08-08-2025
Newcastle women awarded Benemerenti medal by Pope Leo
Their decades of faithful service to the Catholic Church were unexpectedly acknowledged and appreciated when Phillippa (Joan) East (94) and June Wells, were each awarded a Benemerenti medal by Pope Leo XIV last week.
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The women were also awarded certificates of recognition by their local parish.
Phillippa and June are congregants of the St Peter and Paul church in Newcastle.
While June is the 'go-to' woman when it comes to secretarial duties, finances and even maintenance, Phillippa makes her contribution to the church, and to the community, as a member of the Catholic Church Women's Network.
The Benemerenti medal was initially bestowed on soldiers in the Papal army to honour those who demonstrated valour during battle.
However, this changed in 1925 when the Catholic Church began awarding it to both military and lay people in recognition of outstanding service to the church.
The medal is a gold Greek cross depicting Christ with his hand raised in blessing. On the left arm of the cross is the tiara and crossed keys symbol of the papacy.
On the right arm is the coat of arms of the current Pope. The medal is suspended from a yellow and white ribbon, the colours of the Papacy.
Phillippa explained that she and June were nominated for the award by the parish priest, Father Andrew Moyo, the nomination was then endorsed by the local Bishop, Graham Rose, and sent to Rome where Pope Leo made the final decision to award the medals.
However, the women were oblivious to the fact that they had even been nominated and were in complete shock when Bishop Rose presented them with the awards during Sunday mass.
'It is the first time in my life that something like this has happened,' said Phillippa, who believes that she and June are the first Newcastle residents to ever receive the award. 'I was so shocked, I couldn't believe it.'
'My understanding is that the award is a token of gratitude for service, not only to the church, but also to the community and to humanity, and we were chosen because of the compassion we have for the less fortunate, regardless of race, religion or financial standing,' Phillippa explained.
Phillipa is better known as 'Joan' in the community she serves. She was given this nickname by her late husband, John, as Phillippa's maiden surname, Bennett, was the same as that of American actress, Joan Bennett.
Phillippa was born in Cape Town on June 6, 1931, but grew up in the Transvaal. She met her husband while working as a child-minder at a crèche run by the Anglican Church in Sophiatown.
'My husband was a priest in the Anglican Church under Father Trevor Huddleston (well known for his anti-apartheid activism),' said Phillippa. 'We moved to Newcastle in the 1950's when my mother-in-law fell ill. She lived in Newcastle and my husband and I came here to look after her. I've been a member of the Catholic Church Women's League since then. I saw the good work that the Women's League was doing and asked to join.'
After Phillippa moved to Newcastle, she went to work as the store manager at Checkers and would later move on to manage OK Furniture.
'I needed to work in order for us to afford our children's school fees and accommodation at boarding school. At that time, there were no high schools in Newcastle where coloured children could enrol,' Phillippa explained.
Over the course of her life, Phillippa was blessed with six children, 17 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
As a member of the Women's Network, Phillippa visits the sick in hospitals and in their homes to offer prayer and comfort, makes frequent donations of food, groceries, blankets and other essentials to the poor and assists at St Anthony's child and youth care centre, in Blaauwbosch, as well as at the Amakazi old age facility, near Vryheid, as often as possible.
'Nobody says you must do this. It must come from the heart,' says Phillippa. 'To me, charity work feels like a calling from God. It gives me so much satisfaction to know I am helping someone. I try to be a role model to others and urge all residents to join a charity organisation and contribute to the welfare of our community. There are lots of people who need help. We need to do what we can.'
In her free time, Phillippa enjoys knitting socks. '…so people can keep their feet warm in winter,' she laughs.
She also enjoys pottering around in the garden.
June declined an interview with the Northern Natal News.
Phillippa described June as a private person who has quietly served as the backbone of the church for many years.
'Everyone at St Peter and Paul's knows …If you need something, ask Aunty June!' says Phillippa.
June is a retired nurse, who worked at the Newcastle Provincial Hospital.
'We were neighbours for many years and our children played together every day till sunset. They are still friends today,' said Phillippa.
Phillippa thanked the community for its support and her congregation for its prayers. She also thanked Father Moyo and Bishop Rose for deeming her worthy of such high honour.
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