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Most Rev. samuel J. Aquila, D.D.
Bishop Aquila's Biography
He served as Director for the Office of Liturgy and Master of Ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Denver from 1990 until 1995. He served the Archdiocese as Co-director for Continuing Education for Priests, as an advisor to the Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy, and as Assistant Secretary for Catholic Education before being named Secretary for Catholic Education, a position he held from 1995 until 1999. He then served as the first Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver and Chief Executive Officer of Our Lady of the New Advent Theological Institute. In 2000, he was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II, receiving the honorary title of Monsignor. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Fargo on June 12, 2001, and his Episcopal Ordination Mass was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo on August 24, 2001. Bishop Aquila succeeded to the See on March 18, 2002, upon the retirement of Bishop James Sullivan. On February 24, 2005, he was named Interim Administrator for the Diocese of Sioux Falls. He served in this position, in addition to serving as the Bishop of Fargo, until Most Rev. Paul J. Swain was ordained as the new bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls on October 26, 2006. Bishop Aquila serves on the Bishops’ Advisory Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation. He is also a member of several United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees.
Blazon (in 12th Century
terms): Significance: By heraldic tradition, the arms of the bishop of a diocese, called the "Ordinary," are joined to the arms of his jurisdiction, seen in the left side (dexter impalement) of the shield. In this case, these are arms of the Diocese of Fargo that are composed of a blue field on which is placed a gold cross, of The Faith, that reaches to the four edges of the design. Upon the cross is a blue horseshoe and in the upper left of the diocesan arms (chief dexter) is a golden garb of wheat also known as a "wheatsheaf." The entire design is rendered in blue and gold, the traditional colors of the Blessed Virgin Mary, titular of the Cathedral-Church in the See City which was named for W.G. Fargo who started the "pony express," symbolized by the horseshoe at the center of the design. In the upper left is a golden wheatsheaf, in heraldry known as a "garb," to signify the major crop of the State of North Dakota, and the material used to make "the Bread of Life," the most blessed Eucharist. For his personal arms, seen in the right side of the shield (sinister impalement), His Excellency, Bishop Aquila, has retained the design that was adopted at the time that he was selected to receive the fullness of Christ's priesthood, as a bishop, when he became Coadjutor Bishop of Fargo. The Bishop's shield is based on the arms of the Abbruzzi region of Italy, the home of the city of L'Aquila. Through the use of this symbolism, His Excellency honors the heritage that has come to him from his parents, Salvatore and Josephine Aquila. On the blue field of the design is a silver (white) eagle fully displayed. The use of this "Abbruzzi eagle" adds extreme significance to the design because the name "Aquila" is the Italian word for eagle. The eagle is the classic symbol of St. John, patron of St. John Vianney, titular of the seminary in Denver where Bishop Aquila was Rector at the time of his nomination as Coadjutor of Fargo. It is from the Gospel of St. John the Bishop has taken his episcopal motto. Below the eagle are three gold (yellow) hills emblematic of the Rockies that are so much a part of the Archdiocese of Denver where His Excellency spent his priestly ministry. Above the eagle is a gold rose to honor Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas. For his motto, Bishop Aquila has adopted the phrase "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5). This instruction of Mary about Jesus to the waiters at the wedding feast at Cana expresses Bishop Aquila's deep belief that in Christ Jesus are all of the words and instructions that mankind needs to live life in peace and harmony and to gain eternal salvation. The device is completed with the external ornaments which are a gold processional cross, which is placed in back of the shield and which extends above and below the shield, and a pontifical hat, called a "gallero," with its six tassels, in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by instruction of The Holy See of March 31, 1969. Author and Design by Deacon Paul J. Sullivan, Permanent Deacon of the Diocese of Providence.
August 2008
September 2008
To find high resolution photographs of Bishop Aquila that are available for download, click here.
Contact bishop aquila's office:
Bishop Samuel
J. Aquila
Suzanne Nelson |
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© 2002-2008 by the Diocese of Fargo. The Catholic Diocese of Fargo takes full responsibility for the content of this Web site. Although sincere efforts have been made to offer links only to other Web sites whose content is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Fargo is not responsible for the content of other Web sites accessible via links from this Web site. Web site last modified: September 2, 2008.
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