The Ignace-Bourget Diocesan Medal of Merit is named after the second Bishop of Montreal (1840-1876), who bore powerful witness to faith, charity and social commitment in the history of the diocese. His legacy endures to this day. Accordingly, this award seeks to recognize the commitment of individuals and groups who have supported the mission of the Church in the Archdiocese of Montreal over many years. Nominations are submitted by parishes, priests or members of the Archdiocese staff. A committee carefully selects the successful nominations. The award is presented mainly at the diocese’s patronal feast or on any other appropriate date. In addition, recipients are chosen for their involvement and very often reflect the theme of the year.
This year’s recipients
2026
- M. Marcel Lebel
- M. Claude Coursol
- Momentum Catholic Single Mothers
- M. Charles Taker
- Saint Kevin Soup Kitchen
2025
Ceremonies of January 8, 9 and 11, 2025:
- Volunteer group of Notre-Dame-de-la-Trinité parish for Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs church
- Ms. Carole Marcouillier
- Mr. Yvon Sabourin (award received by Ms. Monique Laveau)
- Mr. Robert Le Bouthillier
- Sister Henriette Lépine
2024
Ceremonies of January 10, 11 and 13, 2024:
- Mr. Joseph Thanh Hao Truong, of the Mission Saints-Martyrs-du-Vietnam
- Ms. Pierrette Bujold and Mr. Claude Laflèche, of the Service Avant Mariage Laval (SAML)
- Mr. André Lachambre, of the Maison de la Foi, serving the Deaf community
- The technology and evangelization team of the Mission Santa-Teresa-de-Avila
- The Carrefour Foi et Spiritualité de Bordeaux-Cartierville
Recipients from previous years
Ceremony of January 11, 2020:
- Ms. Jennie Parsons-Armstrong (faith education at St. Monica’s Parish)
- Ms. Anna Diodati-Nolin (faith education at St. Monica’s Parish)
- Sister Annette Boisvert, c.n.d. (Œuvre des Tabernacles)
- Ms. Lise Jacques (Œuvre des Tabernacles)
- Ms. Irma Hernandez (catechist, faith education at Saint-Roch Parish)
- Ms. Terezinha Barbossa-Laberge (catechist, head of catechesis at Saint-Roch Parish)
- Ms. Julie Proulx (volunteering, parish and Saint Vincent de Paul, Bx-François-de-Montmorency-Laval Parish)
- Mr. Gérald Proulx (volunteering, parish and Saint Vincent de Paul, Bx-François-de-Montmorency-Laval Parish)
Ceremony of January 14, 2020:
- Ms. Reine Tremblay-Martel (volunteer since 1969, liturgy, services rendered, Saint-Gilbert Parish)
- Mr. André Dubé (volunteer since 1986, various services, help for the poor, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Parish)
- Mr. Raymond Labbé (volunteer since 1990, maintenance, Saint-Pierre-Claver Parish)
Ceremony of January 15, 2020:
- Sister Mariette Desrochers, m.c.r. (volunteer, coordinator, Partage Saint-Maxime; social ministry)
- Laurent Vermette (volunteer at the Service d’entraide Sainte-Béatrice, Sainte-Béatrice Parish, help for the poor)
Ceremony of September 14, 2018:
- Ms. Julie Waters (volunteer at the Diocesan Centre for Marriage, Life and Family)
- Ms. Micheline Marsan (pastoral worker at Sainte-Rose-de-Lima Parish)
- L’œuvre de Jésus miséricordieux (spreading the spirituality of Saint Faustina Kowalska, apostle of Divine Mercy)
- Mr. Joseph Nguyên Tuung Lam (these three people are volunteers at the Mission Saints-Martyrs-du-Vietnam)
- Ms. Thérèse Quuyh Chi Truong
- Ms. Claire Thi Tuong Nguyên
- Mouvement Savio (pastoral life at the Mission Saints-Martyrs-du-Vietnam)
Ceremony of May 31, 2017:
- Mr. Jean-Charles Déziel, President of the Société historique de Montréal (historical society founded by Jacques Viger, the first mayor of Montreal)
- Brother Érik Oland, of the Society of Jesus (a community involved since the beginnings of Montreal)
- Sister Agnès Campbell, of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame (a community involved since the beginnings of Montreal)
- Mr. Jacques D’Arcy, Priests of Saint-Sulpice (a community involved since the beginnings of Montreal)
- Sister Marie-Thérèse Laliberté, Superior of the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph (a community involved since the beginnings of Montreal)
- Brother Joseph Liu, pastor, The Chinese Catholic Mission (Mission founded in 1904, services including a school)
- The nuns of the Carmel of Montreal
- The Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
- The Brothers of Charity
- The Sisters of Saint Anne
- The Institut Notre-Dame de Vie
- The Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary
- Ms. Marthe Duhamel
- Father Jean-Yves Garneau, s.s.s.
- Sister Donata Palmieri, s.i.
- Sister Dorothy Maher, c.n.d.
- Sister Madeleine Saint-Michel, r.h.s.j.
- Loyola High School
- The Brothers of the Christian Schools
- The Brothers of Saint Gabriel