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The Benemerenti medal is an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church.
This list is not complete. It only contains a selection of recipients.
Ursula Muller, April 24, 1939
Filipina Amosa Sio. Gold medal awarded for work for the church in Samoa
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| Date | Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December 2005 | Edna Heagney | Long-standing service as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and for the support of Edna and her husband Tony to the Diocese of Middlesbrough over many years. It was presented to her at Midnight Mass, Christmas 2005. |
| 2006 | Hugh Gerard McGrellis | Lifetime of service to the Church, most notably as an altar server at St Mary Magdalen's Church, Brighton, Sussex, England for over 70 years. |
| 2006 | Michael Francis McConnell | His long-standing service as a choirmaster at St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, New Zealand. It was presented to him by His Excellency Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo at the mass for the feast of St Joseph. |
| April 2006 | Pat and George Dale | In recognition for their service to children. Pat and George fostered more than 80 children over 50 years in the Manchester, U.K area. [18] |
| 26 April 2006 | Henry Raaymakers | His service as sacristan of St Joseph's Church, Chatham, Ontario, Canada. The award was presented by Bishop Fabbro. |
| 16 May 2006 | Rita C. Karing | In recognition of her service to the St Joseph Catholic Church of Sharon’s liturgy committee and parish council and as a eucharistic minister. She also founded and served as head of St Joseph’s food pantry for 22 years. |
| 16 Aug 2006 | Catherine (Kitty) Coffey | Services to the parish for over 50 years, St Anthony's RC, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, Manchester |
| 17 Dec 2006 | Sister Yvette Lalonde | for her continued commitment to the Catholic Church for over 59 years in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. |
| 2007 | John McCreadie | Services to the retired clergy of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, England. |
| 2007 | Anthony Brady | Services to the community of the Diocese of Otago, New Zealand. |
| 2007 | John Lencioni | Service to the Church at the Diocese of Fresno, California, US. |
| 2007 | Jeffrey Gibbons | Exemplary services to St Margaret's Church, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. |
| 2 September 2007 | John Brennan | Service to Greyfriars Church, Oxford, as organist and choirmaster for more than four decades. Conferred by Bishop William Kenney CP at Greyfriars. |
| 2008 | Michael Madden Cork | His outstanding service during his 23 years as sacristan of St Joseph's Church, Riverstick, Cork, Ireland. |
| 2008 | William W. Gorman | His service during the Pope's visit to the United States. |
| 2008 | Kevin Brennan | His devoted service to the Diocese of Nottingham training and guiding its Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The presentation was made by Monsignor Canon Thomas McGovern VG on 17 October 2008 at the Immaculate Conception Church, Oadby, Leicestershire, England. |
| 27 April 2008 | Peggy Wilding and Olive Hewitt | Received the medal at St Theodore of Canterbury Church, Monkwick, Colchester, Suffolk, England. Both have served over 40 years in the Catholic Church holding posts such as chairman and Secretary of the Church Committee as well as being lifelong servants to the Church, and even organising the building of the Church in the 1960s. |
| 2009 | Sean O'Connell Thomas Carr Sheila Deed | Awarded for Services to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood Essex |
| 2009 | Richard Gladwell | Host and producer of WXXI's long running live and nationally syndicated radio program With Heart and Voice. [19] |
| 2009 | Joe Lomasney | 53 years service as sacristan of Church of the Immaculate Conception, Araglen, Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland. It was presented by Most Rev John Magee, Bishop of Cloyne. |
| 2009 | John Parnell Murphy | Long-time service to the People of God of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. It was presented by Most Rev Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. |
| 2009 | Eddie Power | Bishop Eamonn Walsh presented him the medal on 21 June 2009. He had been in charge of the altar server group at St Pius X Church in Templeogue, Dublin since 1974. |
| 13 February 2009 | Ada Power | For services to the Diocese of Killaloe, Ireland. |
| 29 March 2009 | Harvey Livingston | Former Head of Finance at SCIAF and President of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, for services to the Catholic Church in Scotland. The medal was presented by Faustino Sainz Muñoz, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James's, on the fourth anniversary of the Pope's election. |
| 3 May 2009 | Charles John Foote | From St George's, Newfoundland, Canada, awarded the Benemerenti medal for over 50 years service to the parish of St Joseph. The award was presented at St Joseph's Church in St George's on 3 May 2009 by Bishop Douglas Crosbie, Bishop of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador. |
| 29 May 2009 | Paul Lyng | 33 years service as sacristan of Church of the Assumption in Booterstown, County Dublin, Ireland. It was presented by Monsignor Seamus Conway. |
| 7 June 2009 | John Parnell Murphy | Long-time service to the People of God of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. It was presented by Most Rev Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn. |
| 8 July 2009 | Tony McAvoy | For his work as a Lay Chaplain in the North East of England with the Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris). The medal was presented to him by Séamus Cunningham, Bishop of Newcastle and Hexham, England at the AoS Annual Pilgrimage to Holy Island, Lindisfarne. |
