By Cosmas Omegoh
The essence of family as the bedrock for the nation reechoed yesterday at the Family Day celebration of District 16 Commandery of Lagos Grand Commandery of Knights of St John International (KSJI) of the Catholic Church.
KSJI members across Lagos joined their counterparts of the District 16 Commandery headquartered at Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC) Akowonjo, Lagos, to celebrate Family Day with the theme “The Exalted Family Reunion.”
Speaking in his homily at Holy Mass to open the event, Rev Fr Nicholas Aniefon Ikpeme CM, the Assistant Parish priest of CKC Akowonjo emphasised the essence of building good families, recalling that families built on virtue guarantee a greater nation.
“More than ever before, parents now have a greater responsibility of raising their children in a godly manner so as to guarantee a righteous nation.
“Parents and their children have their individual responsibilities towards building a good family, and good families guarantee a better country,” he said.
He warned families to choose to be united to God rather flowing with Satan.
Chairman, Organising Committee of the event, Sir Damian Izuka, a community pharmacist, said the essence of the day was to get the knights to celebrate with their families in a convivial atmosphere and to grow their younger ones identified as cadets and juniors to be members of the KSJI of the future, adding “we want to put them in a mood of hunger to become knights of St John International in the future.”
Chairman of the Day, Sir Emmanuel Iweha, described KSJI as a “family apostolate,” noting that, that, that was the reason the day was centred around the younger ones.
Various eminent persons were present on the occasion including Sir Chux Amamgbo, the Lagos Grand President of KSJI.
The event which saw the participation of no new fewer than eight districts of the KSJI across Lagos, including all the six commaderies that make up District 6. The event featured match pasts, races, games quiz, music and dance and lots of fun.