-By awarding the special medal to the couple, Pope Francis has not only ordained them as honorary citizens of the Vatican, he has also appointed them as his advisers on matters of the laity in Cameroon
By Ayukogem Steven Ojong in Y’de
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| Johnson Okie & his wife Cathy Okie brandish their medals |
Mr. and Mrs Okie were publicly decorated with the Pope’s special medal known in Latin as ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’, during an impressively attended Pontifical Mass on Sunday, 12 January, at the St. Joseph’s Anglophone Parish, in Mvog-Ada, Yaounde.
Officiating the Mass, the Bishop of Mamfe (now Archbishop of Bamenda), His Grace Andrew Nkea, explained that the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is a decoration of the Holy See.
The medal is conferred to lay people and the clergy, who distinguish themselves through service to the Roman Catholic Church.
“The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice was first established by Pope Leo XIII on 17 July 1888, to commemorate His Golden Sacerdotal Jubilee. It was originally bestowed on those men and women who had aided and promoted the Jubilee, and by other means assisted in making the Jubilee and the Vatican Exposition successful,” Mgr Nkea explained, intimating that the medal only became a permanent papal distinction in 1898.
The current version of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice was introduced by Pope Paul VI and is only awarded in gold. For the church and the Pope, it is a medal that the Holy Father gives in recognition for the work that someone does in the local and the national Church,” Archbishop Nkea explained further.
He said Mr and Mrs Okie have distinguished themselves especially through the construction of the ‘Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima’ in Mboka, in Nguti subdivision, in the Mamfe Diocese, and for all other divine works that they have done and are still doing for the Church and to humanity.
The Shining Example of Mr & Mrs Okie
Earlier before delivering his homily Sunday, Archbishop Andrew Nkew had described Mr and Mrs Okie as “simple and committed” Catholic Christians who are living up to their baptismal vows in a way that has attracted the attention of the Pope.
He said the medal conferred on the couple is a special recognition from the Holy Father himself.
On how Okie Johnson, who is also national president of the Catholic Men Association, CMA, has been contributing to the growth of the church, Archbishop Nkea recounted that “some years ago, Mr. Okie and wife donated a priece of land to the church which was later used in constructing a spiritual centre for Christians”.
In 2014, Archbishop Nkea said he wrote to the Holy See about the Centre and 10 million FCFA was sent as support the construction of the facility. Besides donating the parcel of land, the man of God recounted that Okie Johnson still went ahead to launch a fundraising to support the construction of the sanctuary.
In May 2019, the Centre, he said, was finally inaugurated. The Centre, he disclosed, consists of a Chapel, station of the cross, refectory, hostel amongst others.
“…When I sent a report of the launch of the Centre to the Holy See, they requested for the Curriculum Vitae of the couple. Months later, I was informed by the Apostolic Nuncio that the Holy Father had decided to honour them with this medal,” Archbishop Nkea told congregants.
Okie Johnson Expresses Joy
Meanwhile, speaking during Sunday’s Pontifical Mass, a seemingly overjoyed Okie Johnson Ndoh said he was indeed humbled by the recognition from the Holy Father. He said the distinction was an encouragement for him to do even more towards the growth of the Catholic Church.
“I feel a blessed man. My wife and I feel very honoured and blessed for what has happened today. In fact, we are filled with inestimable inner joy and happiness. We are really grateful to God Almighty, and the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for this mark of Godly recognition.
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