Una and Ray O’Halloran receive the Vatican’s recognition of their outstanding contribution to church and community

Sunday 27th October was a morning of great celebration as parishioners, friends, family and colleagues attended morning Mass at St Mary Moorfields. The Mass celebrated the award to Una and Ray O’Halloran of the Papal Benemerenti medal. This is a high award given to Catholic laity for outstanding service to the Church and community. It is thought to be the only time in living memory that a couple in Britain have both received this award from the Pope.

Fr Chris Vipers, priest at St Mary Moorfields, was fulsome in his praise for Una and Ray’s contribution to the parish and community. He remarked that, following his arrival as priest in 2016, he had continuously been “nagged” by many parishioners to recommend Una and Ray for a Papal recognition. He was thrilled that the Vatican had approved them from amongst many hundreds of worthy proposals considered by Rome. Fr Chris presented Una and Ray with their medals to prolonged applause from the congregation.

Una and Ray are lifelong pillars of the Islington community. Both grew up in Islington and went to North London secondary schools. Una went to La Sainte Union and Ray was at St Aloyisus. They have both given back much to the schools and community that raised them. Una was a Governor at St Joseph’s Primary school for 12 years. Ray served as a Foundation Governor at St. Aloyisus Primary School from 2016 to 2023 and has been Chair of the Board of Trustees at St. Luke’s Parochial Trust since 2017. Ray has worked in premises management for a number of large London institutions. Mid career he studied at Birkbeck before being awarded an MBA by London Met University. For all their adult lives, Una and Ray have been dedicated to their church, taking on responsible parish roles including the safeguarding lead.

Una was first elected to Islington Council in May 2014 representing Caledonian Ward. She served as Islington’s Mayor 2017-18 and became the full-time Executive Member for Communities in 2019. From 2022 she has held the high profile portfolio responsibility for housing and communities. She is the first elected lead member in over three decades who is also a Council tenant. Before election to the Council, Una worked as a school Teaching Assistant and was a GMB workplace representative.

Cllr Sara Hyde remarked: “It was a pleasure and honour to attend Mass for Una and Ray. They are a wonderful couple who have both given great service to their Church and community. Paul Convery and I are both very proud to represent the Cally on Islington Council alongside Una.”