LEWISTON – Three parishioners from Lewiston will receive the Immaculate Conception Medallion in recognition of their outstanding service to the Catholic Church and the community in time, talent and treasure.

Their contributions have spanned decades, but their recent work surrounding the elevation of Saints Peter and Paul Parish to the status of a basilica will be recognized during solemn evening prayer on Friday, May 20.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, ThD, will confer the awards during vespers (evening prayer) at 7 p.m. at the basilica. A reception will follow.

The Mass is part of five days of celebratory events marking the designation of Saints Peter and Paul as a basilica. The public is welcome to attend the evening prayer.

The honorees are: Pauline J. Gilbert, Robert M. Gilbert and Edward A. Leveque.

Pauline Gilbert is a parish lector, Eucharistic minister, parish council member and past chairwoman, worship and spirituality chairwoman, secretary of the Inauguration Committee, manager of the capital campaign office, secretary pro tem of the Saints Peter and Paul Society, past RCIA coordinator, restoration of upper church steering committee, RENEW parish coordinator and a Christian Initiation board member.

She was chosen Saints Peter and Paul Volunteer of the Year in 2000 and is retired from a career in financial institutions.

Robert Gilbert has given 36 consecutive years of service to the parish. He is president of the Saints Peter and Paul Society, Social Justice and Peace Commission chairman, past chairman of the Parish Council, Finance Commission secretary, lector, Eucharistic minister; pastoral center volunteer, co-chairman of the Basilica Inauguration Committee, past president of the Holy Name Society, French choir, cantor, co-chairman of the capital campaign for the lower church.

Gilbert is a member of Council 106, Knights of Columbus, is past chairman of the Saints Peter and Paul school board, chairman of the Lewiston Board of Public Works, Mayor’s Citizens Advisory Committee, Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority, McMahon Elementary School Building Committee, National Catholic Educational Association Distinguished Graduate Award for 2000 and Saints Peter and Paul Parish Volunteer of the Year in 2004. He is a retired educator.

Edward Leveque is chairman of the Journey of Faith Campaign, a member of Saints Peter and Paul Restoration Committee since 1980, served on numerous committees in past years, a Saints Peter and Paul school board past member, former executive director and current board of directors of St. Peter’s Cemetery, former member of the Governing Board of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and a founding board member of the Catholic Bureau of Human Relations, which has become the Tri-County Mental Health Association.

Leveque and his late wife had two children, Robert E. Leveque and Diane (Leveque) Gates, and five grandchildren, Sarah and Alison Leveque and Alex, Mason and Andrew Gates.

Bishop Joseph Gerry, OSB, created the diocesan award during the Jubilee of the Year 2000 to honor priests, religious and laypeople from throughout the diocese for their contributions to the life of the church.

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