| 31 July 2009 | Barbara Conboy, Brigid Hanlon, and John McManus | For services to Sacred Heart Jesuit Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| October 2009 | Colleen Stanford | Sacristan, St Mary's Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania. Presented by Adrian Doyle, Archbishop of Hobart. |
| 4 October 2009 | Patrick Curran | 60 years service to the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Greenwich, England. It was presented by Dr Patrick Smith, Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark. |
| 24 October 2009 | Tele'a Fiso | 36 Years of service to the Fatu O Aiga Catholic Church, Tafuna American Samoa. It was presented by Bishop John Quinn Weitzel. |
| 25 October 2009 | Josephine Knowles | Years of service to the parish of St Columba's, Tonge Moor, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It was presented by Fr Francis McCauley. |
| 9 November 2009 | Hannah Fairclough | Her devoted service to the Church and community of St. Malachys. Presented by Fr. Michael Buckley. |
| 12 December 2009 | Brian Monaghan | His devoted service to the Church and community of the parish of St John the Evangelist, Kilbarrack/Foxfield, Dublin. The medal was presented by Fr Declan Doyle. |
| 12 December 2009 | Tony Wagstaffe | Service to the parish of Holy Angels, Ash, Surrey. Presented by Fr David Osbourne. |
| 20 December 2009 | Joseph Ryan | 30 years of service as Parish Accountant, and other services, to St. Elphege's Church, Wallington, Surrey, England. The medal was presented by Bishop Paul Hendricks. |
| 2010 | Michael Kummer | From Stuttgart, Germany, in recognition of his outstanding service over more than 25 years for the Catholic military communities in different countries and especially to the German-speaking parish, Sankt Marien, in Bangkok, Thailand. |
| 10 January 2010 | Dennis Selina | Lifetime of service to the Church, including 69 years as church organist. The medal was presented at St Joseph's Church, Pickering, North Yorkshire, England by Fr Bill East. |
| 17 January 2010 | Oscar Pioquinto Batucan and Miriam Alvez Batucan | Presented by the Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn. The couple is the first Filipino-New Zealand couple to be awarded the medal. |
| 19 March 2010 | John Bannerman | From Invergordon, Ross-shire, Scotland received the medal in St. Joseph's Church, Invergordon. It was presented by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen, Scotland, in recognition of 72 years service to the Catholic Church as an altar server, reader, passkeeper and Eucharistic minister. |
| 2 May 2010 | Donald H Williams | From Culloden, Inverness-shire, Scotland received the medal in St. Columba's Church, Culloden, Inverness. It was presented by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen, Scotland. |
| 9 June 2010 | Thomas F. Purcell | From Hamilton, New Zealand. He was presented the medal by Bishop Denis Browne, Diocese of Hamilton at St Columba's Parish, Hamilton. |
| 12 June 2010 | Peggy Moriarty | From the Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, at Milltown-Listry where Peggy is a parishioner. She received the award for her service to Immaculate Conception Church in Listry, County Kerry, Ireland. |
| 4 July 2010 | John Wedgwood | From the Parish of St John the Baptist, in Normanton, West Yorkshire, England, for 72 years of service as organist, school headteacher and several other roles. The medal was presented by Canon Peter Maguire. |
| 12 July 2010 | Matthew Yu Min-Teh | For his exceptional Christian commitment and leadership during his presidency at Providence University, Taichung, Taiwan. The medal was presented by the Bishop of Taichung, Martin Su Yao-Wen on 15 September 2010. |
| 12 August 2010 | Sheila Miller, Elizabeth Turner, and Ann Hamilton | During a mass held at St Anthony of Padua, Rye, East Sussex, England. The medals were presented by Bishop Kieran Conry and were awarded in recognition of long and exceptional service to the Parish, stretching almost 80 years. |
| 4 September 2010 | Patricia Mundy and Joe Davies | On behalf of the Bishop of Shrewsbury, England by Parish Priest Father Stephen Dwyer, assisted by Dr Peter Smith KSG, who presented the medal. Davies was awarded the medal for his years of devoted service to the priests of the parish. Mundy was awarded for her many years of service to St Joseph's Parish, Winsford, Cheshire, England, including her voluntary service as Manager of the parish centre. |
| 7 November 2010 | David Risk | For years of dedication to the St. Charles Borromeo parish, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The medal was presented by Roger Cardinal Mahony. |
| 6 December 2010 | Titus M. Verzosa | For his 17 years of dedicated service and leadership as a choir director, a finance council member, and a coordinator of several fundraising events for St Mary Queen of Apostles parish in Fresno, California, US. The medal and the accompanying certificate were presented to him on 20 February 2011 during a Sunday Mass by the parish priest Fr Timothy N. Cardoza. |
| 11 December 2010 | Mary O'Donoghue | It was presented on behalf of the Archbishop of Westminster, England by Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Kensal Town, Father Shaun Church. It was awarded for dedication to the parish over 31 years. |
| 24 December 2010 | Sarah Philomena Boyle | Recognition of your faithful service to the church of Sacred Heart and Holy Souls, Tipton. |
| 27 December 2010 | Miss Mary Burn-Murdoch | Her work in founding the Colmcille Trust and establishing the Catholic House of Prayer Cnoc a'Chalmain on the island of Iona, Scotland. The medal was presented by Bishop Joseph Toal during Mass at St Joseph's, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| 5 January 2011 | Nora Mai Daly | From Gortdarrig, Headford, County Kerry, Ireland for her 32 years as sacristan to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Shrone. The Medal was presented by Bishop Bill Murphy at a vigil Mass at the parish church in Shrone. |
