Roger Louis Kaffer

ROGER LOUIS KAFFER

Born : August 14, 1927
Deceased : May 28, 2009

Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois and Titular Bishop of Dusa, 1985-2002

Official blazon

Argent, on a bend gules a Latin cross of the field patee at the extremities in chief a heart of the second. Motto: Serve and Give

Origin/meaning

The arms of Bishop Kaffer consist of a silver field with a red bend and a silver cross.

The colors of the arms contain several references. First, they are a reminder of the colors of St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral, parish and school. This reference is particularly appropriate in that the bishop not only was rector of the Cathedral at the time of his episcopal appointment, but received Christian Initiation there through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, and was ordained there as priest and bishop.

A secondary reference of these colors is to the arms of the late Bishop Romeo Roy Blanchette, second bishop of Joliet, and a close friend of Bishop Kaffer.

The silver cross is reminiscent of the well-known sculpture which serves as the logograph of Providence High School, in New Lenox, Ill.; Bishop Kaf­fer served as principal of this institution before taking up his duties as rector of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Joliet. The flared ends of the cross are a reminder of the Kairos retreat cross. Bishop Kaffer considers his introduc­tion of this retreat one of his greatest gifts to Providence High School.

Above the cross appears a simple red heart. This bespeaks the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom Bishop Kaffer has a special devotion. In a series of appearances to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the years 1673 to 1675, the Lord Jesus revealed His Heart with the words, "Behold this Heart which has so loved men."

The motto, "Serve and Give," is taken from the words of Jesus in Mark 10:45, "The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve-to give His life in ransom for the many." The phrase was chosen by Bishop Kaf­fer as the motto of St. Charles Bor­romeo Seminary, of which he was founding rector from 1965 to 1970.

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.

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Literature : Information from the Joliet Catholic Explorer June 21, 1985.