Papal honour for Hurley
A Taranaki woman dubbed a taonga to the Catholic community has received a long standing prestigious Papal honour.
Margaret Hurley was awarded a Benemerenti Medal, a decoration awarded by the Pope during a service at New Plymouth’s St Joseph’s church on Sunday.
Originally established in the late 1700s as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, the medal was extended to the clergy and nonclergy in 1925 for services to the church.
The 79-year-old, who was nominated for the award for her musical contributions in the parish and wider community, her unwavering support of families and for her long service to teaching, said she felt overcome by the recognition.
‘‘I’ll take it but only on behalf of all of the other parishioners in the Catholic community they’re doing a lot more than I do.’’
Father Simon Story said Hurley was a taonga not just to the Catholic community but to all of New Plymouth. ‘‘She says yes to every musical request and has done so for a millennia and expects very little back.’’
Born into a large Catholic family in Pungarehu, Hurley, who in 2014 was given a Citizens’ Award for her contribution to the New Plymouth community, has published music for Catholic congregations throughout New Zealand. A retired teacher, she has been involved with the New Plymouth Operatic Society since the 1950s, recently playing keyboard in Phantom of the Opera.