| 8 January 2011 | Mrs Anne Culleton | From Piercestown, County Wexford, Ireland, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to community and parish life in Piercestown. The medal was presented to Anne by Bishop Denis Brennan during Mass at St Martin's Church, Piercestown. |
| 30 January 2011 | Sister Agnes Murray and Sister Maura Fay | From Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland in recognition of their contribution to music and singing in the liturgy over many years in the Parish of Shrule (Ballymahon). The medals were presented to Sister Agnes and Sister Maura by the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr Colm O' Reilly during Mass at St Matthew's Church, Ballymahon. |
| 27 February 2011 | Sheila Ratcliffe | From Shaftesbury, Dorset in recognition of her outstanding contribution as Sacristan to the church of The Most Holy Name and St Edward King & Martyr in Shaftesbury for almost 30 years. The medal was presented to Sheila by Fr Dylan James after Mass. |
| 17 April 2011 | George M. Serban | From Bakersfield, California, US, in recognition of his outstanding dedication to "Faith, Family & Friends" in lifelong service to St Francis Catholic Parish, Bakersfield, California. Married to Rita M. Serban for more than 50 years; they served the Church with dedicated and unfailing love and self-sacrifice. The medal was presented to George by Msgr Craig Harrison pastor on Passion Sunday Mass, in the presence of his entire family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. |
| 15 May 2011 | May McGarrity | From Oxford, England, in recognition of her contributions over 65 years as church organist and school governor. May started to play the organ aged 17 at St Patrick's, Yoker, Glasgow, and has been organist and choir mistress to Corpus Christi Church, Headington, Oxford for more than 50 years. She served as governor to St. Joseph's RC School Oxford for 38 years. The medal was presented to May by Fr John Baggley after Mass. |
| 10 July 2011 | James Ward | From Stoke-on-Trent, England in recognition of his lifelong work for the Church and the local community. Jim has served the community as a Justice of the Peace for more than 20 years and also as President of Newcastle Players (an amateur dramatic group). His service to the Catholic Community has included being organist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, for 40 years, and organising the annual Carol Service attended by the Lord Mayor since 1982. The medal was presented by Bishop David McGough, Auxiliary in the Archdiocese of Birmingham. |
| 30 August 2011 | José Frances Keen | In recognition of a lifetime of service to the community and her contribution over 50 years as a founder member of the St. Columba's Foundation of the Union of Catholic Mothers, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. The medal was presented on 27 November by Father Patrick Bailey following a mass and during a reception celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the St. Columba's Foundation in the diocese of Northampton, the group's first meeting having been held on 19 January 1961. |
| 2011 | Margaret White | Volunteer Sacristan to the chaplaincy team at Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, London, England. Medal presented by Bishop Pat Lynch. A thanksgiving service was held at the Bethlem chapel for Margaret and was led by Bishop Lynch — the first ever Catholic Bishop to visit the hospital. The Pope awarded Margaret the Benemerenti medal in recognition of her generous work and commitment to the chapel over nearly 15 years. |
| 2011 | Mary Cavan | Retired Office Assistant of the Knights of Saint Columba, Glasgow, in recognition of her 46 years loyal service to the Order. |
| 17 December 2011 | Mr Eugene Tumelty | Recently retired as headteacher of St Bernard's School, Barrow, for over 30 years of service to Catholic education in St Bernard's. The medal was awarded by Fr William Glasswell at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Dalton-in-Furness. |
| 20 December 2011 | Jean McGuigan | For her 49 years of dedicated and loyal service to the parishes of St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The medal was awarded by Fr Michael Sheehan, at St Patrick's Church, and was followed by a reception in her honour. |
| 5 February 2012 | John and Anna Feldberg | From Rongotea, New Zealand, in recognition of long and exceptional service to the Rongotea Catholic community. The medals were presented by Bishop Cullinane at Sacred Heart Church, Rongotea. |
| 11 February 2012 | Lyn Braithwaite, Judith and Martin Wall | From Palmerston North, New Zealand in recognition of Lyn Braithwaite's nearly 60 years of devoted service to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Medals were also presented to Judith and Martin Wall, who have loyally served the parish for 50 years. The presentations were by Bishop Peter J. Cullinane at Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Saturday, 11 February 2012. This was followed by a parish reception to mark their commitment, as well as the 60th anniversary of the parish and also the retirement of the bishop. |
| 29 April 2012 | William Cahill | From Gloucester, England, in recognition of his long service to the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Churchdown, Gloucester. The presentation was made after Mass by Fr Kevin Hennessey. |
| 20 May 2012 | Sheila Stacey | From Markfield, Leicestershire, England, in recognition of her long service as teacher, governor and chair of governors (St Clare's RC primary school, Coalville, Leicestershire). The presentation was made at Mass at the parish church St Wilfrid of York, Coalville on Sunday 20 May (the feast of the Ascension), by headteacher Mrs Jane Monaghan and chair of governors Mrs Sarah Noon, with parish priest Fr Colin Patey. |
