Meritorious Service Medal: Reverend Fred Monk

The Diocese of Calgary congratulates Fr. Fred Monk for the great honour of being bestowed the Meritorious Service Medal for his work of founding Mission Mexico. We thank Fr. Fred for his passion and love towards our sisters and brothers in need especially through the ministry of Mission Mexico.

Through his work in Mission Mexico, many in our Diocese and abroad have been inspired and engaged in providing assistance to the projects that empower the people of the mountainous regions in the state of Guerrero. May Fr. Fred’s living legacy continue to live not only through our ongoing support of Mission Mexico but especially through the individuals and communities who have benefitted from the projects and who are now advocates for the good, growth, and development of their communities.

Father Fred Monk, M.S.M.
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Meritorious Service Medal

Created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Meritorious Service Decorations recognize Canadians for exceptional deeds that bring honour to our country. The cross was originally created in 1984, for members of the military. In 1991, a medal was added to the military division, and both the cross and medal were introduced for civilians.

Fr. Fred Monk

Meritorious Service Cross (M.S.C.)
The Meritorious Service Cross is a silver Greek cross, ends splayed and convexed, bearing the Royal Crown: on one side appears a maple leaf within a circle and a laurel wreath between the arms, and on the other appears the Royal Cypher, and within a double circle the inscription MERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.

The ribbon for the Meritorious Service Cross (Civil Division) is blue and measures 32 mm wide. It has a central white stripe that is 2 mm wide, with two additional white stripes that are each 6 mm wide and centred on the outer third of each side of the ribbon.

Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a circular silver medal bearing the Royal Crown: on one side of which appears the design of the Cross, and on the other appears the Royal Cypher, and within a double circle the inscription MERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.
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The ribbon for the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) is blue and measures 32 mm wide.  It has a central white stripe that is 2 mm wide, with two additional white stripes that are each 6 mm wide and centred on the outer third of each side of the ribbon. These two white stripes are each further divided by a single blue stripe that is 1 mm wide.

History of Mission Mexico
“The first book gives an overview of the issues faced by the people.  Book 2 is our response.  The photographer, is a young man, from one of the villages, who has worked closely with us over the years.  Actually, I guess he is no longer young!  I bought him his first digital camera 18 years ago and he is now a full-time photojournalist. 

The following links will take you to a PDF of the books that I keep on my personal website.  Just scroll through and you will have a good understanding of the many wonderful groups we have partnered with and the smiles of so many whom we have been blessed to be associated with over the past 20 years.”
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• Faces:  Book 1  The Need    https://fredmonk.zenfolio.com/d272848624.pdf
• Faces:  Book 2  Our Response   https://fredmonk.zenfolio.com/faces-book-2.pdf

 
Media

• The Governor General of Canada: https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2020/governor-general-unveils-list-123-remarkable-canadians
• Medicine Hat Newspaper: https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2020/07/02/loonie-priest-honoured-for-mission-mexico/