The episcopal heraldic achievement, or, as it is more commonly known, the bishop's coat of arms, is composed of a shield with its charges (symbols) and the external ornaments. The shield, which is the central and most important feature of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th century terms that are archaic to our modern language and this description is presented as if being given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus, where it applies, the terms "dexter" (right) and "sinister" (left) are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.

By heraldic tradition, the arms of the bishop of a diocese, called the "Ordinary," are joined to the arms of his jurisdiction, seen in the "dexter impalement" (left side of the shield); in this case the Diocese of Oakland.

These arms are composed of a red field on which are displayed two silver (white) oak leaves to cant ("play on") the name of the See City which is the seat of the diocese the serves the People of God that are gathered in the eastern region of San Francisco Bay. Below the leaves is a silver globe, with black markings, to signify that the Good News of Jesus Christ is to be expressed and spread through out the world, even if "the world" is no more extensive than one's own house, street or town.

For his personal arms, Bishop Vigneron has retained the design that was adopted at the time of His Excellency's selection to become an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The design reflects His Excellency's life as a priest and as a bishop.

The main portion of the design is a red field on which are seen alternating blue and silver (white) wavy bars which are the classic heraldic representation for water. Resting upon the water is a swan, Proper, (that is, as it appears in nature) to give symbolism to the fact that His Excellency's family have been living in the same small farming village, in Michigan, on the "Swan Creek," since 1840. Above the swan, in a position of note, is a gold fleur‑de‑lis to honor the Bishop's French heritage and to express his deep devotion to the Blessed Mother in her title of the Immaculate Conception. It is also symbolic that the Bishop's home parish church, the Immaculate Conception, was built on land given to the church by the Bishop's Great‑great‑great Grand‑father.

The upper portion of Bishop Vigneron's arms, known as a "chief," is composed of a gold field on which are seen a bunch of purple (Purpure) grapes with the stems and the leaves of green. This is to honor the heritage that His Excellency received from his parents, Elwin and Bernardine (Kott) Vigneron, whose family name is the French word for "vine tender."

For his motto, Bishop Vigneron has retained the phrase "ASPICIENTES IN IESUM." By the use of this phrase, which is taken from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 12:2), His Excellency continues to express that in all that we do and in all that we are, we must keep our focus correct and we can do this by always "keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus."

The device is completed with the external ornaments which are a gold processional cross, which is placed in back of the shield and which extends above and below the shield, and a pontifical hat, called a "gallero," with its six tassels, in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by instruction of The Holy See of March 31, 1969.