Papal award for Hilary Moraes

Jul 1 2009 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

ONE of Stirling’s prominent community activists has been honoured by The Pope.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien celebrated mass in St Modan’s High School chapel to mark the retirement of Hilary Moraes as church representative on Stirling Council – Hilary has been church representative since 1998.

The Mass was assisted by Father Kenneth Owens, parish priest of St Mary’s, Stirling, and Father Jamie Boyle, parish priest of Our Lady and St Ninian, Bannockburn and St Modan’s school chaplain.

The mass was attended by the leaders of all political parties on Stirling Council, chief executive Bob Jack, children’s services director, David Cameron, headteachers and parents representatives from St Modan’s cluster.

Cardinal O’Brien presented a surprised Mr Moraes with a papal honour – Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice – cross from Pope Benedict, for services to Catholic education.

Mr Moraes – who was an assistant rector at St Modan’s in Stirling and depute rector at St Mungo’s High School in Falkirk before retiring – also received presentations from the St Modan’s cluster schools and the PTAs.