Dempsey Medal recipient

‘The Dempsey Medal is awarded annually by the Archbishop of Sydney to members of the Catholic clergy and laity. The Dempsey Medal is an honour named in recognition of a lay Catholic pioneer from Sydney’s early European settlement. James Dempsey was transported to Sydney in 1802 for his involvement in the Vinegar Hill rebellion in Co. Wexford. The Dempsey Medal seeks to encourage and to recognise outstanding contributions and service by members of the Sydney Archdiocesan community to the local Catholic Church or the wider society. Although the Dempsey Medal is awarded for outstanding service or witness to parish, diocese or community, it is primarily intended to recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution in the context of their local parish.’

 – The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney

On Sunday 6 July, my nonna (grandmother), Maria Antonia Canu, was one of the proud recipients of a Dempsey Medal (36 others across Sydney also being nominated for their hard work). 

The Dempsey Medal was presented during a special Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney. The Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney, The Most Reverend Archbishop Anthony Fisher, with 12 other parish priests celebrating with him. 

The medal was presented to my nonna for her more than 30 years of service within the Catholic Parish of Earlwood (Our Lady of Lourdes) supporting the Italian Community as well as her ongoing support to the local parish itself. Her service involved taking the eucharist to those who were sick, ensuring they got the body of Christ, taking part in the Italian Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis), reading at the Italian Mass, participating in the walk with Christ annually and the general laity of the parish. 

It was a great honour for my nonna to receive this award, amongst many other well recognised individuals who received the award, and a great pleasure to see her receive it and be recognised for her work. 

Gemma Canu
Year 12