SSVP man Richard honoured by Pope Francis
Congratulations to Richard Steinbach who has been honoured with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal.
The award is given to those who have shown distinguished service to the Church and the papacy and is the highest medal that the Pope can award to a layperson.
His work within the SSVP has been devoted to the good causes of assisting the vulnerable and needy, visiting sick and housebound, providing transport to Mass for limited mobility parishioners.
His care and compassion for others was expressed in many ways, including his active support for the SSVP Fife Furniture Project, and the Missionaries of Charity Project.
In the days leading up to Christmas, Richard would be delivering bags of groceries and gifts to those in need. He enthusiastically encouraged SSVP Youth activities, visiting schools and arranging visits for the SSVP Youth Development Co-ordinator.
No tribute to Richard would be complete without mentioning his wife, Elaine. Many SSVP members rely on the active support of their spouses and Elaine, herself an SSVP member, has always been available to assist him.
Over the years, Richard has quietly encouraged others to participate more fully in the life of the parish. On the social side, he is an active supporter and worker for the family fun days and social events organised for the benefit of his parish.
He has fulfilled the role of Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for many years, choir member and is currently one of the Lectors of the parish.
Richard has exercised his pastoral roles throughout these years with such modesty that the extent of his commitment and involvement within the parish would not be known by many parishioners.
Applause for Ivor as he receives Archdiocesan medal
Aplause rang out at St Peter's in Morningside when a former headteacher and dedicated parishioner was awarded the Archdiocesan Medal by Archbishop Leo Cushley.
Ivor Clarke received the medal at the 11:30am Sunday Mass at the church and was joined by his wife Marna.
Parish priest Kevin Douglas nominated Ivor for the award, saying: "He and Marna are moving through to Glasgow and we felt it would be fitting to mark his years of service.
"It's a moment when the torch is passed from one generation of volunteers to another. We are please he has been honoured this way."
Since retiring, Ivor he has served as a parish rep on the local school council and helped facilitate good relations between the local primary school, St Peter's, and parish.
He ran the altar servers' formation programme at the parish for close to two decades. He and Marna have also served as sacristans for many years at St Peter's and also at St Columba's.
Ivor worked in the Archdiocese as a teacher at Catholic schools, including St Margaret's in Hawick and St Kenneth's in Livingston and was head teacher at St Peter's in Morningside before retiring.
The Archdiocesan Medal for Outstanding Service to the Church was established in 1975 by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, then Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh. Since then, just over 100 or so medals have been awarded for “outstanding voluntary service” to the Church at a local level.
Main image: Ivor and Marna with Archbishop Leo Cushley. Also pictured are Fr Kevin Douglas (left), Deacon John Smith (right) and altar servers.