EXPLANATION OF THE INSIGNIA OF MOST REV EMMANUEL KOFI FIANU, SVD
The insignia or Coat of Arms is divided into three parts. The lower part is composed of water which is a symbol of the source of life. On the physical or natural level, this symbol represents my origins and the place where I was nurtured as a youth until my calling to the religious missionary life. My home town, Tegbi and Ada-Foah where I grew up, both have the Atlantic Ocean. They also have a lagoon and the Volta River respectively, thus the essence of the symbol of water in my life. The western border of the Ho Diocese is the Volta Lake, thus the water in the insignia also represents a natural feature of the Ho Diocese. From the theological point of view, I take inspiration from the vision of the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 47:1-12. I pray that my ministry in the Diocese of Ho will be life-giving so that God’s people may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).
The left side of the insignia has a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, placed above the Sacred Scriptures. The Word of God that I am called to teach and live is inspired by the Holy Spirit. These two symbols serve as a common reminder to me of my mission in the Ho Diocese. I am called to be docile to the Spirit of God who inspires ministers of the Word to proclaim the Word of God, Jesus Christ and no other. In this way, I hope to respond to the invitation of Paul in 2Tim 4:2 to “proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, give encouragement -- but do all with patience and with care to instruct.” Apart from this, the two symbols also represent my religious missionary origins as a member of the Arnoldus Family. The three Religious Congregations founded by Saint Arnold Janssen bear the names of the Divine Word (Society of the Divine Word) and the Holy Spirit (Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit Sisters of Perpetual Adoration). This religious tradition is my heritage and charism that will reflect in my ministry in the Ho Diocese.
The right side of the insignia has a round circle with a cross at the right edge. This is taken from the logo of the Society of the Divine Word with the motto “The world is our parish”. In the middle of the SVD logo, I have inserted the symbol of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the patron of the Ho Diocese. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was highly promoted by the Founder of my Religious Institute, thus I see a convergence in my being an SVD and shepherd of the Diocese of Ho. I hope to enhance in the life and mission of the local church the universal dimension of the Catholic faith, thus bringing the world church to the doors of the local church. I hope in this way to make real the words of Paul in Eph 2:19 – “you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors; you are fellow-citizens with the holy people of God and part of God's household.”
My motto which is at the bottom of the insignia is “mane nobiscum” meaning “remain with us” or “abide with us” It is taken from Luke 24:29 which forms part of the Emmaus story. In asking the Lord to remain with them, the two disciples of Emmaus recognized him in the breaking of the bread and confirmed that their hearts were burning within them as Jesus talked to them on the road and explained the scriptures to them. My prayer is that the Lord abides with us and let us all recognize him in the breaking of the Word and the Eucharist.
