BRAINTREE -- In recognition of service to the Catholic community in the Boston Archdiocese, 96 people will receive a Cheverus Award Medal from Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley during a 3 p.m. prayer service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Nov. 20.

"It's the Catholic version of the unsung hero award," said Scot Landry, secretary for Catholic Media in the archdiocese.

Established in 2008, in conjunction with the archdiocese's bicentennial celebration, the Cheverus Award is named after the first Bishop of Boston, Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus. Bishop Cheverus led the diocese from 1808 until his return to his native France in 1824.

The award is given to lay people, deacons and religious in parishes and other archdiocesan ministries for their service to the Church and the people of God. Recipients are nominated by pastors, regional bishops and the central ministries of the archdiocese. Cardinal O'Malley also chooses some of the recipients personally.

"These folks have all served the parish and the community of faith in the archdiocese extraordinarily well over a period of many years," said Landry.

In a homily during last year's Cheverus Awards prayer service, Cardinal O'Malley thanked recipients for their "humble" service.

"The archdiocese would come to a screeching halt without the army of volunteer staff that carries out, day by day, our faith and activities," said the cardinal.

Since there is no limit to the amount of guests a recipient can invite, the Cathedral could see a repeat of last year's packed house.

Recipients will receive an oval shaped, silver medal with an image of Bishop Cheverus on one side and his coat of arms on the other.

Landry said he thinks the humble service of many of the recipients "echo the humble approach that Father Cheverus and then Bishop Cheverus had."

The Nov. 21 edition of archdiocesan radio show "The Good Catholic Life" hosted by Landry will feature Cheverus Award coverage.

2011 Cheverus Award recipients

Mr. Arthur Abbott, St. Paul Parish, Hamilton/Wenham

Mr. Paul G. Alconada, Sacred Heart Parish, Weymouth

Mr. Frank Joseph Angiulo, St. Theresa of Lisieux Parish, Sherborn

Mr. R. Stephen Barrett, Archdiocesan Improved Financial Relationship Committee

Ms. Helen Barrett, RN, St. Gregory Parish, Dorchester

Sister Marian Batho, CSJ, Pastoral Center

Ms. Roberta Breen, St. Mary Parish, Billerica

Mrs. Virginia Budak, St. Thecla Parish, Pembroke

Mr. Paul Carlin, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Peabody

Mrs. Lillian Carr, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Nahant

Ms. Ann Casey, St. Marguerite d'Youville Parish, Dracut

Mr. Paul J. Cavanaugh, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Plymouth

Mr. William Celeste, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Chelsea/Everett

Mr. Anthony Cerullo, St. Florence Parish, Wakefield

Mr. Augustine Chiango, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Topsfield

Mr. Vincent Concannon, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Swampscott

Mr. William Conley, St. Margaret Mary Parish, Westwood

Deacon Anthony J. Constantino, Central Region - Sacred Heart Parish, East Boston

Mrs. Elizabeth Constantino, Sacred Heart Parish, East Boston

Mrs. Kathleen Darby, St. James Parish, Haverhill

Mr. Vincent DeBaggis, St. Mary Parish, Franklin

Brother John J. DelCasale, OSA, St. Augustine Parish, Andover

Mr. Albert DeLuca, St. Lucy Parish, Methuen

Mr. Stephen P. DesRoche, St. Mary Parish, Quincy

Ms. Joan Dixon, St. Brigid Parish, South Boston

Ms. Catharine-Mary Donovan, Our Lady of Victories Parish, Boston

Mr. Richard G. Donovan, St. Margaret Parish, Burlington

Mr. John Every, St. Stephen's Church, North End, Boston

Mrs. Joan M. Fawls, St. Mary of the Hills Parish, Milton

Ms. Angela Federico, St. Adelaide Parish, Pebody

Mrs. Mary Therese Ferraris, St. Jude Parish, Norfolk

Mr. George Fischer, St. Mary Parish, Georgetown

Mr. Daniel Fitzpatrick, St. James Parish, Stoughton

Mrs. Marilyn Fougere, St. George Parish, Framingham

Sister Gioviana Fratelli, PDDM, Central Region

Sister Rose Clarisse Gadoury, S.S.A., West Region

Mr. John Gaffny, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Lawrence

Mr. George Gambale, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, East Boston

