|
Significance
By tradition, Bishop Zubik’s personal coat of arms
is joined to the coat of arms of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
The arms of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (left side) were designed
by the late Pierre Chaignon la Rose and show a black field
on which are placed a blue and white chequy bar, a sword,
and two crosses, all gold. The black color of the field is
appropriate to the city of Pittsburgh; and the chequy bar
stands for a counting board, all based on the arms granted
to William Pitt who was chancellor of the Exchequer of England
and for whom the City of Pittsburgh is named. The colors of
the bar in the original Pitt grant were changed to silver
and blue; and the coins of the treasury were transformed into
globical convexed crosses. The sword was added in honor of
Saint Paul, the patron Saint of the Cathedral of Pittsburgh.
Bishop Zubik’s coat of arms (right side) begins at
the top with the arched span symbolizing his native Ambridge
and much of southwestern Pennsylvania, which are home to bridges
and bridge builders. Pittsburgh has been called the “city
of bridges.” As a successor of the apostles, Bishop
Zubik has been entrusted with preserving and protecting the
truth of the faith by building and maintaining the bridge
which ensures, in all times and places, the continuity in
faith between Christ and his Church.
The golden wheat sheaf represents the fruit of the earth.
God is the Father of all gifts. The gift of Bishop Zubik’s
vocation was recognized and nurtured by Father Edward R. Farina
whose surname means “grain” or “wheat.”
Wheat is also the work of human hands. Bishop Zubik’s
Polish and Slovak ancestors are not strangers to labor and
toil – values held dear to the Bishop himself. Wheat
can be transformed into bread, the simple food for much of
the world. Of most importance, the wheat sheaf symbolizes
the Eucharist, the bread of eternal life which feeds and nourishes
God’s people. Further, the name Zubik comes from the
Polish word “zlobek” which means “wheat,”
highlighting that Jesus is the Bread of Life. The sheaf is
placed in a field of green, the color of life and hope.
The letter “M” represents the Blessed Mother
for whom the Bishop has a special devotion, passed on to him
by his maternal grandmother. The symbol imitates the coat
of arms of His Holiness, the late Pope John Paul II, who called
Bishop Zubik to the episcopacy in 1997. In the Gospel of Luke,
Mary is portrayed as the first faithful disciple, the one
who heard and heeded God’s word. Mary’s discipleship
inspires Bishop Zubik who pledges his faithful obedience to
the will of God and to the Vicar of Christ on earth.
The simple cross holds the coat of arms. The cross of Jesus
Christ is the power of God which is the foundation of Bishop
Zubik’s commitment to be a bridge which draws those
whom he serves to God.
Over the whole coat of arms is a bishop’s hat, or galero,
with six tassels pendant on each side, in three rows, all
in green, for a bishop.
Motto
The scroll beneath the coat of arms contains Bishop Zubik’s
motto, “Nothing is Impossible with God,” and comes
from Luke 1:37 where the angel Gabriel visits Mary and reveals
to her that she is about to bear the son of God. When Mary
asks how this can be since she is a virgin, Gabriel offers
his reply: “Nothing is Impossible with God.”
|
