James Patrick Powers

JAMES PATRICK POWERS

Born : February 6, 1953
Deceased :

Bishop of Superior, 2016-Present

Official blazon

Arms impaled. Dexter: Or, three crosses fitchy floretty Azure, the fleur-de-lis of each Argent; a chief wavy of the second. Sinister: Party per fess, Or and Gules, the fess barry wavy of two Azure and Argent; to chief a cross of the second charged with five lozenges of the fourth, between to chief dexter a trefoil Vert and to base sinister an escallop Sable; in base the head of an American Bald Eagle, erased, Proper

Origin/meaning

As common in US episcopal heraldry, the arms show the arms of the diocese impaled with the personal arms of the bishop.

The personal arms are divided by two wavy barlets, blue and silver, that represent the waters of Lake Superior since the Bishop is a native son of the Diocese of Superior.

The upper portion of the design displays a red cross, of The Faith, on a gold field. The cross is charged with five lozenges that are silver and are a variant of the line of demarkation seen in a Powers family design (no family of the bishop though) honoring the heritage of his parents Thomas and Frances Powers. Within the quarters that are formed by the cross, to the upper left is a green trefoil for St. Patrick and in the lower right a black scallop shell for St. James; the Bishop's Baptismal patrons.

The lower half of the Bishop's design is red on which is seen the head of an American Bald eagle. This national emblem evokes the love and appreciation that Bishop Powers has for America and his love of the outdoors, especially his northern Wisconsin homeland.

For his motto, Bishop Powers has adopted the Latin phrase; "DEDUC ME, DOMINE, LUCE TUA" This phrase, a slight variant of the 85th Psalm, expresses Bishop Powers' deep conviction that it is only by surrendering to God's Will that we can achieve our appointed tasks in life. And so, The Bishop declares "LEAD ME, LORD, BY YOUR LIGHT."

The achievement is completed with the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by instruction of the Holy See, of March 1969, confirmed in March 2001.