Bishop Michael F. Burbidge presented 50 members of the diocese with papal honors during Solemn Vespers and the Conferral of Ecclesiastical Honors at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Sept. 28.
Honorees included lay faithful, consecrated women religious, and diocesan and parish leaders representing an array of different cultures. “It was a great privilege for me to inform our recipients of the papal honor bestowed upon them by our Holy Father, Pope Leo,” said Bishop Burbidge in his homily. “Without exception, all the recipients mentioned they felt undeserving and never expected such a distinction … I convey heartfelt and sincere congratulations. Your papal honor brings great joy to our entire diocese, and we are so very proud of you.”
Ten men and women were honored with the papal distinction of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For the church and the pontiff) award. “Oh my goodness, we are so humbled to have received this papal honor,” said Deacon Albert Anderson Jr., who received the Cross Pro Ecclesia, as did his wife, Beverly Anderson. Both are members of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, dedicated in 1916 to minister to Black Catholics. The Andersons are longtime members of the Knights of Peter Claver and its Ladies Auxiliary, respectively. “We’ve dedicated our lives to serving the people of God, not expecting any recognition, just hoping that God knows what we’re doing. To be recognized in this way means the world and we’re so honored.”
“I’m so humbled, grateful and encouraged by so many people doing good things for the church,” said Mary Rice Hasson, who attends St. Veronica Church in Chantilly and is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, also received the Cross Pro Ecclesia. “This inspires me to persevere and to continue to be open to whatever God wants.”
Bishop Burbidge presented the awards individually and many were overwhelmed by the moment. “I don’t deserve it,” said Joel Sandoval, a member of St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Middleburg, and a leader in Hispanic evangelization whose voice cracked with emotion when asked what the honor meant to him. Sandoval and 40 others were awarded the Benemerenti Medal (to one who is well-deserving). “Whatever I do, it’s not enough,” he said. “After my conversion, I started working with Father (Christopher) Murphy (pastor of St. Stephen), and God has blessed us with a growing Hispanic church community.”
“I am humbled by all the people who were recognized and all the people throughout the diocese who go unrecognized,” said honoree Laura Coleman, parishioner of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton and principal founder of the diocesan Seminarian Education Endowment Fund. “I’m overwhelmed.”
Robert Tessier, the longest-serving director of youth ministry in the diocese who has been at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas for 23 years, said he was overjoyed to be recognized along with many of his mentors. “I reflect on all the people who I’ve ministered with over the last 30 years,” he said. “This is for all of them. It’s not about me.”
“I’ve been involved in serving the church all my adult life and never dreamed of receiving any honors because that’s not why I’ve done it,” said Mary Beth Riordan, founder and current president of the Laetare Benefit Group and the Catherine de Ricci Guild, both of which raise funds to support the cloistered Dominican Nuns in Linden. Riordan and her husband Daniel were both honored. “We’ve done it all for love.”
“Humility is the biggest feeling I have,” said Victor Sellier, who serves on the Diocesan Finance Council and has devoted himself to helping teenagers heal from mental health problems through a relationship between Catholics and Youth For Tomorrow, an evangelical Christian organization. Sellier and his wife Wendy, parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Great Falls, were awarded the Cross Pro Eccelesia. “Nothing we’ve ever done was with the intention of being recognized. It’s out of the love of God.”
Mary Petrino, a member of the Order of Malta, who led the committee to have St. Mary’s Church in Alexandria designated a minor basilica, was surrounded by extended family from the diocese and Philadelphia. “It’s incredible,” she said. “I’m feeling overwhelmed and grateful to God for being recognized, but like Bishop said, what really matters is when the Lord recognizes us when we get to the other side.”
Bishop Burbidge called attention to the various backgrounds, ages and ministries of the honorees, noting that they are united in their “love for the Lord and his people, their loyalty to the Holy Father and the teachings of the church and their great desire to support our wonderful diocese and its mission,” he said. “Without exception, our recipients accept their papal honors with the sincere hope and prayer that this celebration, with God’s grace and Mary’s intercession, will renew and re-energize all of us to live in a manner worthy of the call we have received for building up the body of Christ, so that we may live with him both now and forever.”
About the honorees
Find brief bios and photos of each papal honoree on the Herald’s website.
