Elden Francis Curtiss

ELDEN FRANCIS CURTISS

Born : June 16, 1932
Deceased :

Bishop of Helena, 1976-1993
Archbishop of Omaha, 1993-2009

Bishop of Helena

Bishop of Omaha

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

In Helena he did not use personal arms, but used the diocesan arms with his own motto.

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

The arms are composed of three main sections that are blue, silver (white) and red. These are the colors of the Slovenian national flag and by the use of these colors the Archbishop honors his mother's ethnic heritage. In the center of the design the Archbishop has placed a black shamrock on a white field to honor his Irish heritage. In the upper portion of the design is a cross that is taken from the arms of the Diocese of Baker in Oregon. It was in this diocese that Archbishop Curtiss was born, raised and was serving as priest when he was appointed Bishop of Helena, Montana. The Archbishop's tenure as Bishop of Helena is represented by the crown of St. Helen seen in the lower portion of the design.

For his motto, Archbishop Curtiss employs the phrase,"THAT WE MAY ALL BE ONE," which is a paraphrase from St. John's Gospel (17:21). The motto expresses his deep belief and prayer that all of us as Christians are called be one with Him, and brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The achievement is completed with the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of archbishop.