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Papal award for Chris York
Prestigious award from Pope Benedict as Commodore York prepares to retire
Pope Benedict XVI has awarded Commodore Christopher York, national director of AOS GB, a Knighthood of the Order of St Gregory (KSG) for his service to the Catholic Church. This award comes as Chris prepares to retire at the end of March 2008 in recognition of all his years of service.
The Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great was established in 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI and is one of the five pontifical orders of knighthood. The order is bestowed on Catholic men and women in recognition of their service to the Church, support of the Holy See, and the good example they set to their communities. The insignia of the honour is an eight-pointed cross, suspended from a red and gold ribbon. The cross bears a representation of St Gregory and the motto Pro Deo et Principe which means "for God and the authority of the Church".
Chris York, accompanied by his wife Sue, receives his award from Bishop |
Commodore Chris York was educated at St Aloysius College Glasgow and St Brendan’s College Bristol. He joined the Royal Naval College Dartmouth as a naval cadet in 1964. Initially training as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, he later specialised in maritime operations. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1998 with the rank of Commodore after a range of operational seagoing appointments and extensive periods of ship command.
This experience, combined with his spiritual beliefs, led to Chris being appointed as national director of AOS GB in 2001. In 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed Chris as one of eight new consultants for the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People.
Bishop Tom Burns, Bishop Promoter of AOS commented
Throughout the 20 plus years that I have known Chris York, he has struck me as a highly professional leader and also a deeply spiritual man. His service to the Church has been second-to-none. The one million seafarers who visit British ports each year have much to be thankful to him for. In recognition of his experience and valued service, the Holy See has now honoured him with a Knighthood of St Gregory. Congratulations and many thanks, Sir Christopher!