Papal award for ‘Lower Hutt son’

Bishop Steve Lowe, former Bishop of Hamilton, and now Bishop of the Auckland, recently presented Michael (Mike) Hanaray with a Papal Knighthood, in recognition of his dedicated and lifetime service to the Catholic Church at parish, diocesan and national levels.

Bishop Steve Lowe (r) presented Michael Hanaray (l) with a Papal Knighthood. The award recognises Mike’s dedicated and lifetime service to the Catholic Church at parish, diocesan and national levels. Photo: Diocese of Hamilton/Facebook

WelCom August 2023

Bishop Steve Lowe, former Bishop of Hamilton, and now Bishop of the Auckland, recently presented Michael (Mike) Hanaray with a Papal Knighthood, in recognition of his dedicated and lifetime service to the Catholic Church at parish, diocesan and national levels.

Mike is originally from Lower Hutt and St Peter and Paul’s Parish, but for the past 45 years has lived in Hamilton. Mike is the son of Jack and May Hanaray, who were well known during their many years in the Lower Hutt’s St Peter and Paul’s Parish, and he is brother to five other family members.

Mike’s immediate and extended family are delighted his commitment and service to the Church has been recognised in this way, with Mike himself observing that he was ‘overwhelmed’ with receiving the award. He said, ‘My commitment to supporting the Church really started from the truly remarkable example, which my Dad set for all of us in the family, and I dedicate this award to his memory.’