By Monsignor Noel C. Burtenshaw

Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan announced this week that two lay persons have been chosen for papal honors by His Holiness pope John Paul II.

The Papal Medal, Benemerenti (well merited) for outstanding service and dedication to the Church, has been awarded to Mrs. George (Dolores) McNamara and Mr. George Maloof. Both live in Atlanta.

Mrs. McNamara is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and Mr. Maloof is a member of Holy Cross Church. Mr. Maloof has been head football coach at St. Pius X High School for the past 25 years.

The honors granted by the Pope will be conferred at a special liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Sunday, November 28, 1982 at 2 p.m. A reception will follow in the Hyland Center.

"When I heard that Dolores had received this honor," said Immaculate Heart of Mary pastor, Msgr. Donald Kiernan, "I was delighted. Every priest who has ever served here at this parish knows the loving care that she brings to her work for the church. Whether we are talking about meetings or care of the altar, Dolores is always ready to give her best. I am delighted, it is an honor for her and her family. But really, it is an honor for the entire parish."

Tremendous Worker

All the priests who served with Dolores McNamara out at Immaculate Heart of Mary had similar words. Father John Fallon, pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Washington, GA, said, "She's a tremendous worker and a beautiful lady. We are so fortunate to have her." Father Hugh Marron remembers her love of the liturgy and her constant service "without ever thinking of herself."

The pastor who was there when George and Dolores McNamara arrived in Atlanta from Memphis in 1963 was Msgr. Michael J. Regan, present pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Carrollton. When reached he said, "Dolores McNamara's devotion to our holy faith has been phenomenal. She has been especially blessed in having had steady support from her fine family through the years. The Atlanta Curia of the Legion of Mary joins me in offering our cordial congratulations to Dolores and her loved ones."

Similar tributes have poured in for perhaps one of the best-known laymen in the Catholic community of North Georgia, George Maloof.

Maloof, the only head coach that St. Pius X High School has ever had, is the favorite of many hundreds of alumni of the school. "Coach," as he is known to them all, was an influence in the lives of so many.

Influenced Thousands

Father Terry Young, principal of the school, said, "In the past 25 years George Maloof has coached almost 2,000 boys in football and influenced thousands more. He is dedicated to the moral and spiritual philosophy of the school … and his personal faith and devotion is exemplary."

Father Pat Bishop, who has been closely associated, both as a student and as a priest, with Coach Maloof and St. Pius for many years said, "George was at St. Pius when I was a freshman there. He is the history of that school. He represents the tradition that ties together all the classes that have come and gone. When you return to St. Pius, George makes you feel like you're coming home. He loves the kids -- he's turned down other opportunities because he wanted to stay at St. Pius. It's become as big a part of him as he has of it."

But Maloof is not just known within the Catholic community. He is known for his football ability at Georgia Tech, where was a star end.

Dolores and George McNamara came to Atlanta from Memphis, their hometown, in 1963. They had five children. Dolores is the former Dolores Meeker. A sister still lives in Memphis -- Mrs. Edna Wells. Mrs. Wells, along with her son, Judge Buford Wells and his wife, Joy, will attend the ceremony at the Cathedral.

George, who is now retired, was employed by the National credit Union Administration. He was responsible for establishing credit unions in many areas and institutions, including his own parish.

Dolores has taken an interest in many aspects of parish life and ministry over the years.

Special Minister

"She is ready to clean the altar, wash the linens and take pride in a spotless church," said Msgr. Kiernan. "But she is also ready to fulfill the duties of special minister of the Holy Eucharist. She has a wonderful relationship with the sick of the parish."

The priests who served at Immaculate Heart of Mary remember fondly the care that Dolores gave to the large senior citizens home in the parish, Wesley Woods. "She is there when we have Mass on Monday," remembers Father Fallon. "She goes to all the patients each week at the health center and brings the Eucharist and she is also ministering to the patients in the third building -- The Towers."

The other well-known apostolate of Dolores McNamara is the Television Mass. Each week over the past five years, this Mass has been brought to shut-ins over many stations in the Atlanta area. From the beginning, Dolores assumed responsibility for preparing the altar, decorations and linens for this television liturgy. She also acted as advisor to the television stations and producers. "Her help was invaluable from the very beginning," said Msgr. Noel Burtenshaw, director of the television apostolate for the archdiocese. "Dolores' advice was deeply appreciated by the technicians and the mostly non-Catholic staff of stations."

Star Football Player

George Maloof was born in Atlanta where his parents, John and Sadie Maloof, who are still living, are life-long members of Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Atlanta. George has two brothers, John, who teaches at St. Anthony's School and Wiley, who is in the dry-cleaning business.

From the beginning, George Maloof was a star football player. At Marist, he became a High School All American and at Georgia Tech, he was All Conference end. Last year Herschel Walker broke one of Maloof's long-standing records when he scored over four touchdowns in the Tech-Georgia game.

George and his wife, Anita, have five children. The youngest one, Brett, is presently a junior at St. Pius.

It is his work at St. Pius with Catholic youth that is most remembered. "I was given a contract by Msgr. Maloney," remembers George, "even before the school was opened." That was back in 1958.

George Maloof spent those 25 years teaching in word, deed and example the principles of Catholic life to young students from North Georgia parishes. His insistence on excellence, both on the football field and the field of life, is well known and well remembered.

Unique Occasion

David Homrich, class of '71 remembers the coach as "one who taught us the importance and significance of having pride, experience the satisfaction of knowing you were doing something right, whether it was in the classroom or on the football field."

Bill McKenzie, also class of '71, remembers him as a "unique individual. He was a motivator. He would be very excited before a game and he could get on you. But always he was a grand, warm guy."

On Sunday, November 28 at 2 p.m., Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan will confer the Papal Medal, Benemerenti, on both of these outstanding members of the Catholic community. Parishioners, students, fellow workers and family will be there for this unique occasion.

Both Dolores McNamara and George Maloof, servants of the church in outstanding fashion, for many years, are being honored by the Vicar of Christ.

It is the entire Church saying, well done.