Joseph John Oudeman
JOSEPH JOHN OUDEMAN (born : Josef Johannes Oudeman)
Born: March 2, 1942
Deceased:
Auxiliary bishop of Brisbane, 2002-2017; Titular Bishop of Respecta
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Origin/meaning
The upper half of the shield depicts the entwined arms of our Lord and St. Francis (habit), the arms of the Fransiscan Order, between which are placed the stars of the Southern Cross on a blue field. This signifies the Bishops's life, for 40 years as a friar of the Capuchin Province of the Assumption within Australia.
The lower half of the shield depicts a shepherd's horn based on the arms of his mother's hometown of Hoorn in the Netherlands. The orange field identifies both the national colour of the Netherlands and the festive nature of proclaiming the Good News.
The other half depicts the crossing of the seas, from shore to shore, as in the Gospel stories. It also recognises the history of Dutch seafarers, the period of colonization of Australia, the post-war flow of countless migrants and more recently of the plight of the refugee, in search of welcome and a home. The boat bears the symbol of the Dutch tulip on its sail, and a cross supports the mast.
The motto is a traditionally Franciscan greeting, offered at the beginning of a personal encounter.
Above the shield stands a wooden t-shaped (Tau) cross instead of a more common crosier. St. Francis of Assisi, heeding the message of personal conversion from Pape Innocent III at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, adopted this cross both personally and as a symbol for his fledgling Order.
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