Benemerenti medal
| Benemerenti Medal |
Obverse and reverse of the medal |
| Awarded by His Holiness the Pope |
| Country |
Vatican City |
| Eligibility |
Clergy and laity |
| Awarded for |
Long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church |
| Status |
Currently awarded |
| Statistics |
| Established |
1832 |
| Precedence |
| Next (higher) |
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice |
Ribbon of the medal |
The Benemerenti medal was first awarded by Pope Pius VI (1775–1799) to recognize military merit. In 1831 under Pope Gregory XVI (1831–1846)a special Benemerenti medal was struck to reward thos who fought courageously in the papal army at Ferrara, Bologna, and Vienna.[1] In 1925, the concept of awarding this medal as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Church, both civil and military, lay and clergy alike, became acceptable.
Recipients
Awarded by Pope Pius XII
Awarded by Pope John XXIII
- Pope John XXIII awarded the medal to Mary Synon, PhD in Classical Studies, professor at American University, lecturer at Catholic University, Pulitzer Prize winner, and National Book Award winner, as well as human rights activist, in 1961.
Awarded by Pope Paul VI
- Pope Paul VI awarded Catherine O'Brien the medal in 1974 for services to Saint Dominic's Church and parish Romford, Essex, England.
- Pope Paul VI awarded the medal to Edward Flannery.
- Pope Paul VI awarded Diana McKenzie the Benemerenti medal in 1978 in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada for work with Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church.
- Pope Paul VI awarded the medal to John Sabol of Cleveland,OH
- Pope Paul VI awarded the medal to Anthony Leo Janssens in London in 1964
- Pope Paul VI awarded the medal to Lavinia Sheridan of Balinasloe (formerly of Castlebar) Ireland in 1968 for her contribution to music.
- Pope Paul VI awarded the medal to John "Jack" Harkins of St Theresa's Parish, Norris Green, Liverpool, England, for 50 years service to the Society Of Saint Vincent De Paul in 1973.
- Pope Paul VI awarded the medal to Edward Burns of St Mary of Furness parish, Ulverston, at Midnight Mass on 25 December 1974, for lifelong service to the Church. The presentation was made by parish priest Father John Moxham.
Awarded by Pope John Paul II
1979
1984
- Pope John Paul II awarded the medal to Elizabeth McLoughlin principal of Rooskey N.S., Co. Roscommon, Ireland. It was presented to her by His Lordship, Dominic Conway, Bishop of Elphin.
1985
- Pope John Paul II awarded Peter Joseph Wire the medal on 6 December 1985 for services to the Archdiocese of Birmingham at Besford Court School, (no longer a school) near Worcester, England.
- Pope John Paul II awarded John Gerard Ormonde of Wexford, Ireland, the medal for his services to the destitute in Calcutta, India at Dublin's Pro Cathedral.
1986
- Pope John Paul II awarded Mary C. Howard the medal on 5 February 1986 for services to the Archdiocese of Washington, DC and to her parish, and in particular to the Society of Missionaries of Africa, whose missionaries she served so faithfully for many years.
1990
- Pope John Paul II awarded medal to Gerard O'Donnell formally of Bathgate, West Lothian when he retired as headmaster of a school in Leicester, in 1990, for his services to Catholic education.
1993
- Pope John Paul II awarded the medal to Joseph Lawrence Clery in 1993 also past Grand Knight of Columbus.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Patricia Vincent Stockley for Services to the Catholic Church, which was presented to her in front of her grandson Brendon Wordsworth at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand.
1994
- Pope John Paul II awarded the medal to John Murtagh and Mary Gannon for services to the church. These were presented by Cardinal Thomas Winning on 7 June 1994 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Glasgow.
- Pope John Paul II awarded the medal to Percy J. Beneteau of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, for services to the church.
1995
- Pope John Paul II awarded Catherine Ann Cline the Benemerenti medal in 1995.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Leonard "Bud" Colburn the Benemerenti Medal in 1995 for Services to Holy Innocents Church, Orpington and Ecumenical Services to St Katharine's Church, Knockholt, Kent, England.
- Pope John Paul II awarded Rita Gray the medal for Services to Education.
1997
- Pope John Paul II awarded Barbara Sable the medal in 1997.
- Pope John Paul II awarded "Donald H Speirs" the medal in 1997 for service to St Patrick's Church, Redfield, Bristol, England.
1998
- Pope John Paul II awarded Teresa Agnes Walford the medal in 1998 for services to St Mary's Church Willenhall, in recognition of her lifetime dedicated to supporting the Church, her family and the wider community.
1999
2000
- Pope John Paul II awarded Arthur Eden 2000 medal.
- Cardinal Thomas Winning presented the medal on behalf of Pope John Paul II to Mrs. Brenda Scott ALCM in March, 2000.
