ORDER OF MERIT — Regina Archbishop Daniel Bohan stands with recipients of the Order of Merit at St. John the Baptist Parish in Estevan March 21.(Flegel photo)

 

Last of merit awards given out

By Frank Flegel

ESTEVAN, Sask. — Nineteen people from four different deaneries stepped forward as their names were called as the latest and last of a group to receive the Archdiocesan Order of Merit in recognition of their services to the Archdiocese of Regina, their parish and their community.

Archbishop Daniel Bohan presided over the special Liturgy of the Word service March 21 at St. John the Baptist Parish. Friends and families filled the pews behind the recipients. It was a particularly special day for Rev. Stephen Bill, who hails from Estevan and is now pastor of Regina’s Resurrection Parish; his mother, Lillian, was one of the recipients.

The resumés of each recipient was read out prior to their being called up to stand before the archbishop, who congratulated and presented each with a scroll and an etched glass plaque while Sister Anastasia Young, director of pastoral services, pinned each with an Order of Merit pin.

The Estevan deanery had eight recipients while Esterhazy had nine and the Weyburn and Yorkton/Melville deaneries had one each.

Bohan in his homily said that, by creating the Archdiocesan Order of Merit, the church was recognizing not only the recipients but the many others who give of themselves to their church and their community.

“We’ve talked a lot about stewardship in our diocese these past many months,” he said, ‘This gift of time and talent to God by the people we honour today gives us a very good example of the spirit of true stewardship.”

He also reminded everyone of the many who have gone before and through their efforts built the church over the past 100 years.

The Archdiocesan Order of Merit was created as a centennial project to honour people who have given long and devoted service to the church. The service provided by the recipients included membership and leadership positions held in the Catholic Women’s League, The Knights of Columbus, parish council and committees as well as in ministries and community volunteerism.