Every Sunday from 11 to 11:30 a.m., bells ring out from the St. Mary Star of the Sea Chapel on Onset Bay Lane.

While the church can’t hold services in person, volunteer Ernie Boucher is playing the bells. 

“It’s a way for our voice to be heard in the community,” Boucher said.

Boucher plays a selection of hymns and patriotic songs along with requests parishioners send in on Facebook. Parishioners have requested songs for prayer or in honor of loved ones.

For the last several weeks, Boucher said he has been focusing on joyful songs for the Easter season.

Boucher learned how to program the bells to play various songs last year, and usually played a few before or after mass, but the current bell-ringing program is new. 

“We’re still here and trying to get the message out there,” Boucher said. “Our voices can still be heard, and our prayers can be heard.”

Pastor Marek Chmurski said that the bell-ringing is a way for people to stay connected to the church through sound -- even at a distance, as the concerts are live-streamed on the parish’s Facebook page.

“We all want to go back to our services,” said Chmurski. “We miss seeing people. We miss human touch.”

To watch videos of past performances, make a request, or learn more about the parish, go to www.facebook.com/stmmbbay.