Save the date - Upskilling Workshop - 3 March 2026
Archbishop Shane's Coat of Arms
In accordance with tradition, the Archbishop’s arms will generally be seen joined on one shield with the arms of the Archdiocese of Brisbane symbolising the spiritual union between the Archbishop and the people of his Archdiocese. His personal arms appear on the right of the shield and the arms of the Archdiocese appear in the position of greater honour on the left of the shield. The arms are placed before an archepiscopal cross (with double transverse arms) and are ensigned with the green galero (Roman hat) with ten fiocchi (tassels) on each side. These are the traditional distinguishing features of the coat of arms of an archbishop.
Archbishop Shane Mackinlay’s personal arms combine reference to the Diocese of Ballarat into which he was incardinated on his ordination (the crossed pickaxes being the tools of the goldmining industry) and to Catholic Theological College (the Bible from its arms which reflects the motto of CTC, “Tolle, lege”, the admonition to take up and read the Bible, to which St Augustine responded).
The Archdiocese of Brisbane arms combine the black field and the checked chevron from the personal arms of Sir Thomas Brisbane, with two bezants alluding to the stones which were the instruments of the martyrdom of St Stephen, patron of the Cathedral, and the palm of victory which is the symbol of martyrdom.