| 24 June 2012 | Giovanni-Battista Marseglia | From Watford, Hertfordshire, England in recognition of long service and contribution to the music ministry of the Parish of the Sacred Heart and St John the Evangelist, Bushey, and the broader diocesan community. The presentation was made at Mass on the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, in a service concelebrated by Parish Priest Fr Jim McNicholas, his predecessors, Fr Guy Sawyer and Fr Michael Markey, and Chaplain to St Michael's Catholic High School, Fr Uchenna Odenigbo. |
| 21 July 2012 | Paule Szczech | From Wembley, Middlesex, England in recognition of long service to the Parish of St Joseph's, Wembley. The presentation was made at Mass in a service concelebrated by Bishop John Arnold and Fr John Menonkari, Fr Joseph Kaduthanam, and Fr Brito Fernandes. |
| 8 September 2012 | Lorenzo De Toro | From Miami, Florida, US, in recognition of long service to the Church and the cause of a free Cuba. The presentation was made at Mass on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Charity in a service celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski. |
| 13 October 2012 | John Craig, Nicholas Dawe and Richard Munt | From Christchurch Consulting Company (New Zealand) for dedicated services to the Christchurch Catholic Community following the devastating earthquakes that occurred in the city (and region) of 2011 and 2012. Medals awarded by Bishop Barry Jones at Holy Mass in St Mary's Pro Cathedral, Christchurch. |
| 25 November 2012 | Elizabeth Farrell | From Blanchardstown, Dublin, Republic of Ireland in recognition of long service to the Church. The presentation was made at Mass in St Patrick's Church, Corduff. |
| 13 December 2012 | Christina Power | From Partington, Manchester, England in recognition of long service to the Church. The presentation was made at Mass in English Martyrs Church, Manchester. |
| 2012 | Una O'Malley | From Northampton, England. Born in County Carlow, Ireland, she moved to Northampton at age 18. The award was made to recognize 35 years loyal service as Housekeeper at the Bishops House and the Cathedral 1979 to 2014. The presentation was made at a full Mass in Northampton Cathedral by Bishop Peter Doyle. |
| 13 January 2013 | Teresa Aylott | For services to the church, the community and charities. Pope Benedict XVI was represented by Bishop John Arnold at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George Church in Enfield, Middlesex, England during the second Mass. |
| 21 January 2013 | Maura Cotter and Russell Luke | From Immaculate Conception Parish, Oadby, Leicestershire, England, in recognition of long service to the Church. The presentation was made at the blessing of the newly renovated parish rooms by Bishop Malcolm, 9th Bishop of Nottingham. |
| 27 January 2013 | Patrick J. Reardon | From The Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay, Essex, England in recognition of his devotion to the Church and work for the community as a Most Holy Redeemer parishioner. The presentation was made at 11:00 am Mass in Billericay by Fr John. |
| 2 February 2013 | Peter Reynolds | From Blanchardstown Parish, Dublin, in recognition of long service to the Church. The presentation was made at a special mass in Blanchardstown by Bishop Raymond Field. |
| May 2013 | Patrick Broderick | In recognition of his lifelong service to the Church. Presented in Limerick, Maine, USA |
| 26 May 2013 | Catherine Doody | For services to the church and the community. The award was presented at St Ethelbert's Church in Slough, Berkshire, England. Pope Benedict XVI was represented by Bishop Peter Doyle. |
| 26 May 2013 | Madge Meehan | For services to the church. The award was presented at St Ethelbert's Church, Slough, Berkshire, England. Pope Benedict XVI was represented by Bishop Peter Doyle. |
| Date | Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | John Joseph (Sean) Broderick | In recognition of his lifelong service to the Church. Presented 3 November 2013. |
| 11 August 2013 | Colleen Wilby | In recognition for all that she had done and brought to the community in New Alresford, England in enhancing the music over the last 25 years. Colleen's commitment has been considered to be truly extraordinary, and with the exception of two weeks holiday each year and the occasional family commitment she has played for every Sunday Mass, and at Christmas and Easter celebrations. |
| 5 March 2014 | Noel O’Hanlon | In recognition of services to St Philip and St James Catholic Church, Brickhill, Bedford |
| 19 April 2014 | Lily Leacy | For long and dedicated service to St. Aidan's Cathedral in Enniscorthy, Ireland. Presented by Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns, Denis Brennan at Saturday Vigil Mass, on behalf of Pope Francis. |
| 17 July 2014 | Gerardine Babb | For services to the Catholic church, community and education, in particular for her 12 years of service as Headteacher of St William of York RC Primary School, Bolton, England. |
| 23 October 2014 | Alan Wratten | In recognition of his lifelong service to the Inverell Catholic Church, NSW, Australia Awarded by Bishop Michael Kennedy on 4th Jan, 2015. |
| 13 November 2014 | Mary Moore | Completing seventeen years of service as sacristan at St. Patrick Church in Boher, County Limerick, Ireland. [20] |
| 23 November 2014 | Manikrao K. Guldeokar[ citation needed ][ why? ] | Amravati, India. |
| 10 January 2015 | Dr Charles Holland Wagamon and Mrs Marion Rose Holick Wagamon | For 65 years of distinguished service and contributions to their Parish, Diocese, family, community and social justice, the Wagamons were formally presented their Benemerenti medals during Mass by the Rev. Fred Valone, Pastor, St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Huntsville, Texas, US. |
| 16 January 2015 | Mr Patrick R Murphy | Presented in recognition of 50 years of work as a teacher, school governor, catechist and charity worker. Bishop Tom Burns of Swansea presented Murphy's medal on behalf of Pope Francis during Mass at the Church of SS David and Patrick, Haverfordwest, Wales. |
