(By Sandra Tan – Buffalo News)
In the sanctuary of St. Adalbert Basilica stand two facing paintings. One is of St. Adalbert’s martyrdom. The other depicts the story of St. Peter walking on water toward Jesus until his faith falters in the face of the wind. Peter begins to sink until Jesus reaches out to save him.
The stories offer parallels for a church community desperate for salvation in the face of Bishop Edward U. Kmiec’s ruling that the church cease all regular Masses and merge with St. John Kanty after this Sunday’s special Mass celebrating the basilica’s 125th anniversary.
“We’re basically trying to stay together as a family,” said church trustee Lori Dinero.
Parishioners spent this past Sunday with local artists from Painting for Preservation. The group, formed in March, comprises artists who visit neglected and endangered historic sites with cameras and sketch pads to keep an artistic record of buildings before they’re lost.
They mixed with long-memoried churchgoers struggling to find hope.
Longtime parishioner Irene Kupinski found it hard to look up at the church’s brick walls and 40-foot-wide dome without tears as she passed out roast beef sandwiches to fellow parishioners and supporters.
This Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood church was responsible for her indoctrination into the faith, for her sacraments, her education and three generations of family devotion.
“I’d give part of my life if I thought God would hear me and keep it open,” said Kupinski, 72, who lives a block away from the church in the house her mother was born in.
