Bene Merenti Medal for Pickering Organist

Dennis Selina received his Bene Merenti medal and the thanks and best wishes of all at St Joseph’s, Pickering, on Sunday 10th January. Those present on the cold morning represented only a fraction of the many people who had known Dennis throughout his life and had benefited from his great contribution to the music ministry of the Church.

In presenting the medal, Fr Bill East spoke of Dennis’s start as a church organist, at the age of just 14, at St Augustine’s Church in Leeds. It was 1941, during the war, and adult organists were in short supply. Since then, Dennis has been associated with a number of churches, including Our Lady of Lourdes, Hessle, and St Vincent’s in Hull. He and his family came to St Joseph’s, Pickering, in 1976, and just last year, stepped down from the post of musical director, while continuing to play the organ.

Fr Bill concluded his remarks by saying ‘I am honoured to be the one to present this much-deserved award to Dennis, and offer him most sincere thanks on behalf of the Holy Father and the Church for his lifetime of service.’

Fr Brian Nicholson, one of a number of people prevented by the bad weather from being with Dennis for the presentation, sent a message recalling Dennis’s time at St Vincent’s. ‘It was always wonderful to hear Dennis play the organ: he made the organ speak. The people of St Vincent’s thought the world had come to an end when the Selinas moved to Pickering.’

In responding to the presentation, Dennis made particular mention of the support his wife Joyce had given him over the years, and also thanked all those currently involved in the music ministry at St Joseph’s.