| 7 February 2015 | Julina Elizabeth Fowler Patterson | For long and dedicated service to the church and the community in Peebles in the Scottish Borders. The award was presented at St Joseph's Church in Peebles at the Vigil Mass on Saturday. Father Wojciech Rybka presented the award on behalf of Pope Francis. |
| 19 June 2015 | Sheila Conway | In recognition of her services to the Star of the Sea Parish, and to local charities, Sheila was formally presented with the medal during a special mass at The Star of the Sea church, Portstewart, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The spokesman for the Diocese, Fr Edward Magee said: "This is recognition for the tremendous work and service that Sheila has given to both the church and the local community." [21] The service also celebrated the golden jubilee of the ordination of Bishop Anthony Farquhar. |
| 25 August 2015 | Alan Ginsburg | Ginsburg was presented the medal "for his vision in creating a space where Catholic and Jewish students can fulfill their spiritual needs, side by side" at the University of Central Florida where he funded the construction of the Catholic Campus Ministry Center and the adjacent Hillel Center. [22] |
| 15 November 2015 | Mr Augustine Pereira | Mr Pereira joined St Joseph's (Victoria Street, Singapore) parish's children's choir at the age of seven and continued on to the adult choir. He was also an altar server, especially during the painful Japanese Occupation, when he assisted in many funerals. He was also a long-standing Vincentian, and served as a warden and informal "car-park attendant" from the 1950s, until ill health in 2003 prevented him from doing so. |
| 15 November 2015 | Professor James Newton Boss | He contributed to St Joseph's Church (Victoria Street, Singapore) local church history when he wrote The Portuguese Mission in Singapore (1825–1999): St Joseph's Church. He also secured the grant from the Preservations of Monument Board which enabled the stained glass windows of the church to be restored to their former glory. In addition to being chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council and a long-standing member of other organisations, Prof Boss has also assisted the church in innumerable negotiations in securing its Catholic heritage status. He was conferred a knighthood by Rome in 2007 — the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. |
| 20 November 2015 | Margaret Keating | Awarded for humble and quiet service to the parish and community of Castlemahon, Co. Limerick, Ireland. |
| December 2015 | Sylvia Foster | Sylvia Foster, of Corpus Christi with St Joseph Church, Portsmouth was recognised for her outstanding support and continued commitment to Portsmouth's sister diocese of Bamenda, Cameroon. Medal was presented by Bishop Philip Egan. [23] |
| 5 December 2015 | Mrs Eileen Healy, | Medal was presented by Bishop Robert Byrne at the Oxford Oratory in recognition of her long and devoted service to the Church, especially by serving as a cook and housekeeper to many priests. |
| 24 December 2015 | Carole Ann Crowther | Awarded for services to the young people of St Clare's Church, Fagley, West Yorkshire, England. Leading the liturgy group on a Saturday evening and also preparing young people for Holy Communion for decades. |
| 1 May 2016 | Anthony Malone | Awarded for over 60 years dedicated service to the Church of the Sacred Heart in the parish of Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland |
| 8 May 2016 | Mary Sheppard | Awarded for services to St George's Church, South Darenth, Kent, England. Being sacristan, counsellor and friend for over 50 years. |
| 28 May 2016 | Keyna Godward | For long and dedicated service to the parish of Great Missenden and Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England. |
| 9 October 2016 | Joan Merrigan | Awarded for dedicated service to the Sallynoggin Parish, Dublin, Ireland. |
| 13 November 2016 | Teresita Nixon | Teresita Nixon, a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, is the founder of the Richmond-based Aquinas Institute, which is committed to sharing resources with the needy around the world. Among the institute's works is offering scholarships to needy university students in Canada and the Philippines. Aquinas Institute, dedicated to the Holy Family, has organized and sponsored successful religious events for Catholics in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, including Advent and Lent retreats, Holy Hours, and youth conferences. In 2004, Aquinas Institute released its first publication, the Meditations on the HolyEucharist, sold in Canada, the US and Europe. Teresita has been responsible for the publication of devotional books, and she leads charitable events for local, national, and international charities. She was instrumental in organizing the Table of Hope banquet for more than 1,000 needy children at the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress in the Philippines. Source: "Papal Honours 2016", The BC Catholic, 7 November 2016, p. 9. Teresita received the Papal Honour Award - Benemerenti medal from Pope Francis through Most Rev J Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver, during the Mass at the Closing of the Holy Door for the Jubilee Year of Mercy at Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver, British Columbia. |
| 17 February 2017 | James Sewell | Mr James Sewell has, for almost 50 years, provided dedicated financial and accounting services to the Our Lady of Dolours Servite Church in Fulham, England. The whole church community is proud of Mr Sewell, and grateful for his long and most generous service. [24] |
| 2017 | Allan Peter MacIsaac | Allan was joined by family, and parish friends to receive the Benemerenti Medal, a fitting recognition of his years of dedicated service in Kinlochleven. [25] |
