Diocesan Coat of Arms

Blazon

Quarterly, Or and Argent, in dexter chief a tongue of fire Gules; in sinister base the letter "M" Azure, crowned Argent; overall a cross Moline Azure

The flame in the upper left quadrant suggests the eymology of the Lenni Lenape Indian word 'metachen', meaning firewood. This symbol is also associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost, and is a traditional emblem of charity, the highest of Christain virtues.
The cross is in the form known as 'moline', as in the arms of the Diocese of Trenton from which the Diocese of Metuchen has been divided.
The letter M in the lower right quadrant is taken from the arms of Pope John Paul II who established the diocese, and it stands for the name of Mary.
The shield is divided by a cross, the principal symbol of Christian faith, into four quadrants representing the four counties of the diocese.
It is surmounted by a crown taken from the arms of Bishop McCarrick, first bishop of the diocese, thus suggesting the Queenship of Mary.