Designer gives history, symbolism of bishops' coats of arms

Published: 2004-05-26

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (CNS) -- In a small room in a beautiful house with an ocean view, the coat of arms for the new bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, Mass., Bishop Robert J. McManus, was drawn by hand. It's the same place most of the U.S. bishops -- and some from other countries -- get their coats of arms, according to the artist, Deacon Paul J. Sullivan. He's pretty much the only person in the United States doing it now, he said. It was a small mistake in the official description accompanying the coat of arms for Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, now retired head of the Diocese of Worcester, that prompted him to get into the business. William Ryan, who had been dominant in the field for 35 years and is now deceased, designed the coat of arms for Bishop Reilly when he was named bishop of Norwich, Conn. The official description, or blazon, said it included a cinquefoil, a kind of flower. In fact, the design was a moline cross with anchors at the ends. The drawing was right, but the blazon did not match it in that one small way. Deacon Sullivan decided that if he knew that much about such things he ought to be doing it himself.

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