Patrick Fernandez Flores

PATRICK FERNANDEZ FLORES

Born : July 26, 1929
Deceased : January 9, 2017

Auxiliary bishop of San Antonio, 1970-1978
Bishop of El Paso, 1978-1979
Archbishop of San Antonio, 1979-2004

Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio	Bishop of El Paso
Archbishop of San Antonio

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

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

The personal shield of Archbishop Flores is dominated by the colors of Mexico (gold, green, red) which represent the Archbishop's ancestry. The Aztec eagle symbolizes strength and prayer, essential to a life of service.

The star of Texas, where the Archbishop was born, educated and served as priest and bishop, is flanked on either side by a bee, the universal symbol of labor, seal and service.

The rose symbolizes the Archbishop's family name as well as his love for Mary, the Mother of God, as she appeared in Mexico under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, who by means of roses, proved her apparition to a former Bishop of Mexico.

The motto "Laborabo non mihi sed omnibus" means "I will work, not for myself, but for all".

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