by Petit & Edelbrock, 1959
Photo: Hannelore Dirkmann, Collection Heidi Blümer
On October 18, 1959 — just 10 months after the shell construction was completed — the new bells were consecrated by Dean Burdewick. Like the bells of the old Liebfrauenkirche, they came from the Petit & Edelbrock bell foundry in Gescher, Münsterland.
There are five bronze bells hanging in the belfry: the Savior, Mary, Joseph, Francis, and Pius bells. They are tuned to C-sharp, E, F-sharp, G-sharp, and A, and together they weigh over 5 tonnes.
What their task should be is stated in a text from the 1961 church dedication commemorative publication:
'In five-part harmony your sound will now ring out,
Far over our city, far over stream and field,
We proclaim God’s favor, grace, and faithfulness,
And His mercy, His power, and His strength'.
To this day, they sound whenever an event of significance to the town is proclaimed or accompanied by the chime of bells.
All bells bear images of their namesakes and matching Latin inscriptions on the crown.
The largest bell is named after the patron saint of Duisburg, the Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World). The English translation of the Latin inscription reads: 'Hail, Savior of the World, may your cross be the everlasting salvation of this city'.
References:
Chronicle of Our Lady's Parish – Duisburg, part, 1802 – 1964 [City Archive of Duisburg]
Catholic Parish Office Church of Our Lady: Commemorative Publication for the Consecration of the Church of Our Lady and Minorite Church 1961, Duisburg 1961.
