Diocese
of Grand Falls
Diocesan
Shield
The Diocesan Shield is
divided into three parts by a golden yoke "Y", which symbolizes
Christ’s yoke, the Cross. It is through the Cross that we are all brought to
salvation.
The
upper segment of the crest bears the crescent moon and the twelve stars written
of in Revelation 12:1. This is a symbol for the Immaculate Conception of Mary,
the Mother of God, under which the Diocese of Grand Falls was erected first at
Harbour Grace, Newfoundland on February 29, 1856.
The
lower left segment of the shield depicts a living and moving fish. The fish (in
Greek, ICHTUS) was a symbol for Christ from the earliest days of Christianity.
The fish always pointed to the presence of Christ and the assembly of Christians
who were prepared to live the faith even in the face of persecution. Of course,
the fish has a special significance for the people of this diocese, since
fishing was the means of livelihood for our ancestors, the first settlers of
Newfoundland, who witnessed to the faith, even in times of persecution. The blue
waves indicate that each of the parishes in the Diocese of Grand Falls are
situated on a strategic body of water; be it sea, lake or river.
The
lower right segment of the crest shows the native spruce tree, which has had its
own importance in the lives of our people. It is included in the crest to offer
thanks for God’s bounteous gifts in the logging, lumbering and papermaking
industries.
The
motto of the Diocese of Grand Falls is Ave, Gratia Plena (Luke 1:28), which
translates "Hail, Thou Highly Favoured One." It is the greeting
of the Angel Gabriel sent by God to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:28).
In
our Diocese of Grand Falls we also have been highly favoured and singularly
blessed by God in the faith of our people. We continue to live as one
family in Christ, living in joyful hope with our sights set on even greater
favours and graces on our Journey of Faith in the years that lie ahead.
Information taken from
Diocese of Grand Falls Web Site: http://home.thezone.net/~rcecgf/
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