The Catholic Diocese of Arlington rejoices that our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has bestowed Papal Honors on 50 members of the diocese, concluding our 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee. The Papal Honors, to be formally conferred in a private ceremony by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge at a later date, consist of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice and the Benemerenti Medal.
Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
The Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“For the church and the Pontiff” in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See. It is conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy.
The Cross was established by Leo XIII on 17 July 1888 to commemorate his golden jubilee as a priest and was originally bestowed on the men and women who had aided and promoted the jubilee, and by other means assisted in making the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition successful. In 1898, it became a permanent papal distinction.
Honorees
1. Deacon Albert A. Anderson Jr.
2. Beverly Anderson
3. Jeffrey F. Caruso
4. Mary Rice Hasson
5. Timothy T. O’Donnell
6. Katherine Pryor
7. Stephen Pryor
8. Victor Sellier
9. Wendela (Wendy) Sellier
10. Robert Smith
Benemerenti Medal
The Benemerenti Medal (“To one who is well-deserving” in Latin) is a medal awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established by Pope Pius VI (1775–1799) as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, this medal has been awarded since 1925 as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Catholic Church, both civil and military, lay and clergy alike.
Honorees
1. Leopoldo Alonso
2. Laura Bell
3. Thomas Bell
4. Arthur Bennett
5. Therese Bermpohl
6. Dawn Beutner
7. Kevin Bohli
8. Bertha Braddock
9. Anne Carroll
10. Laura Coleman
11. David Conroy Jr.
12. Timothy Cotnoir
13. Gerard Cousin
14. Sandra Dominick
15. Samuel Dominick
16. Sister Patricia Helene Earl, I.H.M.
17. Louise Fecanin
18. Peter Fecanin
19. Daisy Finney
20. Edwin Finney
21. Joseph Guiffre
22. Marierose Hoang
23. Alan Holmer
24. Moon Kim
25. James McDaniel
26. Sister Donatella Merulla, A.R.
27. Thanh Nguyen
28. Toni Papp
29. Mary Petrino
30. Teresa Reyes
31. Ronald Riggins
32. Daniel Riordan
33. Mary Beth Riordan
34. Morena Guzman Rodriguez
35. Rolando Rodriguez
36. Joel Sandoval
37. Robert Tessier
38. Julie Theobald
39. Sister Mary Attilia Todaro, A.R.
40. Kathleen Wilson
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