The Georgia Bulletin

Sun, Nov 23, 2008


What I Have Seen and Heard - Archbishop Gregory's Weekly Column

Michigan parishioner donated funds for church bells from house sale

Published: 2004-11-08

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (CNS) -- The generosity of a parishioner will always be remembered in the music from the 48-bell carillon at St. Hugo of the Hills Church in Bloomfield Hills. In 1987, plans called for a new parish complex and a 100-foot bell tower with a set of carillon bells. But "we ran out of money," said Msgr. Anthony Tocco, pastor of St. Hugo, "and so to stay (within the) budget, we had to cancel the tower and the bells." In 2003, Wilda King Tiffany gave the parish half of the money it needed to complete the project. She wanted to see construction of the bell tower begin before she died. After her death, her house was sold in 2004, and the parish received the proceeds from the sale to finish the tower, including the bells. "I always knew that the tower was going to be part of this complex before I retire, although I'm still a long ways away from that," the pastor told The Michigan Catholic, Detroit's archdiocesan newspaper.