Diocese of Harrisburg

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DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG (Diœcesis Harrisburgensis)

Country : United States
Denomination : Roman Catholic

Established : 1868

Official blazon

Argent, on a cross gules a shamrock of the field, on a chief sable a crescent between two roundels argent.

Origin/meaning

The coat of arms of the Diocese of Harrisburg is based on the arms of the Penn family and the Harris family for whom the city of Harrisburg is named.
The black chief displays two silver roundels derived from the arms of William Penn, the English Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania. William Penn bore as arms a silver shield, thereon a black fess charged with three silver roundels.
The crescent from the arms of one of the branches of the Harris family represents John Harris, who migrated to America from Yorkshire, England, and in 1712 settled Harris’ Ferry, now known as Harrisburg. The crescent is also the revered lunar symbol of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, a title for Our Lady entrusted to the Church in America.

The shield, divided by a Latin cross a symbol of the Catholic Faith, bears a shamrock to honor Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of the Diocese and of the Cathedral Church.