ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Popular community personality Wenceslaus Anthony received the much awaited Papal Medal conferred on him by none other than Pope Francis of Vatican earlier in March this year, in a glittering ceremony at the Auckland’s St Mary’s Church on Sunday, May 21.
Speaking exclusively with Indian Weekender, Wenceslaus Anthony or Wency as he is known fondly among his family, friends and the community, said in his usual humble way that “this is the ultimate recognition for me and from now on my main focus is to live up to this unparalleled recognition I have received.”
Mr Anthony is an ardent community worker and the chairman of the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee along with being a leading Kiwi-Indian businessman, an ex-chair of India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC).
The church of St Mary's was bursting with visitors who came out in numbers to watch and support Mr Anthony’s award ceremony.
The popularity and the community support for Mr Anthony’s felicitation ceremony was evident in the sheer numbers of community leaders, politicians and other dignitaries present on occasion.
Prominent personalities present were Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Phil Twyford, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Rakesh Naidoo, Alastair Bell, Charles Pandey, Sameer Handa, Lawrence Pooniah, Jacob Mannothra, Prince Kumar, Gul Zaman, Shefali Mehta, Jeet Suchdev, Ranjna Patel and Prahlad Gupta.
The medal was pinned on by Dame Lyndsey Freer, spokesperson of the Bishop of Auckland Catholic Diocese. Vicar General Bernard Kiely presented the framed citation.
The publisher of this paper was the only non-Church individual who got to felicitate Mr Anthony with a memento on the stage.
Wenceslaus Anthony took this opportunity to thank his wife Susan Anthony who has stood behind him and given him the strength to be able to get this papal recognition.
Popular community personality Wenceslaus Anthony received the much awaited Papal Medal conferred on him by none other than Pope Francis of Vatican earlier in March this year, in a glittering ceremony at the Auckland’s St Mary’s Church on Sunday, May 21.
Speaking exclusively with Indian Weekender,...
Popular community personality Wenceslaus Anthony received the much awaited Papal Medal conferred on him by none other than Pope Francis of Vatican earlier in March this year, in a glittering ceremony at the Auckland’s St Mary’s Church on Sunday, May 21.
Speaking exclusively with Indian Weekender, Wenceslaus Anthony or Wency as he is known fondly among his family, friends and the community, said in his usual humble way that “this is the ultimate recognition for me and from now on my main focus is to live up to this unparalleled recognition I have received.”
Mr Anthony is an ardent community worker and the chairman of the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee along with being a leading Kiwi-Indian businessman, an ex-chair of India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC).
The church of St Mary's was bursting with visitors who came out in numbers to watch and support Mr Anthony’s award ceremony.
The popularity and the community support for Mr Anthony’s felicitation ceremony was evident in the sheer numbers of community leaders, politicians and other dignitaries present on occasion.
Prominent personalities present were Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Phil Twyford, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Rakesh Naidoo, Alastair Bell, Charles Pandey, Sameer Handa, Lawrence Pooniah, Jacob Mannothra, Prince Kumar, Gul Zaman, Shefali Mehta, Jeet Suchdev, Ranjna Patel and Prahlad Gupta.
The medal was pinned on by Dame Lyndsey Freer, spokesperson of the Bishop of Auckland Catholic Diocese. Vicar General Bernard Kiely presented the framed citation.
The publisher of this paper was the only non-Church individual who got to felicitate Mr Anthony with a memento on the stage.
Wenceslaus Anthony took this opportunity to thank his wife Susan Anthony who has stood behind him and given him the strength to be able to get this papal recognition.
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