Ms. Mary Ann Gioregio, St. Anthony Parish, Revere

Mr. John F. Golden, Immaculate Conception Parish, Stoughton

Mr. Arthur Graf, St. Joseph Parish, Somerville

Mr. James M. Gurley, St. Brendan Parish, Dorchester

Ms. Frances Hauck, Holy Name Parish, West Roxbury

Ms. Frances X. Hogan, Mass Catholic Conference - Pro Life and Family Life Committee

Deacon Joseph E. Holderried, West Region - St. Margaret Mary Parish, Westwood

Sister Maureen Joseph Hunt, CSJ, St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham

Mrs. Patricia M. Jackson, St. Bernadette Parish, Randolph

Deacon John F. Jennette, South Region - St. Joseph Parish Quincy (Senior)

Sister Francis Anita Kearns, SC, South Region

Mrs. Kathleen Kelly, St. Jerome Parish, Weymouth

Mrs. Ann T. Lawrence, Holy Ghost Parish, Whitman

Ms. Anne Lazzaro, Saint Joseph, West End, Boston

Ms. Eileen Lessard, St. Pius V Parish, Lynn

Ms. Marianne Luthin, Pastoral Center

Mrs. Barbara C. MacKenzie, St. Bonaventure Parish, Manomet

Mr. John Malloy, St. Peter Parish, Plymouth

Mr. Thomas J. Maloney, St. Ann Parish, West Bridgewater

Deacon Michael J. Markham, Merrimack Region - Our Lady of Grace Parish, Pepperell

Mr. Kevin Martin, Gate of Heaven Parish, South Boston

Ms. Teresa L. McCallion, Regina Cleri

Mr. Frank McCarthy, St. Rita Parish, Lowell

Mr. John H. McCarthy, Archdiocesan Finance Council

Ms. Marge McGlone, St. Eulalia Parish, Winchester

Mr. Michael A. McGroarty, St. Joseph Parish, Quincy

Mrs. Denise McKinnon-Biernat, Pastoral Center

Ms. Maureen Megnia, St. John the Evangelist Church, Cambridge

Mr. James D. Merloni, St. Cecilia Parish, Ashland

Mrs. Christine Moran, St. Mary Parish, Chelmsford

Mr. Chester Morrill, St. Richard Parish, Danvers

Mrs. Patricia Morrill, St. Richard Parish, Danvers

Mrs. Joanne Murphy Abbott, St. John Seminary

Sister Mary Murphy, SNDdeN, Notre Dame High School, Lawrence

Ms. Linda Newall, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Marblehead

Mrs. Mary Neylon, St. Margaret Parish, Lowell

Mr. Leo P. O'Brien, Sacred Hearts Parish, Malden

Mr. Robert S. O'Connor, St. Mary Parish, Randolph

Ms. Jean M. Perry, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Cambridge

Mr. Joseph L. Poirier, St. Mary Parish, Plymouth

Mrs. Leona Preble, Holy Redeemer Parish, Merrimac

Ms. Theresa Raso, St. Joseph Parish, Boston

Ms. Vincenza Raspa, St. Leonard Church, Boston

Dr. Owen D. Reynolds, M.D., Central Region - Volunteer, Metro Youth Service Center

Mr. John Richardson, St. Joseph Parish, Medway

Mrs. Agnes Romano, St. Dorothy Parish, Wilmington

Mr. Paul Sandman, Archdiocesan Finance Council

Mrs. Eileen Simmons, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Pepperell

Ms. Paula Skalinski, St. Ann Parish, Neponset

Dr. Richard Spagnuolo, Central Region - Volunteer, Metro Youth Service Center

Ms. Mary Rose Sullivan, St. Barbara Parish, Woburn

Mr. John Swymer, St. Agnes Parish, Reading

Mr. Benoit Thibault, St. Augustine Parish, Andover

Mr. Pellegrino Tulimieri, St. Albert the Great Parish, Weymouth

Mrs. Joan Vinal, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Dracut

Brother Daniel F. Walters, OSB, South Region

Mrs. Carol A. Weese, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Weymouth

Mr. Hercules Werneck, Brazilian Apostolate