Dorothy Rowcliffe, who has given voluntary service to the church and presbytery for more than 60 years, and Francisco and Manuela Vieira, who have been supporting the Portuguese Catholic community at St Thomas’ for 40 years, will be presented with the Diocesan Medal by Monsignor Nicholas France, the Catholic Dean, on behalf of the Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Rev Philip Egan on Easter Monday.
All three said that they were surprised to have been recognised as they enjoyed the work and did it for the love of the church and not for any reward, but they were pleased, nonetheless, that the Bishop had, at the recommendation of Monsignor France, presented them with the award.
Monsignor France said that the purpose of the medals was to thank the recipients for all they had done, often behind the scenes and not expecting any reward but for the love of God and the church.
