Mr Gerry Merry Awarded Pontifical Honour

Congratulations to our sacristan Gerry Merry who has been awarded the  Benemerenti Award by Pope Francis.  Very Rev John Canon Delany presented Gerry with Papal honours (Benermenti Medal) in St. John the Baptist Church, Blackrock, on Sunday 27th September, in recognition of his service and dedicated to the parish for the last thirty-one years.

The Benemerenti Medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and is conferred on those who have exhibited long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and community. It has the word benemerenti (to a well deserving person) on its face, surrounded by a crown of oak leaves; the ribbon is made of Papal colors.

Recipients are also presented with a scroll recording the honour bestowed upon them.

We extend our warm congratulations to Gerry who has been such as significant part of the fabric of our parish.