GALLERY: Kildare's Esther Brady awarded Benemerenti medal for exceptional service to church

Esther Brady from St.Brigids Branch CMWS Kildare was awarded the Benemerenti Medal last week after she was nominated by the National Executive of the CMWS.

The award was presented by Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Loughlin, on Wednesday, July 16 — the feast day of our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Benemerenti Medal is a papal award recognising exceptional service to the Catholic Church. Originally a military decoration for the Papal Army, it is now bestowed upon clergy and laity for their contributions.

Esther was born in 1956 and was subsequently educated by the Presentation Sisters Kildare. From Esther’s early teenage years, she became an active member of the youth club under the banner of St. Brigids Branch of the CMWS (formally the CYMS).

This membership further developed into Esther’s involvement in the CMWS Badminton club.

Esther is a very active member of the community and a superb fundraiser for various charities, local and national. She is the third generation of her family, grandmother, mother and herself, to commit to and the promotion of, the Carmelite Order in Kildare Town. In 1996, Esther, with others, organised a group of pilgrims to travel to Lourdes from Kildare parish. As years progressed, the group came under the banner of the Kildare Lourdes Carmelite Order.

The group travel to Lourdes annually each September under the national body of the Carmelite Order. In preparation for these trips, sick pilgrims from the local community are nominated to travel. Transition students from the local community college are also selected to travel as helpers with the aged and sick pilgrims. This September will see the pilgrimage depart for its 37th year.

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Esther, along with the Lourdes committee, would be the driving force behind various fundraising events, in order to secure places for the sick travelling to the holy shrine.

Esther has a special devotion to our Lady, which grew from a very early age. While she has deep faith, to Esther, religion is a personal thing, and how people practice their faith is their own business.

In conversation about Lourdes, and pilgrimages, with the sick, Esther said: “I really love the commitment, it’s also a way of giving back to others less fortunate with good health. If you are going to give of your time to others, do it to assist others, and not for any personal gain.”

The Kildare town resident is married to husband Jim and they have adult children and grandchildren. Esther is a respected member of our community, who always puts others before herself.

St.Brigids branch of the CMWS Kildare is one of the success stories, and Esther is the current Hon Treasurer. She is also a member of the National Executive of the CMWS, and contributes in a most positive way in the promotion of the CMWS.