Northland couple Jack and Vera Katavich will get medals from Pope Francis for their service to the Catholic Church.
They will be presented with their papal Bene Merenti medals and a framed award by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Patrick Dunn, at a ceremony in the St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Whangarei at 10.30am on Sunday.
It will be a rare honour. It is understood they will be only the 10th and 11th New Zealanders to receive the medal, first awarded by Pope Pius VI (1775-99) to recognise military merit and since 1925 awarded to recognise service to the church.
Jack, 85, and Vera, 79, were born to Catholic migrants of Dalmatian descent who settled in the Far North before the parish of Kaitaia was formed in the early 20th century.
Throughout their married lives, the couple have been deeply involved in parish life. Mr Katavich spent many years on the parish council, at least 12 of them as chairman.