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Coat of Arms of
Most Reverend
Gerald Michael Barbarito
Twelfth Bishop of Ogdensburg
(2000-2003)
The
external ornaments of the coat of arms of the Most Reverend Gerald Michael
Barbarito include the episcopal symbols - a green gallero with its six
tassels arranged in three rows on either side of the shield, and a gold
processional cross.
The left side of the shield indicated the See of Ogdensburg. Its azure
field has a silver tower symbolizing the first French Sulpician mission of
La Presentation, founded in 1749. In 1763 at the close of the French and
Indian War, the British gained control of this territory and refurbished
Fort La Presentation, renaming it Fort Oswegatchie. A seme of gold oak
leaves recalls that the village was named for Samuel Ogden (oak dene), who
purchased Oswegatchie and hired Nathan Ford to enlist settlers for the
village in 1795.
The right side of the shield has a silver field in which there is an open
Book of the Gospels, designated by the Alpha and Omega on the spine. The
upside down position of the book denotes how the Gospels are placed over the
head of a new bishop at his episcopal ordination, to remind him that this
book must be the bishop’s helmet. The front cover of this particular book
contains a skewed cross, taken from the arms of His Holiness, Pope John Paul
II, and the fleur-de-lis and crescent, honoring Bishop Francis Mugavero and
Bishop Daily who ordained Bishop Barbarito. At the base of the shield are
two golden hills with three green fir trees, taken from the arms of the
Salesians, founded by St. John Bosco, a model for parish priests. The center
pine tree has its roots visible, indicating the translation of the Italian
name, “Barbarito,” roots. Two black moorcocks with red crests from the arms
of St. Thomas Moore recall Bishop Barbarito’s devotion to the patron saint
of canon lawyers. Also, it was on the feast of St. Thomas Moore that the
bishop first began working in the Brooklyn Chancery office, and on the same
feastday he was informed of his elevation to the office of bishop.
Bishop Barbarito’s motto is: VERITATEM FACIENTES IN CARITATE, “LET US
PROFESS THE TRUTH IN LOVE.”
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