We are not a church but a ministry.
If you see a Baptist minister inside an Independent Catholic Ministry, it is not because I’m participating in an ecumenical event, attending a personal milestone, or undergoing a faith transition.
It is because I’m the co-founder, a member of the chaplaincy as chief chaplain, and president of the house of bishops. As an independent entity, we are autonomous and set our own rules, meaning we are not bound by the Pope’s authority or Vatican law.
I’m a Baptist bishop, and I do not have that hat as my coat of arms. The wide-brimmed ecclesiastical hat (the galero) and hanging tassels seen in traditional Ecclesiastical Heraldry are specific to the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Independent Catholic traditions. Baptist polity does not employ this uniform heraldic system. Because Baptist church governance, including the role of a bishop or overseer, is largely autonomous, there are no universal, standardized rules dictating an official hat or crest for your coat of arms. If a Baptist bishop chooses to design a personal crest, they typically follow general principles of amateur heraldry rather than the Vatican’s strict colour and tassel system. We have the freedom to design a coat of arms that reflects your personal faith, ministry, and spiritual calling, using symbols meaningful to our specific congregation or community. Notice the Archbishop’s colours and symbols, which were taken from mine, except for the brown, which reflects the Franciscan colour; my gold, blue, and white were added to his.
Meaning of the Founder’s Blason
The Blason of the Archbishop Eric
✝️ Central Structure — The Cross
The white cross (Argent) divides the shield into four parts. It represents: Christ at the center of everything, Unity of life and mission, the foundation upon which all else rests. 👉 This is the governing symbol of the whole shield
🔵 Left Side (Azure Field)
Fleur-de-lis (Top Left) Symbol of Purity and consecration Traditionally associated with Our Lady Meaning here: A life placed under Marian protection and spiritual purity
Crossed Elements (Bottom Left)
These resemble missionary or apostolic crosses/tools.
Meaning: Evangelization Readiness to serve Apostolic labour
👉 Together, the left side speaks of:
Faith received and lived in devotion and mission
- Blue shield (Azure) → faithfulness, charity, openness to all
- White cross (Argent) → purity, truth, and Christ at the center
- 🟤 Right Side (Brown / Franciscan Field) Sacred Heart (Top Right) Symbol of: Christ’s love and sacrifice, Mercy and suffering embraced. Meaning: A heart conformed to Christ Franciscan Arms (Bottom Right) The crossed arms (one bare, one sleeved) Classic Franciscan symbol: Christ’s arm and St. Francis’ arm Meaning: Union with Christ in humility, poverty, and service, walking in the Franciscan path 👉 Together, the right side speaks of: Love lived through sacrifice and humility
- 👑 Center Detail — Crown of Thorns Placed at the intersection of the cross. Meaning: Suffering united with Christ’s Sacrifice at the heart of the vocation 👉 This is extremely strong theologically: Not just faith—but crucified faith 📜 Motto In sacrificium et perseverantia (In sacrifice and perseverance This ties everything together perfectly. Sacrifice → Crown, Sacred Heart Perseverance → Cross, mission symbol
- 🧩 Overall Interpretation This is a deeply structured blason with a clear progression: Left → Formation Faith received Marian grounding Call to mission
- Right → Transformation Love through sacrifice Franciscan humility Union with Christ
- Center → Fulfillment The Cross The Crown
- The total gift of self
🔥 In One Sentence
A life rooted in faith, formed in devotion, and fulfilled through sacrifice in union with Christ.
Co-Founder’s Arms
The Blason of Bishop Marie
The coat of arms of Bishop Marie expresses a ministry rooted in charity, guided by truth, and open to all without distinction.
The shield is rendered in azure, signifying fidelity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to serve. At its center stands a cross argent, the enduring sign of Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
In chief, a dove bearing an olive branch represents peace and renewal, reflecting a mission oriented toward reconciliation and new beginnings. In base, two hands joined in service signify a life dedicated to helping others, embodying a ministry of presence, care, and compassion. At the heart of the composition, the figure of Christ reminds all who behold it that every act of service flows from Him and returns to Him.
In keeping with Baptist tradition, the arms are presented in simplicity, without external ecclesiastical ornaments, emphasizing the primacy of the Gospel over rank or distinction.
- Dove with olive branch → peace and new beginnings
- Christ figure (gold) → “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
- Helping hands → her ministry of service and compassion
- Motto: “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow”
- Disce Hodie, Duc Cras”
Blazon in English (Formal Heraldic Form)
A shield quarterly divided by a cross Argent;
In the first quarter, Azure, a fleur-de-lis Or;
In the second quarter, Brown, the Sacred Heart Gules;
In the third quarter, Azure, two apostolic emblems Or in saltire;
In the fourth quarter, Brown, two arms in saltire, one bare and one sleeved, after the Franciscan manner;
Overall, upon the cross, a crown of thorns proper.
For the glory of Almighty God and the good of souls, we declare and confirm the heraldic arms of the Founder and the Co-Founder, which manifest both the unity of their vocation and the distinction of their ministries.
The arms of the Founder, quarterly divided by a cross Argent, express a faith firmly rooted, a life shaped by sacrifice, and perseverance in the way of Christ.
The arms of the Co-Founder, set upon a brown field with a blue cross, signify peace, service, and a charity extended to all without distinction.
These arms, though distinct, are united in one mission: that the work founded in Christ may grow and extend through charity to all.
Given under the sign of the Cross, in a spirit of truth and peace.
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