PAPAL HONOURS FOR PICKERING ORGANIST
DENNIS SELINA

On Sunday 10th January, Fr Bill East presented Dennis Selina with the Benemerenti, an award granted by the Pope to those who are outstanding servants of the Church. “Benemerenti” means simply, “To the well-deserving …”

            Fr Bill says, “Now 83, Dennis has been a faithful servant of the Church all his life, and involved in the music ministry from the age of 14. He still serves as organist at St Joseph’s Pickering, where I hope he will continue for years to come.”

            Dennis’s early days were spent in Leeds, where he served as organist at St Augustine’s Church from 1941, having sung in the choir for several years before that. In 1956 he came to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Hessle, then on to St Vincent’s and also St Wilfrid’s Churches in Hull. By 1976 he and his family had moved to Pickering, where he has been organist and musical director over the years. Last year he stepped down from the post of musical director, but continues to play the organ.

            More than an organist, Dennis works tirelessly with cantors and singers, encouraging young organists and achieving an excellent standard of music at St Joseph’s.  As well as this, he sings in Middlesbrough Diocesan Choir, taking part in major   liturgical occasions at the Cathedral and elsewhere.

            Besides his work in music ministry, Dennis is always foremost when there is any parish work to be done, from church cleaning to publicising fêtes. He is a founder-member of St Joseph’s Conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, and indeed was active in visiting the sick and housebound before the SVP conference was founded at St Joseph’s. 

            Fr Bill said, “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. To his wife Joyce and his whole family, all of us at St Joseph’s extend warm congratulations and best wishes.”

Fr. Bill East.