- Bishop J. Sartoris presented the medal on behalf of Pope John Paul II to Mr. Thomas P. Vincent Gardena, California (2000).
2001
2002
2003
- Pope John Paul II awarded Denis Haran the medal in recognition of over fifty years of service to the church in various roles in the parish of Ahamlish, Grange, Co. Sligo.
2004
- Pope John Paul II awarded Curtis Martin and Michaelann Martin the medal for their outstanding service to the Church and work in the New Evangelization, especially in the United States.
2005
- Pope John Paul II awarded Graham Loudon 2005 medal.
Awarded by Pope Benedict XVI
2005
- Pope Benedict XV1 awarded Edna Heagney the 2005 medal in recognition of her long-standing service as a Minister of the Eucharist and for the support of her and her husband Tony to the Diocese of Middlesbrough over many years. It was presented to her at Midnight Mass, Christmas 2005
2006
2007
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded John McCreadie 2007 medal for Services to the retired clergy of the Diocese of Middlesbrough, England.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Anthony Brady 2007 medal for Services to the community of the Diocese of Otago. New Zealand
2008
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Michael Madden Cork, Ireland 2008 medal in recognition of his outstanding service during his 23 years as sacristan of St. Joseph's Church, Riverstick, Cork, Ireland.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Peggy Wilding and Olive Hewitt who received the medal at St. Theodore of Canterbury Church, Monkwick, Colchester, Suffolk, England on 27 April 2008. Both Mrs Wilding and Mrs Hewitt have served over forty 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
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Richard Gladwell 2009 medal.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Charles John Foote of St. George's, Newfoundland, Canada the benemerenti medal for over 50 years service to the parish of St. Joseph's. 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.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Paul Lyng 2009 medal in recognition of 33 years service as sacristan of Church of the Assumption in Booterstown, County Dublin, Ireland. It was presented by Mgr. Seamus Conway PP on May 29, 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Joe Lomasney 2009 medal in recognition of 53 years service as sacristan of Church of the Immaculate Conception, Araglen in the Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland. It was presented by Most Rev. John Magee, Bishop of Cloyne.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded John Parnell Murphy 2009 medal in recognition of long-time service to the People of God of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. It was presented on 7 June 2009 by Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn.
- Bishop Eamonn Walsh presented the medal on 21 June 2009 to Eddie Power who had been in charge of the altar server group at St. Pius X Church in Templeogue, Dublin since 1974.[2]
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded medal to Barbara Conboy, Brigid Hanlon, and John McManus for services to Sacred Heart Jesuit Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 31 July 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the 2009 medal to Ada Power, on 13 February for services to the Diocese of Killaloe, Ireland.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to 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 on 8 July 2009 at the AoS Annual Pilgrimage to Holy Island, Lindisfarne.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Miss Josephine Knowles the 2009 medal in recognition of years of service to the parish of St Columba's, Tonge Moor, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It was presented by Father Francis McCauley on 25 October 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Mrs Colleen Stanford, Sacristan, St. Mary's Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania. Presented by Adrian Doyle, Archbishop of Hobart in October 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Patrick Curran the 2009 medal in recognition of 60 years service to the parish of Our Lady Star of The Sea, Greenwich, England. It was presented by Patrick Smith, Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark on 4 October 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Tony Wagstaffe the benemerenti medal in recognition of service to the parish of Holy Angels, Ash, Surrey. It was presented by Father David Osbourne, on 12 December 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the benemerenti medal to Joseph Ryan for 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 on 20 December 2009.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the benemerenti medal to 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, 29 March 2009.
2010
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Dennis Selina for a lifetime of service to the Church, including 69 years as church organist. The medal was presented on 10 January 2010 at St. Joseph's Church, Pickering, North Yorkshire, England by Fr. Bill East.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Mr. Oscar Pioquinto Batucan and Mrs. Miriam Alvez Batucan the medal which was presented by the Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn on 17 January 2010. This was the first time that a Filipino-New Zealand couple was awarded the medal.
- Mr Donald H Williams, of Culloden, Inverness, Scotland received the medal in St. Columba's Church, Culloden, Inverness. It was presented by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen, Scotland on 2 May 2010.
- Mr John Bannerman of Invergordon, Ross-shire, Scotland received the medal in St. Joseph's Church, Invergordon. It was presented by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen, Scotland on 19 March 2010, in recognition of 72 years service to the Catholic Church as an altar server, reader, passkeeper and Eucharistic minister.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Michael M.F. Kummer, Stuttgart, Germany, the 2010 medal 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.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Mr Thomas F. Purcell, Hamilton, New Zealand. He was presented the medal by Bishop Denis Browne of The Diocese of Hamilton on 9 June 2010 at St. Columba's Parish, Hamilton.
