Westminster Cathedral's great bell has announced that the 2012 Games are about to begin, and the Catholic Church is ready to welcome Olympic athletes and visitors to London

The video was filmed during the ringing of Westminster Cathedral's 'Big Edward', 

accompanied by the smaller -- Sanctus -- bells housed above 

the Sacristy (sorry the image is the wrong way up -- I am no filmmaker!)

To ‘ring in’ the London 2012 Olympic Games, bells were rung throughout Britain between 8.12am-8.15am this morning. Westminster Cathedral’s great St Edward’s Bell, also known as ‘Big Edward’, joined the chorus – along with ‘Big Ben’ housed in the Palace of Westminster’s St Stephen’s Tower, which is only down the road from the Mother Church of the Catholic faith in England and Wales. Many other famous and not so famous bells chimed in, too. The nationwide and ecumenical bell-ringing ‘campaign’ was organised by Turner Prize-winning artist Michael Creed, as part of the London 2012 Festival.

Most Christian denominations have organised services – both spiritual and practical – in preparation for the Modern Olympic Games. Through various initiatives and organisations, such as More than Gold and the John Paul II Foundation for Sport, the Catholic Church will be playing her own important part in catering for the pastoral needs of the 2012 Games’ athletes and visitors, too.

There are many Catholic churches and chapels in London, so the increased numbers of faithful seeking Mass, Confession or guidance from a priest during the Games, will have enough places to choose from. In addition to the normal round of daily Masses and devotions, though, several special events have also been planned by some of London’s Catholic churches.

The most high profile Catholic event will be a Mass for the Olympics, celebrated by the Archbishop of Westminster in his Cathedral tomorrow, Saturday 28 July, at 2.30pm. This Mass will be offered to ask God’s blessing on the international sporting event, and all are welcome to attend – there might even be the odd Olympic competitor in the congregation! Archbishop Vincent Nichols will be joined by members of the Catholic hierarchy from other nations, as well as the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini. (Be warned, though, as traffic restrictions may make attending this event difficult for those travelling from outside London.)

On Wednesday evening, 25 July, Father Michael Dunne, parish priest of Our Lady and St Catherine’s, Bow (Diocese of Westminster), offered an Extraordinary Form Missa Cantata for Peace, which was celebrated in his church. This Mass deliberately coincided with the London Olympics Games' first sporting event – a football match held in Cardiff, which took place before today's official opening of the Games. The Olympic Park is partly situated within Fr Dunne’s East End parish.

The main Olympic site also straddles another East London Catholic parish, St Francis of Assisi, Stratford (Diocese of Brentwood). This church also hosted an Olympic-related service of prayer on Wednesday evening, during which a special Peace Icon was welcomed by the congregation. This icon will remain in St Francis' church until the end of the Games.

Both these 'Olympic parishes' will be very busy during the 2012 Games, providing hospitality and spiritual sustenance for athletes, visitors, tourists, and others. Much of the work of welcoming will be done by volunteers, many of them young people, who will be based in these two venues under the direction of the Joshua Camp.

Extra Masses will be celebrated daily at St Francis of Assisi’s and at Our Lady and St Catherine’s throughout the Games, with both places also offering daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed from 9.00am-6.00pm in Stratford, with Benediction at 6.00pm, and from 6.00pm-12.00am in Bow, with Benediction given at Midnight. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference website, both parishes “will offer simple hospitality suites where visitors can receive refreshments and a warm welcome.”

Refreshments will also be offered every afternoon for the duration of the Games by the parishioners of Notre Dame de France, in their church just off Leicester Square. Those visiting London for the Modern Olympics will also find a special welcome at the very popular St Patrick’s in Soho Square.

A few days ago, Pope Benedict XVI mentioned the London Games, saying: “The Olympics are the greatest sporting event in the world, in which athletes from many different nations participate, and thus they have great symbolic value. For this reason the Catholic Church looks to the Olympics with particular sympathy and interest. Let us pray that, according to God’s will, the London Olympics may be a true experience of brotherhood among the peoples of the Earth.”

The Holy Father went on to impart his blessing on the Games with these words: "I send greetings to the organizers, athletes and spectators alike, and I pray that, in the spirit of the Olympic Truce, the good will generated by this international sporting event may bear fruit, promoting Peace and Reconciliation throughout the world. Upon all those attending the London Olympic Games, I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God."

For more detailed information on all the Catholic events planned for the Olympic Games in London (and there are lots of them!), please see this page on the Bishops’ Conference website and click on the PDF documents on the right-hand side.