain.
First off, it’s not a traditional church tower bell.
Fr. Rector doesn’t go to the base of the tower to pull a rope and set the bell in motion. Instead, it’s an electronic bell connected to a public address system, with a boom speaker installed in the bell tower. The system is operated via a control panel that can be accessed through a smartphone.
There have been a couple of times when Fr. Rector had to climb to the top of the bell tower to fix the speaker. Access requires climbing a fire escape–style ladder that leads to a staircase behind a monolithic black tower at the back of the sanctuarY — no easy task.
Since his arrival in 2017, Sacred Heart Cathedral has always used an electronic bell system. Fr. Rector speculated that the old church may have had a traditional bell, but that would have been back in the 1920s.
"The bell system was here when I came to Prince George, but I added my own meaning to it when the pandemic came," Fr. Rector said.
"Traditionally, ringing the bell is a call to pray. We would ring it at noon and 6 p.m. to pray the Angelus, which reminds us that God came into the world to be human like us. During Easter, instead of the Angelus, we pray the Regina Caeli — ‘Queen of Heaven, rejoice’—to commemorate the rising of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead."
During the pandemic, when churches were closed to the public, Fr. Rector realized he needed a way to connect with the broader community.
Because the bell can be heard far and wide, he decided it could serve as a reminder that the church is still present and praying.
"I thought I would ring the bell at 9 a.m. to invite people to pray for those suffering around the world. At noon, the bell rings for those who are sick and for their healing. At 3 p.m., we ring it for the healthcare workers and first responders caring for those affected by the pandemic," he said.
"At 6 p.m., it rings again to honour those who have died because of the pandemic. What I’m trying to communicate — then and now, beyond the pandemic—is that the church is always at prayer. When people hear the bell ringing, I want them to know that the church is praying for them and inviting everyone to pray."
On weekends, the bell also rings two minutes before Mass: at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 9 and 11 a.m. on Sundays.
"It’s another reminder that something is happening at the church," Fr. Rector said.
Historically, church bells were also rung to mark the death of a well-known community member. So when Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, Sacred Heart Cathedral rang the bell in his honour.
The only time the bell hasn’t rung has been due to technical issues, Fr. Rector added.
With many church traditions still honoured, Fr. Rector said he felt there was more he could do to reach people.
"What I’m trying to do is reach the wider public," he said. "The church can adapt. While we follow tradition, we can also be modern in how we use technology."
The parish has its own website and Facebook page. During the pandemic, Fr. Rector said he felt called to make an even bigger impact.
"So I started by livestreaming Mass via our Facebook page. Eventually, I launched a YouTube channel for reflections on the word of God," he said.
Fr. Rector has received positive feedback on his social media outreach and shared a poignant example.
"I was baptizing someone on Easter Sunday, and the baby was so quiet. The mother told me it was because he was familiar with my voice from the YouTube channel," he said. "It was just so heartwarming."
On another occasion, a young girl came up to him.
"She came running up to me with such joy," he recalled. "She said, ‘I saw you on YouTube! I’m a fan!’ I was so touched because her family had watched."
He continues to post weekly content on his YouTube channel. Over time, he realized that his audience extends well beyond Prince George.
"My subscribers are not just parishioners — they’re from across the world," he said.
Fr. Rector is also active on TikTok and Spotify, all under the umbrella of The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector.
"Sacred Heart Cathedral has adapted to modern technology in an effort to reach the broader public," he said. "That makes it easier for them—and for me."
Fr. Rector noted that every 25 years, the Catholic Church observes a Jubilee Year. This year’s theme is Pilgrims of Hope.
"Sacred Heart Cathedral is one of four churches in this region — within the diocese — where people can visit anytime," he said.
