Episcopal Coat of Arms

Oct 08, 2015

Galero with Tassels
The symbol of the office of a Bishop. I have chosen a galero with a “figure-of-eight” knot. It is one of the basic knots that I learnt from St Joseph’s School 9th Kuching Company Scouts. My Venture Scout Unit taught me to be courageous, resourceful, to embrace values of sacrifice, discipline, perseverance, cooperation and teamwork, with the aim of making the world a better place for all people: “Do a good turn daily,” “Always leave a place better than you found it.”

Processional Cross
I have chosen the Cross with the five wounds of the crucified Christ on the Cross — head, heart, hands and feet. “By His holy and glorious wounds, may Christ the Lord guard and protect us. Amen.”

Chalice
The Chalice composes the Chinese character -10 (Holy) symbolising the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life (CCC No. 1324). It also represents my cultural roots.

Baruk
The Baruk is a traditional Bidayuh community house, where the whole village gathers to meet, discuss and worship. The Catholic Church has used the baruk design in tabernacles and Church buildings as it symbolises Vatican Council II’s concept of Church as a community of Faith.

The baruk icon represents the indigenous communities in the Archdiocese of Kuching. This baruk design is based on the Tabernacle in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching, with seven steps representing the Seven Sacraments.

St Joseph’s Cathedral has been very central to my life and ministry. I was baptised, confirmed, received my First Communion and served as an Altar Server there. Eventually, I was ordained and have served for the past five years as Parish Priest of the Cathedral.

Jug with Water
This symbolises the foot washing and ministry of Jesus who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) The water inside the jug also stands for the waters of Baptism through which we become children of God.

Bible with text I Peter 5:1-1 I
The scriptural text are the words of the apostle Peter, who is my Patron Saint. In these verses, he speaks to me as a brother bishop and also to those who will be ministering with me. In all that we do, we offer with humble and grateful heart to our God, “to Him be the glory and power forever and ever.”

Shepherd’s Staff
This is placed in the middle of the shield. It stands for Jesus our Good Shepherd. Like Peter, the Lord entrusts to me this vocation as a shepherd, with the words “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-19).

Yellow, Red & Black Colours
These are the colours on our State Flag. Together with the baruk, these represent the local Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Kuching, rooted in the cultures and in the State of Sarawak. Negeri ku, Tanah Air ku Sarawak.

Yellow & White Colours
These are Vatican colours and they represent my loyalty to the Holy Father, who has appointed me as Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Kuching.

Shield with Motto Scroll
Josephians would have identified this as the badge profile of St. Joseph’s School, where I studied for 13 years (1970-1982). The seed of my Catholic faith was planted in Primary One and eventually, I was baptised while in Form 4. The shield’s green profile represents my gratitude to the La Salle Brothers and teachers who have educated me, and especially those who have instructed me in the Catholic Faith.

Motto
Taken from Jeremiah 3:15,“1 will give you shepherds after my own heart.” It is a calling to respond to the Lord to feed his sheep (John 2 1:15-17) and to become a “shepherd of the heart of Christ.”

The Titular See of SFASFERIA

The Titular Episcopal See of SFASFERIA in Algeria was established in 1933. The former Titular Bishops were: Bishop Michael Gor? Matsuura (April 19, 1999 – March 29, 2015), Bishop Jean-Baptiste Outhay Thepmany (July 10, 1975 – March 19, 1998) and Bishop Antonio Silvio Zocchetta, OFM (Feb 16, 1968 – Jan 22, 1973).

What is a Titular Bishop?
A titular bishop is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. Most titular bishops hold the title to a titular see. Assigning titular sees serves two purposes. Since part of being a bishop means being the head of a Church, titular sees serve that purpose for bishops without a diocese. At the same time, the office of titular bishop memorializes ancient Churches, most of which were suppressed because they fell into the hands of non-Christian conquerors.

What is an Auxiliary Bishop?
An auxiliary bishop is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer. According to canon law, no bishop can be ordained without title to a certain and distinct episcopal see which he governs either actually or potentially, therefore auxiliary bishops are titular bishops to sees that no longer exist.

Canon law requires that the diocesan bishop appoints each auxiliary bishop as vicar general or episcopal vicar of the diocese.