'NONCO,' THE REAL CHRISTIAN

                                                           Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Latin:  For Church and Pope) decoration is an award of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also known as the "Decoration of Honour." It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the church by lay people and clergy.

                                           Who is Nonco?                                            

Auguste 'Nonco' Pelafigue lived from 1888 to 1977. Words that best describe 'Nonco' during his lifetime are:  An Apostle, a Missionary, a Catechist, an Evangelist, and a Deacon of the 20th Century.  Those titles earned him Pontifical Honors and were expressed by his Pastor, Monsignor Daniel L. Bernard, as follows: 

“Mr. Pelafigue has organized the League of the Sacred Heart with some 1,200 members and 101 promoters. He goes out on foot to visit the fallen away and invites them to prayer of the league. He teaches in the Catholic School, teaches Catechism to the public school children – all out of love of God – with no pay. He organizes religious programs for the encouragement of the weak and edification of the strong. He has been in this parish, another priest. He is most humble. He attends Holy Mass and receives Holy Communion daily. He assists at all Masses on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation. In a word, he is a living example of the REAL CHRISTIAN.”

Click here   to read a copy of the actual Nomination for the Pontifical Honors which Father Bernard submitted to Bishop Jules Jeanmard, then Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, at the request of Bishop Jeanmard.


The Presentation was made in 1953.

Pontifical Honors Presentation

Skeptics have asked:  "Nonco, a saint???

The answer is:  "Yes!" 

As one member of the clergy, Monsignor Robert Angelle from Nonco's hometown of Arnaudville, Louisiana, who knew Nonco stated: 

"What an exciting undertaking--to promote the memory of The Great Nonco.  He is certainly a saint.  No doubt." 
It is not that Nonco has to be "made" into a saint, he is already a saint!  And, so, the process begins for us.  Perhaps, with prayers and Nonco's strong spirit moving us, we, too, will be transformed.  We thank you for your interest and ask that you join us in accomplishing the 

     The Life of Auguste "Nonco" Pelafigue

Watch this video graciously provided by Marcus Norwood as his offering for the Cause of "Nonco".

https://youtu.be/4dlBwdtt9Ek. 


Click on the link above to watch.


Objectives of the Foundation.  We need your help.  We feel fortunate that we knew this wonderful example of a Christian, Nonco.

Nonco served under six Popes during his ministry in the

 League of Sacred Heart, Apostleship of Prayer,

 now the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network .

Pope Pius X:  1903~1914, Encouraged and expanded reception of the Eucharist. Combatted Modernism; issued the oath against it. Advocated the Gregorian Chant and reformed the Roman Breviary.

Pope Benedict XV:  1914~1922, Credited for intervening for peace during World War I. Issued the 1917 Code of Canon Law; supported the missionaries in Maximum Illud. Remembered by Benedict XVI as a "prophet of peace."

Pope Pius XI:  1922~1939. Signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy (1929) establishing Vatican City as a sovereign state. Inaugurated Vatican Radio. Re-founded the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Created the Feast of Christ the King. Opposed Communism  and Nazism.
 
Pope Pius XII:  1939~1958, Invoked papal infallibility in the encyclical Munificentissimus Deus; defined the dogma of the Assumption. Eliminated the Italian majority of cardinals. Credited with intervening for peace during World War II; controversial for his role in the Holocaust.

Pope John XXIII:  1958~1963, Opened the Second Vatican Council; called "Good Pope John." Issued the encyclical Pacem in terris (1963) on peace and nuclear disarmament; intervened for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

Pope Paul VI:  1963~1978, Last pope to be crowned in a coronation with the tiara. First pope to travel to the United States and Australia; first pope since 1809 to travel outside Italy. Closed the Second Vatican Council. Issued the encyclical Humanae vitae (1968) condemning artificial contraception. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes
Click here to read: The History of the Apostleship of Prayer League of the Sacred Heart, now the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.

The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, (PWPN), Apostleship of Prayer, League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is an organization first founded in France in 1844 for the purpose of praying for the special intentions of the pope.

How Did Nonco's Devotion to the Little Flower
and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus begin?

Thank you to The Family of Mary Anne Olivier Meche

The Auguste "Nonco" Pelafigue Foundation is grateful to Pam Meche  Angelle and her siblings for submitting the Papal Medal and Certificate pictured above so that we may share in the pride the family feels for Nonco.

Nonco was the Godfather and uncle of Pam's grandmother, Lucie Hebert Olivier whose mother was Marie Pelafigue Hebert, Nonco's sister.  Click here for family information on Marie Pelafigue Hebert.  Prior to Nonco's death, he gave his Godchild, Lucie, the Papal Decree and the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal which he had received.  When she died, the items were passed on to Pam's mother, Mary Anne Olivier Meche.  On February 5, 2012, Mary Anne passed away leaving the Papal Decree and medal in her family's possession.  For more information on Nonco's family, click here.
Several articles have been written about Nonco and the Nonco Foundation.  As new articles are published, they will be posted on this website on the PRESS - PUBLICATIONS page. If you should have any old articles or scripts of Nonco plays you would like posted, we can scan and add them.  And, we would be very grateful. Thank you!

Memorial Prayer Card of

 Theresa Lormand Guidry

 Great Niece of Nonco

 October 16, 1938 ~ February 11, 2002