SOUTH SUDAN: “What My Coat of Arms Means,” Bishop-Elect of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese
Coat of Arms for Bishop-elect of South Sudan's Wau Diocese
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Bishop-elect of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese Rev. Mons. Matthew Remijio Adam Gbtiku has shared with AMECEA online the meaning of his Coat of Arms that will identify him and keep him focused in his ministry as a Shepherd.
During the Thursday, December 17 interview, the Bishop elect disclosed that his coat of arms comprises of various symbols including the cross, the flag of South Sudan, a chalice, the image of Mother Mary and twelve stars.
The various colors used to design the Bishop- elect’s coat of arms include; green, dark blue, sky blue, red and gold.
“I came up with the symbols for my coat of arms after “deep reflection,” Bishop-elect disclosed and explained, I first created my motto, “To renew all things in Christ.”
According to Very Rev. Gbitiku a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, MCCJ, the motto hinges on renewal since there is need for rekindling the faith of Christians in Wau diocese that has been vacant since 6 Mar 2017.
“The diocese has been vacant for quite long and we therefore need renewal in various aspects especially the spiritual, pastoral and administrative renewal so that we all grow in faith. We need to renew our lives and look at things differently with hope in the light of Jesus Christ,” Bishop- elect said adding that “through this, the life of the diocese will be renewed.”
In the Court of Arms, the image of the flag represents the people of South Sudan and having it in the water symbolizes life. “The People of South Sudan need water for life,” he narrated.
The image of the chalice used in the Coat of arms represents the Eucharist “which is at the centre of a Christian life.”
“The chalice is placed in a designed red background to symbolize the blood of Christ,” South Sudanese Bishop-elect said adding that, “in the Eucharist, we have the bread and wine which is the body and blood of Jesus through which we remain united in Christ.”
Very Rev. Gbitiku who hails from Wau diocese and has been serving in Kenya as the assistant formator and bursar of the international theologate of the Comboni Missionaries for the past three years said that he used the image of our Mother Mary who is the protector of the Cathedral of Wau diocese.
“Our mother Mary is the protector of Christians and the people of Wau diocese. Therefore I entrust the diocese to Our Mother so that Mary can continue to intercede for us and all Christians in the diocese,” he explained.
Narrating the meaning of the symbols of the stars the Bishop-elect said, “The images are surrounded with a circle of 12 stars. These stars represent the different ethnic believers in the diocese. All these are together united with Jesus under the protection of Mary.” Besides, “The stars also signify light that lead people to Christ.”
The Bishop-elect of Wau diocese which has been under the Apostolic administration of Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla since September 2020, will be ordained on Sunday, January 24, 20201 at St. Mary’s Help of Christians Cathedral, Wau.
On his part Archbishop Ameyu of Juba Archdiocese appreciated the new Bishop-elect saying, “We thank Bishop elect for acceptance of the cross and sword that the Lord promised to all who would shepherd the people of God, but He doesn’t leave us alone but equip us with the gift of Holy Spirit who joins us until the end of time.”
He continued speaking to AMECEA online in an interview as he refers to the Bishop-elect “Welcome! The people of Wau are longing for you to come to unite and console them. May God who gives you this ministry gives you wisdom, we will accompany you with our prayers.”
