Msgr. Edward Arnister and members of Divine Mercy Parish, Trenton, celebrated three milestones of faith and a combined 225 years of service in God’s name Oct. 3.

That day, the parish commemorated the fifth anniversary of the founding of Divine Mercy, which was created in 2005 from the merger of Holy Cross, St. Stanislaus and Sts. Peter and Paul Parishes; the founding of St. Stanislaus Parish 120 years ago, and the dedication of the present Holy Cross Church 100 years ago, with a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated in Holy Cross Church by Coadjutor Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

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“Greetings in the Lord,” Bishop O’Connell offered in Polish, Spanish and English, in acknowledgement of the three languages spoken by the people who comprise the parish’s current population.

As the occasion marked Bishop O’Connell’s first visit to the South Trenton parish, he spoke of what a “great joy it is for me to join you here on your anniversary and to share in the celebration of our faith – our Catholic faith – that has been brought to us throughout the ages by our ancestors.

They brought (the faith) to this great land, this great diocese and this great parish that we honor today,” said Bishop O’Connell.

Throughout the Mass, great efforts were made to reflect the rich and diverse histories of the communities who labored to build Holy Cross Parish, which was founded in 1891 and whose church was dedicated in 1910, and St. Stanislaus Parish, founded in 1890. Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, established in 1899, was closed in 2006.

Prior to the procession, representatives placed lit candles on a table by the new cornerstone that was to be blessed by Bishop O’Connell at the end of the Mass.

Felician Sister Juanita Arnister, Msgr. Arnister’s sister and native of Holy Cross Parish, represented the priests and religious who served in the three communities over the years, namely, the Felician Sisters who served in Holy Parish; the Dominican Sisters who served in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, and the Conventual Franciscan priests who staffed St. Stanislaus Parish.

As a tribute to all the deceased parishioners of the three parishes, candles were placed by Felicia Stoj of Holy Cross Parish, Hank Janiszewski of St. Stanislaus Parish and Florence Zajaros of Sts. Peter and Paul.

The entrance procession also reflected the devotion the parish has to the Divine Mercy and to St. Mary Faustina Kowalska, who was canonized a saint on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 30, 2000, as images of both were borne to the sanctuary.

Sister Loretta Janiszewski, who represented the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, a religious community founded by Mother Colette Hilbert in 1897 in St. Stanislaus Church, carried a pitcher and bowl as a sign of the service the Franciscan Sisters have given to the Church of Trenton.

The beloved traditions that parishioners continue to hold dear was evidenced when two young parishioners, wearing native Polish outfits, presented a loaf of bread and dish of salt to Bishop O’Connell. The gifts date back to a 17th century Polish custom in which bread was considered to be a gift from God and “must always be treated with deep respect,” and salt, which comes from the earth, “is a basic necessity of life.”

The gift of bread and salt to Bishop O’Connell was the parish’s way of showing their appreciation and to “show the unity that has been created by the merger of three separate, yet culturally connected parish communities,” said Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph Karen Crawford, who serves as cocoordinator of the parish religious education program and, with Sister Loretta, visits the sick and home bound parishioners.

“Today, we give thanks to God for the parish community of Divine Mercy,” said Sister Karen. “We are faithfully standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us. They were ordinary, common people who influenced and touched our lives in extraordinary ways by their deep faith in God, love and dedication and their devotion to the Church.

“We remember our family members, friends and neighbors – our ancestors who saw beyond the struggles, troubles and challenges of the day and built these faithfilled communities – the people of God – and for that we are eternally grateful.”