Meaning of Coat of Arms, Motto of Bishop Francis Bomansaan of Wa Diocese, Ghana

EXPLANATION OF THE COAT OF ARMS MOTTO- TOTUS TUUS EGO SUM, DOMINE (| AM ALL YOURS LORD)

 Star on the Sea

This represents the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is always there to intercede for us. She prays for and with us to God. She stands as a model of self- giving. Mary’s self-giving gives life for the salvation of all of humanity. Her total yes to the call of God is life giving.

Cross 

The cross always remains paradoxically a symbol of HOPE. It is a symbol of commitment and a spring board for moving forward into new life. It is also a symbol of love until the last breath. Giving our TOTAL yes to God Will always mean embracing the cross. There will be a lot of inconveniences and moments of pain in any TOTAL Yes to God. These inconveniences and pain can be life giving and a blessing to others. The cross remains a symbol of salvation and a symbol of new |ife for us Christians.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit brings God’s light into different situations of our life. The Holy Spirit gives strength and encourages us in our daily journey toward God and for the Mission of the Lord we are called to participate in.

 Pelican

The pelican symbolises Jesus our Redeemer who gave His life for our redemption. It is a sign of unconditional love that demands self-giving. It is my desire and prayer that I be granted the grace to strive daily to be selfless and totally outreaching to all in the Diocese, in Ghana and all of humanity. I pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of many people and give hope to many people through my ministry.

Empty Basket

Traditionally, among the Dagara, a basket is the container used to ask (beg) for food stuff for sustenance or survival. Food stuff also given out to those in need for their sustenance or survival is usually put in a basket. Thus, the basket remains for the Dagara a container for receiving and giving out food stuff (help) for sustenance and survival. It is a symbol of being in need and also a symbol of generosity. It reminds me of my daily dependence on the grace and help of the Lord for my sustenance and survival and also to share with others what I have received from the lord.

Motto

TOTUS TUUS EGO SUM, DOMINE (| AM ALL YOURS LORD)

This motto is inspired by the following two Biblical passages and the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Luke 1:38-“l am the Handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your Word”. This is the TOTAL YES of Mary to God (her FIAT) When God approached her through the angel Gabriel with a request, a mission to be carried out. The total “yes” of Mary did not come easily.

She struggled, “She was deeply disturbed” but she eventually surrendered totally to the Mission of the Lord, even if she did not understand what that meant. Mary’s COMPLETE YES to God was based on her trust in the steadfast love of God. Her generous and total “yes” to God became a source of blessing to all of humanity without exception.

This nomination to be Bishop of Wa came to me as a second call of the Lord. I struggled with it and I had sleepless nights.

I got confused. I gave excuses. But I was constantly reminded by my Spiritual Companion and the person who delivered this message to me from the Pope that it is not about me. It is not about my convenience.

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After a long struggle, I eventually said”yes”. lask for the Grace that my Yes be generous and TOTAL. I pray that my TOTALyes to this Mission in Wa will be a source of blessing to all without exception; To be All things to all People (1 Cor. 9:22).

2 Cor. 12:9- “My Grace is enough for you” We depend totally on the Grace of God to live our lives and to carry out his Mission.l have been strengthened and encouraged to say Yes to the Lord when I realised that it is not based on my own resources that I am asked to take up this mission but to rely totally on the grace of God.