The Youngstown Diocese has announced its new logo – which is rooted in history and Catholic tradition according to a diocesan press release.
“The diocese’s new look represents a recovery of its historical coat of arms, with updated rendering and styling that will allow the Catholic and wider community to embrace the traditional and geographical meaning of its elements,” according to the press release.
“By heraldic tradition, each diocese has a coat of arms that reflects both the universal Church and the local diocesan Church,” the press release notes.
The new diocesan coat of arms is composed on a field of green – “a traditional color denoting hope.” On this green field is a wavy bar, called a “fess,” to represent the Mahoning River that flows through Youngstown, the See City.
“In its updated rendering, the fess has been adapted to more accurately evoke its river imagery” – specifically to reflect how water is a primary symbol of baptismal faith in Christian tradition, according to the press release.
Upon the fess are two green arrowheads to honor the Native American tribes who first inhabited the area that is now Youngstown, as well as a cross pommetté.
The green cross pommetté is taken from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Cleveland, from which the Diocese of Youngstown was carved in 1943, “symbolizing the faith passed on from one community to another and from generation to generation,” according to the release.
The golden dove is in honor of the patron of its cathedral, St. Columba, the release explains, whose name is translated as “dove.”
The dove is also taken from the coat of arms of Pope Pius XII, who established the diocese in 1943, according to the press release. “The golden anvil symbolizes the industrial landscape that has dominated much of northeastern Ohio.”
Bishop David Bonnar celebrated the unveiling of the new diocesan brand, commenting: “I’m excited that a collaborative and extensive process has given us a new logo.
“It is fitting that we have a brand that is rooted in our history, ensuring continuity to our rich past as we forge into the future,” the bishop continued.
Bishop Bonnar’s own coat of arms, following Catholic tradition, itself includes the Coat of “Arms of the Diocese of Youngstown on the left-hand side and his own personal coat of arms on the right.
The diocese’s updated branding was completed in partnership with 898 Marketing, which included artistic and consultation services.
The Youngstown Diocese of Youngstown consists of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull counties, incorporating 3,404 square miles.
