Bill McEntee of Rathcoole was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Francis for his outstanding services to the Church. Alas, the award came through too late for him to receive it in person. He died on Thursday 13th and so the honour was presented to him posthumously at his funeral in St Mary's on the afternoon of Saturday 15th (details here).
The Medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 to honour those who had served Christian society in a particularly meritorious way (see more details here). Fr John Gilligan has spoken of Bill’s long and faithful service to Rathcoole church, referring in particular to his looking after its finances, his putting up the crib for Christmas every year and, over the course of many years, his taking care of opening and locking the church itself.
A transcription and translation of the parchment accompanying the medal may be seen here.
