The Most Reverend Elden Francis Curtiss was installed as Archbishop of Omaha on June 25, 1993. He is the ninth ordinary and the fourth archbishop to lead the church of northeast Nebraska.
Archbishop Curtiss, born June 16, 1932, is the eldest son of Elden F. Curtiss, Sr. (deceased), and Mary A. Neiger Curtiss (deceased). He has three brothers.
He completed studies at St. Edward Seminary College and St. Edward Seminary Theologate in Kenmore, Wash. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Baker (Oregon) on May 24, 1958, by Bishop Francis P. Leipzig. As a priest, he served parishes in Lakeview, LaGrande and Jordan Valley, Ore., as well as hospital chaplain.
Archbishop Curtiss took advance studies at Fordham University (New York City), University of Portland (Oregon) and the University of Notre Dame (Indiana). He holds a master of divinity degree and a master of arts in education administration.
After serving in the role of director of information and superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Baker, he became a faculty member and then president-rector of Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon.
He was ordained a bishop and installed as Bishop of Helena (Montana) on April 28, 1976. He served the Diocese of Helena 17 years. On May 3, 1993, he was named archbishop-elect of the Archdiocese of Omaha.
In addition to the spiritual and administrative responsibilities of the archdiocese, Archbishop Curtiss is a member of the Pontifical Council on the Family, the president and chairman of the Board for The Catholic Mutual Group insurance company and Boys Town. He is a member of the NCCB Committee on Marriage and Family Life and the NCCB Ad Hoc Committee for the Implementation of the National Strategy for Vocations as well as board member for the Catholic Church Extension Society and the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.
The arms of Archbishop Curtiss appear on the right half of the shield, joined with those of the Archdiocese of Omaha, and surrounded in the Archbishop's motto and the symbols of his office.
The Archdiocesan arms consist of a green field (background) which is used to signify the green of the farmlands of Nebraska. Across the center of the field is a silver (white) wavy bar that is used to represent the Missouri River that forms the eastern boundary of the See City of Omaha. Overall there is a cross to signify the Faith that was brought to the Heartland of America by missionaries who normally wore black cassocks or religious habits and thus the cross in these arms is black.
The personal arms of His Excellency, Archbishop Curtiss, features a design which represents his life and the heritage of his parents, Mary and the late Elden Curtiss. These arms are composed of three main sections that are blue, silver (white) and red. These are the colors of the Slovenijian national flag and by the use of these colors the Archbishop honors his mother's ethnic heritage. The arms of the Irish family "Curtiss" are composed of black and white symbolism. In the center of the design the Archbishop has placed a black shamrock on a white field to honor his Irish heritage.
In the upper portion of the design is a cross that is taken from the arms of the Diocese of Baker in Oregon. It was in this diocese that Archbishop Curtiss was born, raised and was serving as priest when he was appointed Bishop of Helena, Montana. The Archbishop's tenure as Bishop of Helena is represented by the crown of St. Helen seen in the lower portion of the design.
For his motto, Archbishop Curtiss employs the phrase,"THAT WE MAY ALL BE ONE," which is a paraphrase from St. John's Gospel (17:21). The motto expresses his deep belief and prayer that all of us as Christians are called be one with Him, and brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Above the shield is a processional cross with two cross members and a green clerical hat with ten tassels in four rows on either side of the shield. These are the heraldic insignia for the office of Archbishop.
by Paul J. Sullivan