- Peggy Moriarty received the medal on 12 June 2010 from the Bishop of Kerry, Dr. Bill Murphy, at the Milltown-Listry where Peggy is a parishioner. She received the award for the time spent looking after the Immaculate Conception in Listry, County Kerry, Ireland.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to John Wedgwood of 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 on 4 July 2010.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded medals to Sheila Miller, Elizabeth Turner, and Ann Hamilton during a mass held at St. Anthony of Padua, Rye, East Sussex, England on 15 August 2010. 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.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Dr. Matthew Yu Min-Teh the medal on 12 July 2010 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.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded David Risk the medal on 7 November 2010 for years of dedication to the St. Charles Borromeo parish. The Medal was presented by Cardinal Mahony.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Patricia Mundy and Joe Davies the medal on 4 September 2010 presented on behalf of the Bishop of Shrewsbury, England by Parish Priest Father Stephen Dwyer, assisted by Papal Knight Peter Smith K.S.G., who presented the medal. Joe Davies was awarded the medal for his years of devoted service to the priests of the parish; Patricia for her 19 years of service as a voluntary worker as Manager of Parish Centre and her years of Service to St. Joseph's Parish, Winsford in Cheshire.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Titus M. Verzosa the medal on 6 December 2010 for his 17 years of dedicated service and leadership as a choir director, a finance council member, and a coordinator of several fund raising events for St. Mary Queen of Apostles parish in Fresno, California, U.S.A. The medal and the accompanying certificate were presented to him on February 20, 2011 during a Sunday Mass by the parish priest Fr. Timothy N. Cardoza.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded Mary O'Donoghue the medal on 11 December 2010. 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 years of dedication to the parish over 31 years.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Miss Mary Burn-Murdoch in recognition of her work in founding the Colmcille Trust and establishing the Catholic House of Prayer Cnoc a' Chalmain on the Isle of Iona, Scotland. The medal was presented to Mary by Bishop Joseph Toal during Mass at St Joseph's, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh on Monday 27 December 2010.
2011
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Lady Nora Mai Daly of Gortdarrig, Headford, County_Kerry, Ireland for her 32 years as sacristan to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic Church, Shrone. The Medal was presented by Bishop Bill Murphy at a vigil Mass at Shrone church on January 5, 2011. Fathers Larry Kelly & Michael O'Connor also presided.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Mrs Anne Culleton of Piercestown in Wexford, Ireland, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to community and parish life in Piercestown. The medal was presented to Anne by Bishop Dennis Brennan during Mass at St Martins Church in Piercestown on Sunday 8 January 2011.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded medals to Sr. Agnes Murray and Sr. Maura Fay, Ballymahon, Co 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 Sr. Agnes and Sr. Maura by the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr. Colm O' Reilly during Mass at St. Matthew's Church, Ballymahon on Sunday 30 January 2011.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Sheila Ratcliffe, of 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 on Sunday 27 February 2011.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to George M. Serban, of Bakersfield, California, USA, in recognition of his outstanding dedication to "Faith, Family & Friends" in life-long service to St. Francis Catholic Parish, Bakersfield California. Married to Rita M. Serban for more than 50 years they have 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 17, April 2011 in the presence of his entire family, children, grandchildren and great-grand child.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to May McGarrity, of Oxford, 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 over 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 on Sunday 15 May 2011.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to James Ward of Stoke-on-Trent, England in recognition of his life-long 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 on Sunday July 10, 2011.
- Pope Bendict XVI awarded the medal to Margaret White, a volunteer Sacristan to the chaplaincy team at Bethlem Royal Hospital, (Beckenham, SE London, United Kingdom). The medal was 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. He awarded Margaret the Benemerenti medal in recognition of her generous work and commitment to the Bethlem chapel over nearly 15 years.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Mary Cavan retired Office Assistant of the Knights of Saint Columba, Glasgow, in recognition of her 46 years loyal service to the Order.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Mr Eugene Tumelty, who recently retired as headteacher of St Bernard's School, Barrow, for over 30 years of service to Catholic education in St Berard's. The medal was awarded by Rev. William Glasswell on Saturday 17 December 2011 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Dalton-in-Furness.
- Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Jean McGuigan for her dedicated and loyal service to the parishes of St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's in Belfast, Ireland. The medal was awarded by Father Michael Sheehan on December 20, 2011, at St. Patrick's Church and was followed by a reception in her honour.
References
- ^ 1. Hyginus Eugene Cardinale. "Orders of Knighthood, Awards, and the Holy See." Edited and revised by Peter Bander van Duren. 3rd edition. Van Duren Publishing, Ltd., 1985.
- ^ Bene Merenti Award. St. Pius X Parish Templeogue Dublin Ireland . Retrieved: 2011-01-10.