Jean Lillis, of Muscott Lane, Duston, has worked with the deaf community around Duston since she was asked to help bring deaf people into the church 22 years ago.
For much of that time she has translated services at her local church, St Patrick's Presbytery, in Peveril Road, and communicated for people on sensitive hospital visits and offered assistance to any deaf person.
The 74-year-old has now been recognised for her work after Father Phillip Swingler and two other parishioners independently nominated her for the Papal Benemerenti medal.
On Saturday morning she was presented with the medal and a certificate in front of a packed congregation
Afterwards she said: "I felt sick with nerves when I realised I was going to have to get up. It is such a great honour but there are a lot more people who are more worthy than I am."
Mrs Lillis's interest in the deaf community started after visiting a deaf couple in the early 1980s when she was helping to broaden her church's congregation
She continued her interest by enrolling for sign language courses at night school, studying for two years.
Since then her activities on behalf of the deaf community have included arranging the celebration of signed masses and encouraging deaf people to take part in them.
Mrs Lillis has constantly fund-raised for and organised social occasions for deaf people and sometimes even drives them to the event herself.
She said: "There was nothing at all for deaf Catholics when I started and some of them had to go to Anglican churches where they could understand what was going on.
"I believe that is a shame because everybody should get the opportunity to worship where they like.
"What I say is if deaf people want me I'm there. I can't put it any simpler than that."
Father Phillip said: "Over many years Jean has been an outstanding worker and friend to the Catholic Deaf Community and has given herself unstintingly with much love and good humour.
"Her selfless work has enriched both the Catholic deaf community and the Catholic community alike."