Medals for good servants

Jack (85) and Vera (79) Katavich have been recognised by Pope Francis for their service to the Catholic Church - and he's not the first pope they have pleased.

Catholic Bishop of Auckland Patrick Dunn presented the couple with rare Bene Merenti medals and framed papal awards at the St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Whangarei. It is understood they are only the 10th and 11th New Zealanders to receive the medals, first awarded by Pope Pius VI (1775-99) to recognise military merit, and since 1925 to lay people for service to the church.

The couple had lived all their lives in Kaitaia until a two years ago, when they moved to Whangarei for medical reasons. And throughout those years their home was a haven for priests and nuns, while they themselves were deeply involved in the church community.

Many Kaitaia people travelled to Whangarei to see the couple honoured and to congratulate them.

Mr Katavich later produced a gold medallion he and his wife were given when Pope John Paul II visited New Zealand in 1986.

The large medallion has an image of Pope John Paul II holding a crucifix on one side and Jesus and the Apostles on the other.

Then Kaitaia parish priest Fr John Dooley had given it to the Katavichs while having dinner at their home.

"He said Pope John Paul's bishop representative in New Zealand had told him to give it to someone worthy, and he thought we should have it," Mr Katavich said.

Asked how he felt about the medallion being followed by the Bene Merenti medals, he said: "We certainly never expected anything like this."

And Mrs Katavich said she was overwhelmed by the double papal awards.

"I was a bit tearful when we got the medals. I couldn't help myself crying," she said.