| |
|
| Tracing
the Pilgrimage of the People |
| |
| The word “church”
can be taken to mean the building or edifice itself where the faithful
gather to worship. In another sense, however, it is understood as
“the congregation or gathering of faithful people.” This
page describes an introduction to the faithful people with whom you
worship and the building that they give meaning and purpose to. |
| |
| On June 11, 1922, the
quiet village of Arlington was witness to the sight of about one thousand
men and women who had come together to watch the laying of the cornerstone
of the new Church of the Holy Trinity. It was on June 6, 1921 that
Father Peter P. Conaty, then pastor of St. Sylvia’s Parish in
Tivoli, received the commission from Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop
of New York, to establish a parish due to the influx of more Catholics
into this locality. |
| |
| For the name of the church,
three titles were suggested by Cardinal Hayes: Sacred Heart, Blessed
Sacrament and Holy Trinity. In accordance with the wish of the pastor
and the trustees, Cardinal Hayes selected Holy Trinity to proclaim
the divinity of the Three Divine Persons. Through the never-to-be-forgotten
kindness of the Arlington Fire Department, their commodious hall was
secured for the holding of Sunday Mass until a building of our own
was completed. The first Mass was celebrated in the Fireman’s
Hall at 8:00 am on Sunday, July 3, 1921 and another Mass at 10:00.
About 238 people attended that weekend. |
| |
| In August 1921, negotiations
were started for the purchase of the Moeleth property on Springside
Avenue. A fund-raising event the following Labor Day netted the parish
some $6,653 which was added to the treasury of the church. The Moeleth
Estate was purchased on September 10, 1921 for $11,000. The acquisition
of the adjoining Budd property was authorized by the Cardinal. Mr.
& Mrs. Oscar Budd had resided on the property for nearly thirty
years and had no desire to sell. However, after some time, the property
was purchased for $17,500 on March 21, 1922. Two days later, the ground
was broken for the new church. While the foundations were being laid,
a one-story wooden structure was begun to serve as a place for social
activities; and so rapid was its construction by the men of the parish
that it opened within a few months. This building would serve as the
church hall and the site of Sunday Mass for nearly a year. |
| |
| Despite the unusually
severe winter of 1922 (which delayed the construction), Holy Trinity
Church was completely finished on Saturday, March 10, 1923. Following
the blessing of the church, Mass was celebrated at 8:30 by Father
Conaty on the altar dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The church is
an adaptation of the Tudor Gothic style of architecture, of native
gray and blue stone. The approximate cost of the church and its furnishings
was $150,000. |
| |
| The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary
of the founding of Holy Trinity Parish was celebrated by His Eminence
John Cardinal O’Connor on Saturday, June 15, 1996 with a Solemn
Mass of Thanksgiving. Our 85th Anniversary was observed in conjunction
with Father LaMorte’s Silver Jubilee on June 11, 2006.
|
| |
| Our Mission at Holy Trinity
is to be a Christian community in the Roman Catholic tradition, called
to serve one Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, through prayer,
the Word of the Lord, love in action. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