| 3 November 2017 | Sally Corby | Sally Corby retired in December 2014 after 31 years of serving the spiritual welfare of the youth of the Diocese of Nashville. At the time of her retirement, she was the associate director of the Catholic Youth Office. During her tenure she facilitated 284 retreat weekends with more than 10,000 participants, 30 Youth Leadership Workshops, a four-day conference in Christian Leadership, and served the youth of the local church in countless other efforts. |
| 28 January 2018 | Ewan O'Flynn | Ewan O'Flynn was for many years the sacristan of St. Mary's and also a tremendous support to the many priests who have passed through Lucan. His late wife Joan was well known through her writings and her involvement with the Lucan Newsletter, she also contributed a great deal to the liturgical life of the parish. |
| 28 January 2018 | Billy Bernie | Billy Birnie is the second member of his family to receive the Benemerenti medal, his late brother Laddie was the recipient some years ago. Billy and his late wife Nancy have played a huge role in the life of St. Mary's through the years and thanks to them the new generation of the family continues that tradition. |
| 23 February 2018 | Cornelius O'Dwyer | Awarded "... in recognition of service to Church and Community over a long period [26] " |
| 20 July 2018 | Kathleen Smith | Sacristan to The Most Holy Family Church, Llandudno Junction. Reception by Bishop Peter Brignal, Fr. Moses Amune and Fr. Augustine Franklin. |
| 22 August 2018 | Alan Edmondson | For over 40 years Alan Edmondson has served at St. Vincent's Hospital, and now Nursing Home (Pinner), faithfully & steadfastly as a General Manager and Trustee with great love, energy and passion. |
| 15 December 2018 | Bridie Cronin | Awarded "Implemented the first Safeguarding Children policies to the Diocese of Kerry, helping every parish train and draw up their own safe practices when working with children. [27] " |
| 22 December 2018 | Robert O'Leary | Awarded for service to the community of Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, for playing the church organ at all occasions for 37 years. Robert is a self-taught organist and led the parish choir, along with wife Gretta, throughout his 37 years service. |
| 24 December 2018 | Trevor Cryan | Awarded for long and dedicated service St Mary Magdalene Church, Maltby, Rotherham, England. Trevor and his family have provided music to the church and surrounding parish for over 40 years. With his family Ministry in Music Trevor has played for hundreds of weddings, baptisms, funerals, healing services and celebration days. Trevor also dedicates his life to supporting the church through leading Scripture studies, Journey in Faith groups, Marian days, Prayer Group, Medjugorje Prayer Meetings and more. Fr May summed him up in a few words as “a faithful servant to God’s people”. |
| October 2019 | Luke de Pulford | Awarded for service to the anti-slavery movement. Presented by Fr Mark Vickers at the Parish Church of the Holy Ghost & St Stephen, Shepherd's Bush, London. |
| 16 December 2019 | Hanna Szkudlarek | She was rewarded for raising 9 sons and serving the church in helping the poor and needy in the parish of St. Józef in Kalisz |
| 24 January 2020 | Kitty Kelly | Kelly, 89 years old in 2020 and organist at St. Patrick's church in Lifford, was presented the medal by Bishop Donal McKeown. [28] |
| 11 September 2020 | Rhonda Maingot, Deborah de Rosia, Leela Ramdeen, and Sister Ruth Montrichard | Papal representative to the Antilles Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, who said he had heard of their work not only in the archdiocese, but in other dioceses around the Caribbean, made the presentation in a COVID-19 correct ceremony at the residence of Archbishop Jason Gordon in Port of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago. |
| October 2020 | Deacon Simon Lesenyeho | Received the Bene Merenti medal in Kroonstad, South Africa from the hands of Bishop Peter Holiday on 9 October 2020, at the request of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Deacon Simon, aged 75, had been a member of the Notre Dame St Peter's Board of Governors for over 30 years, and had been very concerned about poor hungry children and other school needs during these years. The medal was presented to him for his devoted and long-standing service to the wider community during the final Mass of the 2020 school year, celebrated in a COVID-19 correct manner in the school chapel. |
| 20 July 2020 | Christopher Robert Penny | Awarded for dedicated service to the Church. Presented by Fr Peter Kelly of St Columba's Church, Banchory, Scotland. |
| 20 November 2020 | Bernard (Bunny) and Enid Honiss | Awarded for their service and contributions for more than 100 combined years to the Catholic Church, Auckland diocese, their parish, family, Catholic school, youth, and community. [29] |
| 18 July 2021 | Bridget Connolly | In recognition of 35 years dedicated service, as sacristan, at St. Abina's Church, Clondrohid, Macroom. Co. Cork. Ireland. Presented by the Most Reverend William Crean and Fr. Rowan PP. |
| 21 August 2021 | Brid Sammin | Awarded for her work in her parish, spending over 40 years in service of St. Patrick's Church, Lecanvey, County Mayo in Ireland, and for all of her work in the local community. Presented by Father Charlie McDonnell. |
| 26 March 2022 | Dr. John Dorner | Presented by the Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, Marcel Damphousse in recognition of Dr. John Dorner's career in Catholic education, his work in social and climate justice, for his outstanding service to the cause of refugees, the poor, the elderly and sick, and his witness to the faith in many areas of life inside the Church and in the community. [30] |
| 9 August 2022 | Roger Ian Robinson | Presented by Bishop Thomas Neylon on 22 January 2023 in recognition of Ian's outstanding volunteer service as grounds manager at the parish of Our Lady and All Saints, Parbold in Lancashire, England. [31] |
