Peter Young from St Ambrose in Kidderminster has been awarded the Ubi Caritas for services to the parish.

He was presented with the award by Auxiliary Bishop David Evans (pictured) at Mass on Wednesday 7 December.

The Archdiocese of Birmingham recognises those who have made a significant contribution to the work of the diocese by granting its Ubi Caritas Award.

Besides being one of the first parish members of the Catholic Men’s Society (CMS), Peter, together with his late wife Elin, were the first to offer voluntary help to the now parish priest Fr Douglas Lamb as accountants when he arrived at the parish in 1992.

He was also instrumental in helping the late Deacon Dr Peter Mason to form the Parishes Ambrosian Group. This group’s main aims are to create fellowship and service to the parish community.

Peter said: “This is a great honour to have been singled out and I feel humbled to have received it. I was taken completely by surprise to be nominated for this award.”

CMS was founded in 1854 by Dean O'Brien and is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Branches across the Archdiocese of Birmingham include St Ambrose, Kidderminster; St Wulstan & St Thomas of Canterbury, Stourport; Holy Family, Bewdley; Our Lady & St Kenelm, Halesowen and Holy Trinity, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Today CMS is a society of service helping to meet the needs of men’s spirituality; encouraging, helping and preparing them to become active and responsible Christians so that they may be able to assume the responsible role of the layman in the Church today, serving their church, parish and society.