DFA: Two Fil-Ams receive Benemerenti awards from Pope

Pope Benedict XVI conferred the Benemerenti awards on two Filipino-Americans based in San Francisco, California. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the two Fil-Ams who received a papal award were Titus Verzosa and Nellie Hizon. "I am proud that our kababayans have received the Benemerenti Awards, which recognized their exceptional ministry to their respective churches. May they continue to be shining lights of exemplary dedication to the church, faith and community that they serve," Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr. said. The Benemerenti medal is conferred on people who showed long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families, and community. "According to accessible records, only about seventy-five individuals received the award from 1949 to the present," the DFA said. Verzosa received his medal and certificate from the Holy See on February 20 this year. Hizon, on the other hand, will receive her medal and insignia of the Papal Honor on August 14. Her award will be presented by San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer at St. Mary's Cathedral. Benemerenti medal The Benemerenti medal, instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, ranks second in importance after the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. It is bestowed upon Catholic men and women who have rendered significant service to the Church and society. The Benemerenti is a gold Greek cross depicting the image of Christ, his hand raised in blessing. On the left of the transverse arm of the cross is a depiction of the tiara and crossed keys, and to the right is the sheilf of the current Pope and his motto. On the reverse is the word Benemerenti, which means "good merit." Church volunteers The pope awarded Verzosa, a resident of Fresno, California for his 17 years of dedicated service and leadership as a choir director, finance council member and a coordinator of several fund raising events for St. Mary Queen of Apostles parish. On the other hand, Hizon is the Vice Chairperson of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council in San Francisco. She was instrumental in institutionalizing the Simbang Commissioning Celebration in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2008 with Archbishop Niederauer as the main celebrant - the first archdiocesan-wide celebration in the United States. "In the ceremony, the Archdiocese recognized the significant spiritual impact of the Filipino tradition of the Simbang Gabi," it said. Last year, Pope Benedict XVI awarded the medal to Filipino couple Oscar Pioquinto Batucan wife Miriam, who reside in New Zealand. The award was presented by Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn on January 17, 2010. They were the first Filipino-New Zealand couple who were given the award, the DFA said. - VVP, GMA News