| 15 August 2022 | Rene Kennelly | Presented by Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O'Brien in St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, in recognition of her years of great service to the Church. Rene has designed and overseen the construction of the life-size festive season crib for the 48 years previous and her incredible work of art has become a seasonal tourist attraction in its own right with people travelling long distances specifically to see it. The crib features life-sizes figures, a striking stable, animals, fir trees and moss as well as a very realistic life-like water feature. [32] |
| 28 September 2022 | Maria Stocker | Presented by parish priest Josef Zwyssig of St. Martin Catholic Church in Buochs, Switzerland. Maria received the Benemerenti medal in recognition of her 63 years of dedicated service and contributions to multiple church communities. Including parishes in Fulham, Stow-On-The-Wold, Great Wakering & Shoeburyness as well as her long lasting voluntary work and contributions to Nazareth House, Southend-On-Sea. |
| 8 October 2022 | Bernard Cooper | Presented by Fr Gary Buckby, Parish Priest at the Church of Our Lady and St Rose of Lima, Weoley Castle, Birmingham, UK, on behalf of Archbishop Bernard Longley in recognition of over 60 years of service to the Church. Bernard served as an altar boy from a young age and continued to serve as a member of the Guild of St. Stephen, such that he received the bronze, silver and gold medals. Bernard has been an active member of his current parish for 30 years, where he has been a reader and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He frequently visited the sick and housebound to take them Holy Communion and undertook many other good works in his own time. In the latter part of his professional life, Bernard became the first Clergy Welfare Coordinator for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, which was a role he cherished and undertook with great zeal. In retirement, he continues to assist many elderly members of the clergy in all sorts of ways. Through his faith, which has been fruitful in its good works, Bernard has been a true witness of Christian charity. |
| 19 January 2023 | Bridie Magee | In recognition of her lifelong service to the Church, Parish of Cooley. Presented by Eamon Martin Archbishop of Armagh and the Primate of All Ireland. |
| 11 May 2023 | Margaret Kerbey | Presented by Bishop Alan Williams [33] |
| 2 July 2023 | Deacon Tito Pereira | Presented by Fr Patrick Adusei Poku, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Acton, West London on behalf of His Eminence, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster in recognition of over 35 years of service to the parish and its community. |
| 22 July 2023 | Marie Callanan | Marie has been an active member of her local church for most of her life. She has been awarded the Benemerenti Medal in recognition of over 60 years dedicated service and contributions to St Teresa's Church in Castledaly County Galway Ireland. Presented by Bishop Michael Duignan. |
| 6 September 2023 | Edward (Eddie) Sweetman | Eddie has been Parish Sacristan/Clerk from 1979 to 2021 in St. Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. He has been awarded the Benemerenti Medal in recognition of his dedication and contribution to the Parish. The Medal was presented by Very Rev. Fr. Billy Canon Meehan, Parish Priest and 8 other priests who Eddie has worked with over the years were in attendance. |
| 17 September 2023 | Stephan Breu | Presented by the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mukachevo, Mykola Petro Lutschok,OP, for his support of the Diocese and the Roman Catholic Church in the Ukraine in general during wartime. |
| 8 November 2023 | Colette Sharp | Presented by Monsignor John Ryan of St. Bede’s Parish Church in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. Colette was awarded the Benemerenti Medal for her life-long devotion and service to the parish of St. Bede’s, serving as a Eucharistic Minister for over 50 years, in addition to roles as reader, church flower arranger and secretarial duties to the parish. She was also recognised for her work as chief handmaid to the Hallam Lourdes Pilgrimage, a role which she fulfilled for over 25 years. She still attends and helps the Hallam Pilgrimage to this day. Colette has devoted her life to the parish in lay duties in addition to raising her family of four children in the way of Christ’s teaching. Dr R. Brynes & Pilgrimage Director Mr. A. Prior supported this nomination and where in attendance when Colette received the award on her son Gavin’s 50th birthday on 31 December 2023. |
| 3 December 2023 | Dr. Steven Cheeseman | Presented by the Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport in recognition of Dr. Cheeseman's long service to the Church and for his leadership in Catholic Education. [34] |
| 24 December 2023 | Audrey Salmon | Presented by the Very Rev. Fr. Declan Brett, Parish Priest. Mrs Salmon was awarded the medal for her 25 years of extraordinary work she has carried out for both St Helen's Church in Hoyland, and St Michael's Church in Wombwell. Her dedication to the Union of Catholic Mothers at Parish, Diocesan, and National level was noted. Mrs Salmon's was also commended for founding Wombwell's AgeWell Group, and also her volunteer work for Wombwell's Lunch Club. |
Monsignor is a form of address or title for certain members of the clergy in the Catholic Church. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, meaning "my lord". "Monsignor" can be abbreviated as Mons. or Msgr. In some countries, the title "monsignor" is used as a form of address for bishops. However, in English-speaking countries, the title is unrelated to the episcopacy, though many priests with the title later become bishops.
