Brother Richard Awarded Service Medal From Pope Francis

Good Shepherd’s CEO, Brother Richard MacPhee’s life of service to the Catholic Church and the marginalized populations of Hamilton, Toronto and beyond has been recognized by Pope Francis.

Brother Richard will be honoured with the Benemerenti Medal on November 26 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton. It will be presented to him by His Eminence, Gerald Cyprian Cardinal Lacroix, Primate of Canada and Archbishop of Quebec. In a letter to Brother Richard, announcing the award, Hamilton Bishop Douglas Crosby congratulated him on the honour.

“Your service to the Church and to the community is exemplary and you bring honour to the award. Thank you for your life of service!” wrote Bishop Crosby.

The Benemerenti Medal is awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, it is now a civil decoration. The medal was first awarded by Pope Pius VI (1775–1799) as a military decoration.

The celebration is open to the public, on Sunday, November 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton.