Priests and Laity in Bamenda Archdiocese receive Pontifical Awards
By Jude Abanseka

Archbishop Esua, Auxiliary Bishop-elect and the recently appointed Monsignors
For the first time in Bamenda Archdiocese, the Pope has honoured some Diocesan Clergy appointing them as Chaplains of His Holiness. The Laity received awards of the Knighthood of St. Sylvester and Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice distinctions.

 

The priests are Rev. Frs. Clemens Ndze, Engelbert Kofon, James Nso'kika, Joseph Ayeah and Lucas Atang, who are now called Monsignor. The title was solemnly conferred on them at St. Joseph Metropolitan Cathedral, Mankon on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, during the Chrism Mass, which the Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua, presided.

On the same occasion, five Christians received the Pontifical Awards of the Knighthood of St. Sylvester, while nineteen (19) received Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice distinctions, translated as "For the Church and the Pope". The Catholic Women Association, CWA, founder, Anna Nanga Foncha was among those designated Knights and is now a Lady of the Order of St. Sylvester.
The proposals for the Pontifical Awards were made to the Holy See during celebrations that marked the Ruby Jubilee erection of Bamenda Diocese. Those who received the awards were Lay Faithful like catechists, Catholic teachers, Parish Pastoral Council members, who Archbishop Esua said, "---have distinguished themselves by their practice of the Christian life, by their commitment to the Church through their active participation in the life of their Christian communities, by their fidelity and dedication to the service of the Church and by their witness to the faith in their respective professions, very often in humble and heroic circumstances."

In his homily, the Archbishop traced the origin of and educated the congregation on the titles that were conferred after the blessing of the oils and renewal of priestly commitments. He said a Chaplain of His Holiness is an honorary title the Pope grants to a priest. It dates back to Pope Urban VIII. It was given to priests who provided unpaid services to the Papal Household since the Pontificate of Pope Pius VI.

Today the title is given to a priest who has distinguished himself through a zealous priestly life and dedicated service to God's people. There are no privileges attached to it except that the priest is called, Monsignor, and has a distinct dressing pattern, which consists of a black or white cassock with purple buttons and piping and a purple sash.

According to Ecclesiastical Protocol, a Monsignor enjoys a higher rank than an ordinary priest, but his function and authority do not change, except as otherwise attributed to him by a competent Ecclesiastical Authority. Archbishop Esua noted the five priests were the most elderly Diocesan Priests, implying they were "--- the surviving first generation of Diocesan Priests who started working alongside missionaries and who have borne the brunt of the work of evangelisation, especially during the early years."

The knighthood of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope and Martyr, also known as the Sylvestrine Order, is an ordinary title which Pope Gregory XVI created on October 31, 1841. The decoration consists essentially of a gold enameled Maltese cross with the image of St. Sylvester on one side and the inscription "1841 Gregorius XVI restituit" on the other, hanging from a black ribbon with three narrow red stripes. Its Motto is "Multum in Parvo", "Much in a little".

It is conferred on lay people who are actively involved in Church life, as exemplified in the exercise of their professional duties and mastery of different arts. Pope John Paul II extended membership in the order to ladies and gentlemen.

The Pontifical Award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is bestowed on a lay person, clergy or religious who has either made an important contribution to the work of evangelisation or given zealous and outstanding service to the church. It consists of a medal also known as the "cross of Honour". Pope Leo XIII established it on July 17, 1888 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of his Priestly Ordination.

It consists of gold, silver or bronze on which is a rectangular cross and at the centre is the image of Pope Leo XIII with the inscription "Leo XIII P.M. Anno X", the papal emblem with the motto Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice on the reverse side. It hangs from a ribbon with the papal colours, white and yellow.

Another remarkable event during the Chrism Mass was a two-hour deanery by deanery offertory to assist the Archbishop provide for needy institutions like the prisons. Before the final blessings, the Archdiocesan Laity Council Chairman Dr. Alphonsus Nfi Ndi, told Parish Pastoral Council chairpeople to realise how much responsibility the church has entrusted them to promote the Church's growth.

Archbishop Esua thanked Christians for the gifts and Njinikom Deanery for hosting and leading the liturgy. He announced Widikum Deanery shall host the 2012 Chrism Mass. This year's Chrism Mass brought together close to seven thousand Christians from across Bamenda Archdiocese