Michael Jude Byrnes

MICHAEL JUDE BYRNES

Born: August 23, 1958
Deceased:

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, 2011-2016
Archbishop of Agaña, 2019-present

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit

Archbishop of Agaña

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

(Detroit) Bishop Byrnes' shield is divided by a white chevron into two main fields, the top partof the coat of arms contains information as to the ancestry of Bishop Byrnes. The bottom part relates to his life and ministry.

The root name from which "Byrnes" evolves, is the Gallic word, "Bran", a raven. The three right hands come from a Byrne family arms which has been in use for several centuries. The red field indicates military fortitude and magnanimity. The hands, used on many Irish shields, indicates faith, sincerity and justice In this usage, it is also seen to mean a hand raised in an oath - three times - for the Holy Trinity.

The black field signifies constancy. The White Pine tree stands for the State Tree of Michigan, where Bishop Byrnes was born and raised. At one time in the Bishop's high school life, he spent time working with the Youth Conservation Corps planting White Pine saplings in Michigan's upper peninsula. This could be seen as indicating Bishop Byrnes' concern for ecology as well as training for the Bishop's future work - tilling the field of God.

Prior to entering the seminary, Bishop Byrnes received a degree in microbiology, hence the microscope, and worked in the laboratory in the department of biological chemistry in the University of Michigan Medical School. This gave him a profound understanding about the sacredness of human life. Seen in conjunction with the tree, these two symbols encompass the natural and the scientific realms of human study.

The two-edged sword is meant to communicate Bishop Byrnes' love for the writings of St. Paul. Bishop Byrnes did his doctoral dissertation on the writings of St. Paul. The iconographic symbol of St. Paul is the sword. The sword also references the Word of God Community, which is an ecumenical, charismatic, missionary Christian community that started in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Before entering the seminary, Bishop Byrnes served as a campus minister to this group.

The motto: "Caritas Christi urget nos" comes from St. Paul's second letter to the Corinthians 5:14.

Literature:

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