BELL SOUND MEETS BELLTRON INNOVATION. THE TESTIMONY OF FATHER IÑAKI LETE

Date: May 13, 2025

For centuries, the sound of bells represented much more than a simple melody: it was the heartbeat of religious communities, a call to faith, a sign of sharing and communion. In a rapidly changing world, tradition is also renewed. This is demonstrated by the experience of Father Iñaki Lete, a Salesian priest and parish priest at the Shrine of María Auxiliadora in Madrid, who embraced with enthusiasm the innovation brought by Belltron, an Italian company leader in electronic bell systems and automation for bell towers.

When he came to the leadership of his parish seven years ago, Father Lete felt immediately the need for a tool that could facilitate communication with the faithful, scanning the most significant moments of religious life. "I felt the need of a means to alert the community, to announce celebrations, events, anniversaries. Bells have always been part of this universal language," he says.

After a thorough consultation with Belltron, the priest chose to install an electronic bell system. The result? An experience which he calls "useful, effective and easy to use". The system, programmable and adaptable to the needs of the parish, allows him to select different sounds according to the liturgical period or the current holiday: from Christmas to the month of May when we celebrate Mary Help of Christians patron saint of the Salesians, Each occasion can be accompanied by a distinctive sound.

The story of Father Iñaki Lete fits into a larger picture: there are now more than 16,000 Belltron systems installed in churches and cathedrals around the world. The idea was born in the 80s from a concrete need: an Italian pastor, Don Marino Ciarrocchi, was looking for a modern and efficient alternative to its obsolete bell system. Two technicians took up the challenge and developed a technology capable of faithfully reproducing the sound of traditional bells, With a flexibility and precision unimaginable until then. From that first prototype was born Belltron, which today represents a reference point for religious communities.

The benefits? Many. In addition to the sound quality - which faithfully reproduces every nuance, from the lowest notes to the highest ones - the system guarantees a greater variety of melodies, lower costs than traditional chimes and a completely automated management, also remotely thanks to a simple App.

Father Iñaki Lete has no doubts: "I recommend the Belltron system to all parish priests". His testimony confirms how technology and spirituality can coexist, transforming a secular tradition into an even more accessible, rich and participatory experience for today’s communities.