By imagining lines connecting three sacred symbols—from the Hand of God above, down to the Dove on the left, across to the Lamb on the right, and back up—we can trace a triangle, a traditional symbol of the Holy Trinity.
These symbols invite us to reflect on the central mystery of our faith: one God in three Divine Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each also holds a place in our parish’s story.
The Hand — God the Father
High above the Assumption scene, a hand extends downward from a cloud, with two fingers outstretched and the remaining fingers folded. The hand is an ancient symbol used to represent God the Father, while the four lightning bolts emerging from the cloud signify His presence.
According to our parish history, this Hand was the only new piece of statuary created for the interior of our present church—the third church in our parish’s history.
The vertical wooden pieces beneath it suggest downward movement, just as those behind the Assumption scene suggest Mary’s movement upward. Here, that downward movement represents the Father sending His Son and the Holy Spirit into the world.
The Dove — God the Holy Spirit
The dove has occupied a different place in each of our three churches. In the first, it was positioned on the ceiling in the center of the sanctuary. In the second, it was placed above the Assumption scene. Today, it is affixed to the front of the pulpit.
The dove recalls the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at His baptism. Its placement on the pulpit offers a meaningful reminder that the Holy Spirit is at work through the proclamation of God’s Word and the celebration of the sacraments.
The Lamb — God the Son
The lamb represents Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. His banner bearing the cross proclaims His victory over sin and death. The book beneath Him, with its seven seals, recalls the Book of Revelation.
The next time you are in church, take a moment to look at these meaningful details. They do more than adorn St. Mary’s; they connect our parish’s history with the faith we profess each time we make the Sign of the Cross: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
