Chad William Zielinski

CHAD WILLIAM ZIELINSKI

Born : September 8, 1964 in Detroit, Michigan, USA
Deceased :

Bishop of Fairbanks, 2014-2022
Bishop of New Ulm, 2022-present

Bishop of Fairbanks

Bishop of New Ulm

Official blazon

(personal arms) Or, a phoenix rising, wings displayed and elevated below a branch of three cardoon flowers chevron-wise, all proper.

Origin/meaning

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

The cardoon flowers refer to the Scottish origin of Bishop Zielinski’s mother (the cardoon is one of the most traditional symbol of Scotland). The green color of the leaves recalls the family name of Bishop Zielinski since “zielony” in Polish means “green.”

Since the ancient times of the first Christians, the phoenix rising from the flames, from its ashes, is one of the most classical symbol of the Resurrection. A deep message of salvation, it symbolizes the rebirth of love after the flames of the evil, the victory of the eternal life over the death. This symbol also recalls the tragic experiences lived by Bishop Zielinski as he ministered as an active chaplain of the U.S. Air Force in war combat zones.

The background is in gold, symbol then of the first Virtue: Faith.

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