On a red field stands a crane in its natural colours holding a stone in one claw with the arms of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites across the top of the shield.
In addition to its reference to vigilance, in Chinese symbolism the crane denotes “blessings and eternal life.”
The name Gregory means vigilance to which St Augustine exhorts bishops, using cranes as an example, for their vigilance over their young. The Bishop commits himself to vigilance over the faithful of the Diocese of Lismore and especially the young, the elderly and the vulnerable.
The chief of the arms of the Discalced Carmelites says, in the visual language of heraldry, “Your Bishop is a Carmelite.”
The external ornaments of a processional cross and the green galero with six fiocchi on either side are indicative of the rank of bishop.
The Bishop has adopted as his motto “God Alone Suffices” from St Teresa of Avila, the founder of his Order.
As Bishop of Lismore, the Bishop will display his arms impaled with the arms of the Diocese.
The Bishop’s arms were designed by Revd Father Guy Selvester and Richard d’Apice AM and were illustrated by Sandy Turnbull.