James Massa

JAMES MASSA

Born: September 3, 1960
Deceased:

Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, 2015-present

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Origin/meaning

Bishop Massa’s ancestors arrived in New York Harbor from their homelands in Italy and in Ireland at the beginning of the last century. The torch is also a symbol of faith drawing all people into the light of Christ, which both illumines and burns away the darkness of sin.

A product of a Jesuit education, Bishop Massa uses the Jesuit seal to give thanks for those opportunities as well as a tribute to Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and the pope who has nominated him to be a bishop, and to the late Cardinal Avery Robert Dulles, S.J., who directed his doctoral studies in theology.

The symbol itself refers to Christ as the Sun in Splendor, hence the rays emanating from it. The reference to Christ is made explicit by the use of the monogram IHS, the first three letters of the word Jesus in Greek, the cross and the three nails. Passion, death and resurrection are all combined. As the Sun overtakes the darkness of the Earth, so the Son of God casts away the darkness of sin.

The remaining symbol on the shield is the scallop shell. The badge of the pilgrims who have travelled since the Middle Ages to the shrine of St. James (Santiago) at Compostela, Spain, the shell has a three-fold purpose.;
First, it is the symbol of Bishop Massa’s patron, St. James, whose name he was given at Baptism. Second, it refers to the First Church of the Diocese of Brooklyn, St. James Cathedral Basilica in Downtown Brooklyn. Third, it is a reminder of the sacrament of Baptism by which we become one with the Lord who calls us into communion with Himself and into the unity of faith and worship that pertains to the essence of the Catholic Church.

The colors of the shield are also significant. Blue and white are the traditional colors of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as well as the colors of Union Catholic H.S., Scotch Plains, N.J., where Bishop Massa began discerning his vocation to the priesthood.

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

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