Eleven Catholics of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese, were recently conferred with Papal Awards during a Mass at the St. Paul’s Cathedral at Mampong for distinguishing themselves in their services to Mother Church and humanity.
The Awardees were Rev. Frs. Theresa Paul Amoako and Augustine Ntim-Duodu, Mr. Michael Nsiah, Mr. Francis Cornah, Mr. Joseph Bawuah Frimpong and Mr. Dominic Amponsah.
The rest were Ms. Agatha Frimpong, Dr. Mrs. Agatha Akua Bonney, Colonel (Rtd.) Kwaku Adade Takyi, Mr. Charles Adjei and Mr. Raphael Kwasi Tufuor.
The Cathedral was filled to capacity with extra seats provided outside for the family members and friends who came from far and near in their numbers to support their relations.
Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana was the main celebrant at the five-hour Mass, concelebrated by Most Revs. Dominic Yeboah-Nyarko, Bishop of Techiman; Emmanuel Fianu, Bishop of Ho; John Yaw Afoakwah, Bishop of Obuasi and Joseph Osei-Bonsu, the host Bishop as well as scores of Priests.
The Presence of the Nana Baffour Ossei Hyeaman Brantuo VI, Manwerehene of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and several other Traditional Rulers added a traditional touch to the ceremony.
The Awards conferred were Chaplain of His Holiness (Monsignor) which is an ecclesiastical title of honour bestowed on Priests, 65 years and above by the Pope for their faithful and abiding service to the Church which has gained them approbation from the Holy See.
All those who bear the title of Monsignor belong to the “Papal Family” and are entitled to celebrate Solemn Mass and participate in all public religious and social celebrations, wearing the robes corresponding to their respective offices.
Cross of the Church and the Pontiff (Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice) is awarded to lay faithful and Clergy who have rendered selfless services to the Church and is awarded in gold.
Knight or Dame of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope and Martyr is one of the five Orders of Knighthood awarded by the Pope to honour lay people who are actively involved in the life of the Church, through their professional duties and mastership of the different arts.
These awards are given on the recommendation of Diocesan Bishops, Archbishops or Apostolic Nuncios for special merit or service.
The Awardees
Rev. Fr. Theresa Paul Amoako (Chaplain of His Holiness – Monsignor), Rector of the Sacred Heart Grotto and Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Church at Boanim, has established a number of Grottos in the country including those at Kpando-Aziave in the Ho Diocese (1969); Manfo in the Goaso Diocese (1979); Abono near Lake Bosomtwe (1985).
Rev. Fr. Augustine Ntim-Duodu (Chaplain of His Holiness – Monsignor), is the Chancellor of the Diocese and Lecturer at St. Gregory the Great Provincial Seminary, Parkoso in Kumasi. He has also served as a Formator at the St. Joseph Seminary and Senior High School, Mampong; Associate Secretary General, Association of the Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (AECAWA), Monrovia, Liberia and Managing Director of the Kumasi Catholic Press Limited.
Mr. Michael Nsiah (Cross of the Church and the Pontiff – Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice), Chief Executive Officer of Miklin Hotels and Real Estate in Accra and Kumasi, has built Schools for the Church at Akrofurom and Anyinasu. He also built a modern Altar, donated pews for the Church at Afrante and contributed to the building of a new Church at Buoho. Mr. Nsiah has sponsored many students through primary, secondary and tertiary education.
Mr. Francis Cornah (Cross of the Church and the Pontiff – Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice), a part-time Lecturer at the Garden City University College in Kumasi, has been a Development Management Consultant for the Techiman Diocese since 2010. He is a foundation member of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese and was its first Diocesan Development Co-ordinator, a job he did for eleven years with distinction.
Mr. Joseph Bawuah Frimpong (Cross of the Church and the Pontiff – Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice), has been a Catechist for 69 years and has prepared many Catholics for the reception of the Sacraments.
Mr. Dominic Amponsah (Cross of the Church and the Pontiff – Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice), a Catechist, has established 35 branches of the Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO) in the Konongo-Mampong Diocese. He is the Diocesan Director of the Laity and a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Team.
Ms. Agatha Frimpong (Dame of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope) has contributed tremendously to the construction of a Church building for the Catholic Community at Effiduase and has also been instrumental in the rebuilding of the St. Paul’s Cathedral at Mampong. She has contributed immensely to the development of the Diocese.
Dr. Mrs. Agatha Akua Bonney (Dame of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope) together with her husband, established and manned a clinic at the St. Hubert’s Minor Seminary, Kumasi where she cared for Seminarians at no cost. She also offered Medical care to all Clergy and Religious who reported to the Manhyia Hospital where she was working at her own expense.
Dr. Bonney has served as a member of the Konongo-Mampong Diocesan Development Committee and Chairman of the Diocesan Health Committee on two occasions.
Colonel (Rtd.) Kwaku Adade Takyi (Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope) has offered enormous support to the Diocese. In 1995 when the Diocese was erected, he offered his building to be used as the Bishop’s residence and Diocesan Secretariat for five years at no fee. He continues to support the Diocese in various ways.
Mr. Charles Adjei (Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope) together with his late wife, built the St. Francis Catholic Church at Ejuratia and also donated pews to the Church. He is a major sponsor in the rebuilding of the St. Paul’s Cathedral. Mr. Adjei has supported many Priests for further studies abroad and has contributed immensely to the Diocesan Priests’ Welfare Fund.
Mr. Raphael Kwasi Tufuor (Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester, Pope) has built a Church and Rectory at Antoa and another at Mprim. He has helped enormously with the rebuilding of the St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Bishop Osei Bonsu commended the Awardees for their immeasurable contribution to the development of not only the Konongo-Mampong Diocese but the Church in Ghana and prayed for God’s continued blessing for them.
Expressing gratitude to the Pope, Nuncio and Bishop on behalf of his colleagues, Sir Adjei thanked God for choosing them to serve the Church and pledged their continued support for the growth and development of the Church.
He encouraged all Catholics to offer themselves to the service of the Church and the Lord.
The St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir, Marian Choir of Christ the King Church, Accra and the Our Lady of Grace Senior High School Choir at Mamponteng, sang at the Mass which was attended by Members of the Forum of Papal Knights and Dames, Knights and Ladies of Marshall and other Societies in the Church.
