Vincent John Baldwin

VINCENT JOHN BALDWIN

Born : July 13, 1907
Deceased : September 16, 1979

Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, 1962-1979; Titular Bishop of Bencenna

Official blazon

Sable, on a saltire argent, between in chief a mullet, in fess two fleur-de-lys, and in base a lamb's head erased, all or, a heart gules. Motto "Vince in bone malum".

Origin/meaning

The silver saltire on black is taken in revesred colours from some Baldwin family arms and used here to symbolise the last name of the bishop. The red heart symbolises St. Vincent de Paul, the baptismal saint of the bishop.

The star represents St. Mary and is also part of the arms of Walter Philip Kellenberg under whom the bishop served as auxiliary. The fleur-de-lys are taken from the arms of Pope John XXIII, who elevated him to bishop. The fleur-de-lys are also a symbol for St. Joseph and refer to the mother of the Bishop, Josepha. The bishop was also pastor of the church of St. Joseph in Garden City.

The lamb's head is a symbol for St. Agnes, the patroness of the Capranica College in Rome, where the bishop studied. She is also the patroness of the cathedral of Rockville Centre. Finally a lambis also the symbol for St. John, the second baptismal saint of the bishop.

Literature : info from the diocese