Auxiliary Bishop Greg O'Kelly
Central to the Coat of Arms is the traditional escutcheon of the Society of Jesus – the IHS – which signifies the Holy Name of Jesus, with the three nails of the Passion underneath and surrounded by rays symbolising the Resurrection.
The colours of the Coat of Arms are red and gold, the colours of the House of Loyola. The green tassels and hat are the traditional symbol and colour for a bishop.
The two books are the symbols for the teaching profession, so much part of the background of the new bishop, and they are inscribed with the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolising the Beginning and the End, as is said in the blessing of the Paschal Candle, “Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End”.
The bottom left quadrant contains a stylised tower, redolent of the tower in the O’Kelly family crest, but also of the castle homes of Ignatius and Xavier, and the Jesuit church at Sevenhill, so significant for the early Church in South Australia.
The upper quadrant contains the Southern Cross, representing the Great South Land of Australia, contained within the ambit of the chequered crescent, which is taken from the Arms of the family of St Francis Xavier, Patron of Australia. The crescent is also a traditional symbol for Mary.
Surmounting the Coat of Arms is the Celtic Cross, including symbols of the five wounds of Our Lord. The motto translates as “to love and to serve” from the phrase of St Ignatius Loyola that we are to love and to serve in all things.
The colours of the Coat of Arms are red and gold, the colours of the House of Loyola. The green tassels and hat are the traditional symbol and colour for a bishop.
The two books are the symbols for the teaching profession, so much part of the background of the new bishop, and they are inscribed with the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolising the Beginning and the End, as is said in the blessing of the Paschal Candle, “Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End”.
The bottom left quadrant contains a stylised tower, redolent of the tower in the O’Kelly family crest, but also of the castle homes of Ignatius and Xavier, and the Jesuit church at Sevenhill, so significant for the early Church in South Australia.
The upper quadrant contains the Southern Cross, representing the Great South Land of Australia, contained within the ambit of the chequered crescent, which is taken from the Arms of the family of St Francis Xavier, Patron of Australia. The crescent is also a traditional symbol for Mary.
Surmounting the Coat of Arms is the Celtic Cross, including symbols of the five wounds of Our Lord. The motto translates as “to love and to serve” from the phrase of St Ignatius Loyola that we are to love and to serve in all things.