Diocese of Metuchen

DIOCESE OF METUCHEN (Dioecesis Metuchenis)

Country : United States
Denomination : Roman Catholic

Established : 1981

Official blazon

Quarterly or and argent, in dexter chief a tongue of fire gules; in sinister base the letter "M" azure, crowned argent; overall a cross moline azure.

Origin/meaning

The coat of arms of the Diocese of Metuchen is based on both the arms of the Diocese of Trenton, from which it was separated as well as those of Pope John Paul II who erected the diocese on November 19, 1981.

The shield is divided into four quadrants representing the four counties of Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren that comprise the diocesan territory.

The gold and silver colors are the colors used on the flag of the Vatican City State.

The cross moline is taken from the arms of the Diocese of Trenton. This shape of the cross is often associated with the Order of St. Benedict in heraldry. Its blue color here is the reverse of the Trenton arms (which depict a gold cross on a blue field). In the upper left of the shield there is a red tongue of fire. The word "Metuchen" is derived from the Lenne Lenape Indian word "metachen", which means, "firewood". In addition this symbol is associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost.

In the lower right we see a blue letter "M" surmounted by a silver crown. This is the monogram for Mary, Our Queen. The diocese is under the patronage of the Queenship of Mary. In addition, the crown is taken from the arms of Theodore Edgar McCarrick, the founding bishop of Metuchen, who was ordained to the priesthood on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. The "M" also appeared in the arms of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.

Until 1997 the cross and the letter M were shown in black, instead of the described blue.