Seal | My Parish Church

Seal of St. Raphael

The St. Rapheal’s seal was custom designed in 2026 to be rich in traditional Catholic iconography, specifically tailored to the identity, history, and the patron saint of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church of Glengarry.

Here is the significance behind its core elements:

The Central Imagery - The Story of Tobit

The depiction of the angel walking with a young boy and a fish illustrates the biblical narrative from the Book of Tobit:

The Archangel Raphael is revered as a powerful intercessor for travel, safety, and health. In the story, he disguises himself as a human guide named Azarias to safely accompany young Tobias on a long, perilous journey.
The Staff held by the Archangel symbolizes guardianship, leadership, and the protection of travelers.
The Fish at the bottom of the seal depicts the biblical account of a large fish that leaps from the Tigris River. Raphael instructs Tobias to catch it and save its heart, liver, and gall. The gall is later used to miraculously cure Tobias’s father, Tobit, of his blindness.

The Core Virtues

The three words inscribed along the bottom border—Healing, Guidance, and Compassion—directly mirror the theological attributes of the Archangel:

Healing: "Raphael" literally translates from Hebrew as "God heals."
Guidance: His guidance is depicted in this seal as he leads and protects Tobias reflects his role as the ultimate patron saint of travelers, pilgrims, and those seeking direction in life.
Compassion: Raphael shows compassion through hands-on, practical, and deeply empathetic companionship. The divine care shown in this seal to guide Tobias on his perilous journey and to Tobit in healing his blindness is but one of many examples of his compassion. Because his compassion was so multi-layered, St. Raphael is recognized today as the patron saint of travelers, the blind, medical professionals, couples, and matching-making.

Historical Legacy

Founded 1786: Incorporating a local historical element into the seal was accomplished by representing the date the Knoydard emigrants, led by Father Alexander MacDonell (Scotus), arrived in the port of Quebec from Scotland. They were directed to travel up the St. Lawrence River to settle with Scottish Loyalists in what would soon become known as Upper Canada. Father MacDonell established the mission parish of St. Raphael in the autumn of 1786 in the dense wilderness of the seventh concession of what would become the county of Glengarry in 1792. This represents one of the foundational, pioneering pillars of the community, anchoring the modern church to centuries of faith, resilience, and heritage.

Structure and Form

The Circular Seal traditionally represents unity, eternity, and the unbroken continuity of the church's mission.
The Decorative Border in a stylized, classic framing lends a sense of institutional permanence, dignity, and sacred reverence, bridging the parish's historic 18th-century roots with its ongoing modern ministry.

Seal Usage