Cuthbert Mayne was an English Catholic priest executed under the laws of Elizabeth I. He was the first of the seminary priests trained on the Continent to be martyred. Mayne was beatified in 1886 and canonised as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales in 1970.
William Turner was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo in New York from 1919 until his death in 1936.
The Roman CatholicDiocese of Portsmouth is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church that covers the Channel Islands as well as parts of England. The episcopal see is St John's Cathedral in Portsmouth and is headed by the Bishop of Portsmouth. The diocese is part of the metropolitan Province of Southwark, which covers all of the far South of England as well as the Channel Islands.
Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Latin Christians from the Diocese of Mangalore and the erstwhile South Canara area, by the southwestern coast of present-day Karnataka, India.
The Benemerenti Medal is a medal awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, it is now a civil decoration but may still be awarded to members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
The Milagres Church is a historic Roman Catholic Church situated in the Hampankatta locality of Mangalore. The church was built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine from Divar, Goa. The original structure was constructed at the site of the present-day cemetery. It is one of the oldest churches in Dakshina Kannada.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of Sagar is an eparchy in central India, which is part of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, yet is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the Latin Catholic rite Metropolitan of the Roman Archdiocese of Bhopal. It was created in 1968 as (missionary) and promoted diocese in 1977 by the papal bull Divina Verba of Pope Paul VI.
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester, sometimes referred to as the Sylvestrine Order, or the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester, is one of five orders of knighthood awarded directly by the Pope as Supreme Pontiff and head of the Catholic Church and as the Head of State of Vatican City. It is intended to honour Catholic laypeople who are actively involved in the life of the Church, particularly as it is exemplified in the exercise of their professional duties and mastership of the different arts.
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is a decoration of the Holy See. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people.
Charles Joseph Henderson, KC*HS was born in County Waterford, Ireland on 14 April 1924, where he was ordained as a priest on 6 June 1948. He was educated locally by the Christian Brothers and trained for the priesthood in St. John's College, Waterford.
The History of Mangalorean Catholics comprises three major eras. The first era consists of the cultural heritage shaped by Indo-Aryan migration into the Indus valley, later the migration to Govapuri and other prominent areas of the Konkan region, possibly due to a natural disaster that caused the drying up of the Sarasvati. Also, the various invasions and the political upheavals that followed in the pre-Partition eras of the northwest Indian subcontinent might be responsible for migration to Konkan in Western India. The second era was the legacy of Lusitanian culture, from the conversion of their Konkani ancestors to Roman Catholicism in the colonies of the Portuguese in Goa and Bombay, and the final era being the migration of the Roman Catholics in Goa to Mangalore and other parts of South Canara between the mid-16th and mid-18th centuries, forming a unique Mangalorean Catholic identity, and the subsequent growth and development of the community. Four centuries of living in South Canara gave these Catholics an identity of their own, distinct from Goans and Bombay East Indians.
Precedence signifies the right to enjoy a prerogative of honor before other persons; for example, to have the most distinguished place in a procession, a ceremony, or an assembly, to have the right to express an opinion, cast a vote, or append a signature before others, to perform the most honorable offices.
Aloysius Paul D'Souza is the former Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore. He was consecrated on 8 November 1996, succeeding his predecessor Basil Salvadore D'Souza.
Basil Salvadore D'Souza was the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mangalore from 22 March 1965 until his death on 5 September 1996. He was the longest-serving bishop in the diocese's history.
The orders, decorations, and medals of the Holy See include titles, chivalric orders, distinctions and medals honoured by the Holy See, with the Pope as the fount of honour, for deeds and merits of their recipients to the benefit of the Holy See, the Catholic Church, or their respective communities, societies, nations and the world at large.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Udupi is a diocese located in the Kallianpur town of Udupi District of Karnataka, India. It was announced by Pope Benedict XVI on 16 July 2012. It comprises the six civil talukas Udupi, Bramavara, Karkala, Kapu, Kundapura and Byndoor and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. The diocese now contains 47 parishes, the newly elevated Cathedral which was previously a parish church as "Church of Our Lady of Miracles" or the Milagres Church, the parish was partitioned from the Mangalore Diocese, while the parish church was elevated to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Miracles.
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes was officially established by Father Emile Marie Henri Sausseau (MEP) in 1905 at Ipoh, Malaysia.
Mary John Thottam, also identified as Sister Mary Benigna, was an Indian Catholic nun and a poet who wrote in Malayalam. She authored two mahakavyas, Marthoma Vijayam and Gandhi Jayanthi, a poetry anthology, Lokame Yathra, and other works. Pope Paul VI honoured her with the Benemerenti medal in 1971.
Earl Kenneth Fernandes is a Roman Catholic prelate who has served as bishop of the Diocese of Columbus in Ohio since 2022.
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