Giving.
Recognition

Honours & Awards

 

The Diocese of Broken Bay, from time to time, acknowledges and honours the contribution of men and women to the life and Mission of the Church. Therefore, a Diocesan Awards Committee has been established to nominate for honours and awards to encourage aspirations and ideals of the highest standards and value of the Catholic Church.

This Committee provides the Bishop with a consistent and transparent framework for the encouragement, evaluation, and recommendation of nominations.

Anne Duncan, in 2026, received the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Sylvester, Pope and Martyr, for commitment, leadership, and faith, demonstrated by 43 years of service to Catholic education within the Diocese.

Awards Ceremony

Papal Honours

The papal honours system dates for many centuries. Each honour or award has its own history and relevance. The system of papal honours for laity is constituted by three separate Orders.

  • Order of Pius IX
  • Order of St Gregory the Great
  • Order of St Sylvester

The Pontiff may also grant:

  • Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross
  • Benemerenti medal

Papal honours recognise those who have:

  • Shown outstanding valour and bravery
  • Carried out conspicuous deeds of merit
  • Provided significant services to the Church maintaining unswerving fidelity to God and the Pontiff
Download Nomination Form

Diocesan Awards

The Diocesan Medal encourages and recognises outstanding contributions and service by members of the Diocese to their parish, diocese, and community.

It is primarily intended to recognise outstanding contribution in the context of their local parish. At the discretion of the Bishop, it may be awarded to a non-Catholic recognizing their support for the work of the Diocese.

Nominations for the Diocesan Medal are assessed in the same way as nominations for Papal Awards, but the decision to make the award rests solely with the Bishop rather than the Holy See.

Download Nomination Form

Civic Awards

Australian and other civic honours encourage and reinforce community and national aspirations by identifying role models.

Information about the Order of Australia can be found at www.itsanhonour.gov.au. A person nominating a Catholic for a civic honour may write to the Diocese of Broken Bay Awards Committee requesting that the Bishop, or another appropriate diocesan representative, support the nomination.

The Committee is pleased to receive details of a person who may be suitable to be nominated for Australian or other civic honours by the Bishop or another appropriate diocesan representative.

Download Nomination Form

Nominations Process

  1. 1

    Confidentiality

    Nominations are to be confidential: the person being nominated should not be approached for information or advised of their nomination at any stage; the Committee or the Diocese shall not respond to requests made by nominators or other interested parties about the progress of any particular nomination; and information provided to the Committee in a nomination is used only to assist the Bishop and the Committee in considering the merits of the nomination.

  2. 2

    Submission

    Any person worthy of grateful recognition by the Church and by society can be nominated for consideration of an Award by the Bishop. Any person, including clergy, Religious, or Church agency, commission, or similar group, can make nominations. A Nomination Form is to be completed.

  3. 3

    Assessment

    The process of assessment and recommendation may take up to two years. Recipients are advised in writing by the Bishop. In respect to Papal Awards, if the Bishop accepts the recommendations of the Committee, the Bishop forwards the nomination to the Vatican Secretariat of State for consideration. The final decision on such Awards rests with the Holy See.

The three awards categories are Papal Honours, Diocesan Awards, and Civic Awards.

Diocesan Awards Committee

The Diocesan Awards Committee has been appointed by the Bishop for the period November 2023 to November 2026 (renewable once). Membership, comprising no less than six members, includes three ex officio and three appointed members.

The Diocesan Awards Committee meets a minimum of twice a year.

  • The Vicar General (Chair)
  • The Chancellor
  • The Director of Communications
  • A Member of the Council of Priests
  • Two lay members with appropriate skills

Contact Information

If further information is required, please email the Chancellor.

chancellor@bbcatholic.org.au