Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley will present 67 people with the newly inaugurated Cheverus Medal at the closing Mass of the archdiocesan bicentennial Nov. 23.

The medal is named for the city’s first bishop, Jean-Louis Anne Magdelaine Lefebvre de Cheverus, who led the diocese from 1808 until his return to France in 1824. Bishop Cheverus died in 1836 as the archbishop of Bordeaux.

The recipients -- who include laypeople, religious and deacons -- were chosen for their service to the Church and God’s people.

Recipients were nominated by their area vicar and approved by their regional bishop and Cardinal O’Malley.

The sterling silver medal that will be presented to them is oval-shaped, bearing a likeness of Bishop Cheverus based on the Gilbert Stuart portrait. On the reverse side is the bishop’s coat of arms, said Daniel McEachern, the head designer at Burlington-based Long’s Jewelers, the company who supplied the medals.

Long’s fashioned the rings presented to Bishops John A. Dooher and Robert F. Hennessey at their 2006 episcopal ordinations. The company also made the 18k gold cufflinks the cardinal presented to Pope Benedict XVI on the Holy Father’s birthday that he celebrated during his April trip to the United States, said Robert Rottenberg, the company’s CEO.

“The cardinal once had his own ring, given to him by Pope John Paul II, sized to prevent it from slipping off his finger at Long’s,” he said.

“It was an incredible honor to be asked by Cardinal O’Malley to join him in the design and creation of these medallions. It is always a pleasure to work on custom jewelry design projects with Cardinal O’Malley and help make his vision a reality,” he said.

The cardinal provided the image of Bishop Cheverus which McEachern used to develop the first view of the medal by creating a computer aided design of the bishop and the coat of arms. From this three dimensional drawing, a lead die was created from which the medallions were cast.

“The challenge with producing any custom piece is always in the execution,” McEachern said. “How can the vision come to life in a way that is both representative and appropriate when in metal?”

Both McEachern and Rottenberg spent time evaluating the various options available for production, such as whether to hand make, cast or create a die strike, he said.

“Ultimately because of the quality desired and because this piece will be reproduced in the future, Long’s chose to create a die strike for the sterling silver. Dies offer an extremely clean and crisp piece that is wonderful for highlighting details,” he said.

The Nov. 23 Mass to close the archdiocese’s bicentennial year will be celebrated at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston’s South End. All members of the archdiocese are encouraged to attend.

Cheverus Award recipients

Grace Alexander, Newton

Deacon Alfred Balestracci, North Reading

Annmarie Bannister, Littleton

John Barros, Roxbury

Francine Bell, Abington

William Caines, Medford

Edmond Cantin, Lynn

Nancy Carapezza, Wayland

Mary Carney, Danvers

Meyer Chambers, West Roxbury

John Corcoran, Lynn

Brother James Curran, Boston

Robert Curran, Wakefield

Jean Marie Daniels, Mattapan

Robert and Mrs. Mary DeCoste, Dover

Linda DeCristoforo, Revere

Sister Germaine Demers, PM, Methuen

Rose Dittmer, Melrose

Elizabeth Donnelly, Danvers

Alma Driscoll, Weymouth

Richard Erikson, Peabody

Mary Farrell, Peabody

Edward Fee, Saugus

Anna-Marie Ferraro, Arlington

Sister Zita Fleming, CSJ, Boston

Harry Foden, Winchester

David Francis, Plymouth

Orlando J. Germano, Jr., Boston

Stephen and Mrs. Maureen Gervais, Lowell

John Hurley, South Boston

Dulceneia Junqueira, Brighton

Joseph Kosciuszek, Georgetown

Daniel Kurema, Raynham

Aldona Lingertat, Milton

Sister Pauline Leblanc, SCO, Lowell

Thomas Ledbetter, Roslindale

Deacon Barry Lloyd, Lowell

Sister Ricci Lloyd, CSJ, Framingham

John Manuel, Hyde Park

Ray Martin, Beverly

Richard Matulis, Roslindale

Mary V. McCabe, Medford

Frances McDonnell, Wellesley

Mary McHale, Boston

Evangelina Monge, East Boston

Sharon Moore, Wrentham

John and Altie Nichols, Danvers

Hoa Nguyen, Charlestown

Chief Michael Okafor, Hyde Park

Soo Gyun Park, Westwood

Linda Perrino, Peabody

Thong and Mrs. Dietu Phamduy, Lowell

Dr. Robert Querze, Plymouth

Brother Rene Roy FMS, Lawrence

Deacon John D. Salenius, Quincy

Edward J. Sampson, North Andover

Armand Soucy, Beverly

Elizabeth Sterling, Lynn

Theodore Szymanski, Woburn

Dorothy Talbot, Danvers

Steve Tam Ph.D., Wellesley

Sister Teresa Vesey, CSJ, Weymouth

William White, Lynn

Kathleen Woodward, Walpole

[Source: Cardinal’s Office]