THE SECRETARY of an ancient charitable body in Manchester has received the papal Benemerenti medal for services to the Catholic community.
Leo Casey has served the Broughton Catholic charitable society for 15 years. This charity is one of Britain’s oldest, founded in 1787 in order to help farming families cope with the devastation of smallpox. Today its charitable works are remarkable, raising a record £26,000 this year alone. On receiving the award, Mr Casey modestly insisted that it was really for the work of the whole of Broughton Society and its members.
Pope Gregory XVI set up the Benemerenti medal in 1832. It is given to those who have exhibited excep tional service to the Church as well as their families and community.
The word Benemerenti denotes a well-deserving person and is displayed on the medal’s face, surrounded by a crown of oak leaves.