By Currents News
Bishop-designate Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez has chosen his episcopal coat of arms as he prepares to become the sixth shepherd of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida.
The design combines elements honoring his new diocese, his personal history, his spiritual journey and his Dominican heritage.
The shield is divided into two principal sections: the left side represents the Diocese of Palm Beach. It features a blue field with two small wavy silver bars at the base, evoking the Atlantic Ocean that borders the region.
At the center stands a gold bar bearing a green palm branch, directly referencing the name Palm Beach.
Above are two gold crowns topped with stars, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary under her titles of Queen of Heaven and Star of the Sea.
The right side displays Bishop-designate Rodríguez’s personal coat of arms.
The green field ends in a division line shaped like a line of fir trees, suggesting a forest in tribute to St. John Bosco —whose name means “woods” or “forest” in Italian.
St. John Bosco founded the Salesian order, to which Bishop-designate Rodríguez belonged before incardination as a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Centered on this section is a gold sword, the emblem of St. Michael the Archangel, with a fleur-de-lis pommel that nods to St. Joan of Arc.
Flanking the sword are two silver crescents, symbols of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception — patroness of both the United States and the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Two additional symbols pay homage tohis native Dominican Republic: At the base is a locomotive, representing Moca, his hometown.
At the top is the national bird of the Dominican Republic.
Bishop-designate Rodríguez will be ordained and installed on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. EST at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach, Florida. NET-TV will air the Mass live.