William Patrick Callahan

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WILLIAM PATRICK CALLAHAN

Born : June 17, 1950
Deceased :

Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee, 2007-2010
Bishop of La Crosse, 2010-present

Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee

Bishop of La Crosse

Official blazon

Gules with the Arms of the Franciscan Order: upon a Latin cross Sable with radiant Or, two arms in saltak, the one to dexter uncovered and the one to sinister habited Sable of the Order of St. Francis, both hands displaying the Stigmata, all Proper; at bottom, single bar of wavy Azure.

Origin/meaning

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

At the center of the shield are the arms of the Conventual Franciscan Order, the religious commw1ity to which Bishop Callahan belongs. These arms show on a black cross, the crossed aims of Christ and St. Francis of Assisi, each bearing the Stigmata.

At the top of the shield are two gold fleur-des-lis. These represent Mary and Joseph, two central figures in his spirituality. They also call to mind Bishop Callahan's ministry at Holy Family in Peoria, Illinois where he served as pastor from 1987 to 1994.

The wave of blue at the bottom of the shield represents the waters of Lake Michigan, a key geographical element that links His Excellency's hometown of Chicago with Milwaukee.

The background of the entire shield is red and calls to mind the Blood of Christ that was poured out for us on the cross and brings salvation to the world. It also represents the blood of the martyrs, including that of the patron of the Basilica of St. Josaphat in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Bishop Callahan was ordained a priest in 1977 and where he served as Rector-Pastor from 1994 to 2005.

The mottoo, Adoramus te Christe, calls to mind the words of St. Francis: "We adore you, O Christ, here and in all your Churches throughout the whole world, and we bless you; because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

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.