Recognising women in our Church

The Magdalene Award recognises a woman whose life embodies leadership, service in ministry, and authentic engagement with both parish and community.

The winner is chosen as she exemplifies these qualities through a ministry marked by quiet humility, unwavering faithfulness and generous service.

The winner of the 2026 awards was Meryl McCosker from St Paul’s, Gateshead (Mackillop Parish).

Meryl was nominated for her involvement in Synodal processes that reflects a leadership style built on listening and accompaniment rather than authority.

Across the year she accompanied RCIA participants toward full communion, represented her parish at this year’s annual Bishop’s Staff Day, and supported hospitality at the 2025 Youth Retreat.

This same hospitality that marks her parish life: greeting visitors, serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, singing with the choir, and facilitating small groups in the Alpha program, is shown in her greatest commitment, through her outreach to seafarers.

Meryl prepares Christmas care packs and welfare packs for every arriving vessel, personally crafting fridge magnets and hand-written cards for each seafarer. She sustains the knitting and craft groups that support this ministry, works closely with the Centre Chaplains, and faithfully attends the monthly seafarers’ Mass, offering welcome and dignity to those far from home.

Taken together, her ministry reflects everything this award seeks to honour: leadership that serves rather than seeks recognition, ministry that reaches those on the margins, and engagement that strengthens parish, community, and Diocese alike.

Brought to tears, Meryl spoke about her love for her faith and for Jesus, and how she has a team of people who also help her with her many ministries but was humbly grateful for the acknowledgement, that they and also all the women present, deserve for all the love they give to the Church.

Meryl joins past winners, Margo Nancarrow (2017), Claire McWilliam (2018), Lidy Waanders (2019), Margot Simmons (2020) and Bernadette Newtown (2024).

At the event, Bishop Michael spoke of the important women in the Gospel who surrounded Jesus throughout his life and ministry: Mary Magdalene, Mary of Nazareth, the women at the Cross and the Samaritan Woman and how the Magdalene Award nominees also live out their faith with a profound sense of mission.

“Today, our 21 nominees, along with countless other women across our Diocese, continue that same witness to God’s care, compassion, and faithfulness. They do so while often carrying immense responsibilities within their own homes, families, workplaces, and communities.

In our rural, remote and city parishes, women’s participation and leadership are marked by dedication, resilience and selfless service,” he said.

The Magdalene Awards were a celebration to bring to light the unsung heroes in our community who do so much voluntarily across the Diocese and within their own parishes, that often goes unseen.

The organisers acknowledged that many women who people wanted to nominate, did not agree to be nominated, all often saying “there are women more worthy than I’, and yet the occasion aims to show women they are worthy and they should be acknowledged!

The Diocese welcomes feedback about the awards in an effort to continually improve and inspire the next generation of women in the Church: 2026 Magdalene Awards FEEDBACK

We recognise all of the wonderful nominees in this year’s awards: