A bishop’s ring is one of the most ancient symbols of his authority, dating back to the seventh century. When Bishop Michael Martin puts on his ring at his ordination, he will be wearing a one-of-a-kind piece that combines ancient Church tradition with modern high-tech production.
The ring was designed by his longtime friend Paul Winicki and his team at Radcliffe Jewelers in Baltimore – Bishop Martin’s hometown. Made of gold, the ring features the bow of a fishing boat similar to what the apostles used, with the boat’s keel forming the Franciscan Tau cross at its top. The image of the boat nods to Bishop Martin’s motto, “Duc In Altum,” which translates to “put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4).
Like a wedding ring, a bishop’s ring is a symbol of his fidelity to and spiritual bond with the Church, his spouse. Each one is unique and worn for life.
When they first met 25 years ago, Winicki and Bishop Martin discovered they had something in common: both were from Baltimore and graduated from Archbishop Curley High School, where
Bishop Martin later worked as an administrator, coach and teacher. Then-Father Martin asked Winicki to serve on the school’s board. He agreed, and they developed a friendship.
“I heard through other friends that he had been named bishop for the Diocese of Charlotte and then he called me and asked if I would be able to help him produce his ring,” Winicki says. “I said I would be honored.”
Designers at Radcliffe, led by head designer Ryan Plummer, looked at sketches Bishop Martin provided with possible ideas, and produced a series of detailed drawings on a computer, using a wide range of technology including artificial intelligence. This enabled them to show him prospective designs done in incredible detail, and produce images of what each design would look like on his hand.
After Bishop Martin chose a design, the team at Radcliffe used a 3D printer to create a three-dimensional model of the ring. Once the model was approved, the ring itself was cast.
The ring incorporates gold from the high school class ring that belonged to Bishop Martin’s late father.
“He’ll be able to wear part of his family and his heritage on his finger for the rest of his life – it’s exciting,” Winicki says.
Winicki’s expertise in jewelry started more than 50 years ago, when at age 14 he got a job in a Baltimore area coin shop and became so interested in coin collecting that, while still in high school, he contributed to a weekly local radio show focused on coins. After graduating from Maryland’s Towson State College (now Towson State University), he worked in a coin shop and then later started working with jewelry and founded Radcliffe Jewelers in 1982.
He also has done appraisals for more than 34 years and for the past 18 has served as one of the appraisers on the hugely popular PBS series “Antiques Roadshow,” offering on-air appraisals on silver, jewelry and watches brought in by people from all over the U.S.
This isn’t the first time Winicki has been asked to use his skill for the Church. He has worked on restoring items used at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Getting the chance to produce a ring that will be part of Church history in the Charlotte diocese for a priest and friend he admires is a special honor, he says.
“I’ve always said that if Father Martin hadn’t been a priest, he could have been the CEO of a Fortune 500 company because he’s a people person, he’s incredibly compassionate and his depth of knowledge is incredible,” Winicki says. “Being asked to produce a ring that he will wear as a bishop has been a thrill.”
— Christina Lee Knauss
Meet the bishop, then join in the ordination online or on EWTN
Bishop-elect Michael Martin, OFM Conv., will be ordained at St. Mark Church on Wednesday, May 29, and installed as the fifth Bishop of Charlotte the next day at St. Patrick Cathedral. Due to the churches’ limited size, attendance at these liturgies is by ticket only.
Both Masses will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel, plus available “on demand” afterward.
EWTN will also air the ordination Mass at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 29.
Come meet Bishop-elect Martin on Tuesday, May 28, during a special “Holy Hour with Benediction: An Evening of Praise and Prayer” at 7 p.m. at St. Mark Church (14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville). Free, no ticket required.
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