Chair of the Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations, Brian Lawrence, was last week presented a Knighthood of the Order of Pope Saint Sylvester.
The presentation was made for Mr Lawrence’s nine-year commitment to the work of the Council by the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Yllana, on behalf of Pope Francis.
Archbishop Yllana presented the Order during the Australian bishops’ plenary meeting at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, on Tuesday, 24 November.
“Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff, received the petition considering the growth and the good of the Church, has granted Brian Lawrence of the Diocese of Cairns, to be a Knight of the Order of Pope Saint Sylvester, declared in Rome on the 18 August 2015,” Archbishop Yllana said.
Receiving the Order, Mr Lawrence acknowledged that receiving an Order like this is not recognition for him, but a recognition for the subject he has been involved in over the past number of years
“We need to formulate what the Church is concerned about and the principles upon which we can give a view of an economic system that would be more just and would be able to confront day-to-day problems faced by our Catholic agencies,” Mr Lawrence said.
Archbishop Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, presented Brian Lawrence with a certificate of appreciation for his nine years of service on the Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations.
“We sincerely value and appreciate you and your work and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future,” Archbishop Hart said.
Bishop of Cairns, James Foley, congratulated Mr Lawrence on receiving the Order and thanked him for his years of service.