Knights of St. John International 434 and Laux 363, St. Patrick’s Cathedral Awka has celebrated its fortieth anniversary. The event which kicked off with a holy mass attracted members of the group, political gladiators, the clergy, the academia, among others.
Speaking at the holy mass, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor who spoke through his secretary, Very Rev Fr Evaristus Ifeanacho said that the event coincided with the feast of St. Jerome who is one of the Doctors of the church and described knights as soldiers of Christ, who must defend the church of God and her teachings at all times, and as well teach people the way of God.
Bishop Ezeokafor admonished them to live holy and examplary lives that are expected of knights, saying that they are expected to be the shining lights in whatever they do and prayed God to continue to lead and guide them for them to keep working as soldiers of the church.
The Grand President, Awka Grand Commandery, Brigadier General Jonathan Ezeuchu also commended the organizers of the event for a job well done and asked their members to be more responsive to their duties both in the church and the community at large.
Earlier in a welcome address, the President, Commandery 434 Awka, Major Vincent Otikpa, paid tribute to those whose efforts metamorphosed in what they are celebrating, including the late Bishop Albert Obiefuna who he said granted the approval for the establishment of the commandery.
Major Otikpa while mentioning some of their achievements noted that the commandery which started with 22 members now 158 members and that there are 11 new commanderies that has been birthed 434 and that they also bought a 24- seater bus to alleviate the transport problems of their members among others.
One of the award recipients at the event and Director General, South East Governors Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife congratulated on 40th anniversary but regretted that the church is taking partial positions in partisan politics in recent times, and assured that the southeast governors are now working together to ensure that the region regains its pride of place in Nigeria.
