Paul S. Loverde

Most Reverend Paul Stephen Loverde
Eleventh Bishop of Ogdensburg
(1994-1999)













The motto of the eleventh bishop of Ogdensburg, Most Reverend Paul Stephen Loverde, is “Encourage and Teach with Patience.”
 
The episcopal coat of arms has the external ornaments, a green gallero with six tassels arranged in three rows on either side, and a gold processional cross in back of the shield, extending above and below.

The left side of the shield has the arms of the Diocese of Ogdensburg - a blue field with a seme of gold oak leaves from the arms of Samuel Ogden (oak dene). The silver castle-tower represents Fort La Presentation.
 


The green field of the right side of the shield reflects the bishop’s Italian surname, “Loverde,” translated “the green one.”

On this field is a silver anchor, a symbol of hope, interlaced with a gold “M,” the monogram of the Blessed Virgin Mary, taken from the arms of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, who appointed Bishop Loverde to the episcopacy during the Marian year of 1987-88. This symbol also expresses that our hope comes from Christ through Mary, Our Lady of Hope, and resembles the “Resurrection Cross,” by which Christ gave hope of eternal life.

The silver star represents Polaris, the North Star, and is taken from the arms of the Diocese of Norwich, “North Town,” where Bishop Loverde first served as priest.

The blue and silver wavy bars, taken from the arms of the Archdiocese of Hartford, represent the Pawcatuck River near the bishop’s hometown.

Coming forth from the water are three gold hills to honor the Italian heritage of the bishop’s parents, Paul and Ann Marie Conti Loverde. The bishop’s father came from Pollina and his maternal grandparents from Tusa and San Mauro-Castelverde of Sicily.