Wee Waa’s Mrs Anne Ciesiolka attended an evening service last Saturday, November 8, as she always does at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Wee Waa.
Last Saturday however was special for Mrs Ciesiolka as she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal with her family watching on.
The medal is an award of the Roman Catholic Church, also known as the ‘Cross of Honour’.
The honour is given for distinguished service to the church and is the highest medal that can be awarded to lay people by the pope.
Mrs Ciesiolka spent several years as a high school teacher, has been a member of the Newman Society and Queensland Catholic Society, was an unpaid volunteer of home science classes and spent time on the St Joseph’s Primary School, Wee Waa, P and F association.
She is currently a member of the Liturgy Committee, a church organist, singer and reader and assists in monthly church services at Weeronga Hostel.
Mrs Ciesiolka has been a catechist (scripture teacher) for Wee Waa, Pilliga, Burren Junction and Gwabegar public schools for 40 years, and has held many other volunteer positions within St Andrew’s Parish, Wee Waa community and Armidale Diocese.
There on the night to present Mrs Ciesiolka with her medal was Bishop of the Armidale Diocese Michael Kennedy and Armidale Diocese CCD coordinator Rickie Withers, alongside St Andrew’s Parish Priest Father Paul Anthony Aguilar.