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Sir A.B.C. Orjiako, Ikpehai Arumemi, Eze Okoro and Ken Onwuliri have joined the Knights of Saint John International (KSJI), a noble order known globally in the Catholic Church whose members sacrificially and voluntarily decide to commit their 3Ts: time, talent and treasure, towards the growth of the Catholic faith in Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking during the ceremony, Lieutenant General Anselm Okafor, KSJI Supreme Second Vice President, explained that the Knights of Saint John International, whose patron saint, St. John the Baptist, was a testament and open witness of faith in an unbelieving world, is appropriate for knights in today’s times.
According to Okafor, “The Knights of St. John International continue to witness their faith in God, through Jesus Christ, in their daily works of charity in the Church, their community and their commandery.”
He added that, in service to the Mother Church, the men of the KSJI have a framework that is strengthened through shared service, sacrifice and a sense of duty and honour.
Major General Remy Uche, the Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria, disclosed that through the actions and fellowship of their members, the Knights of St. John International exemplify the theological virtues of the Roman Catholic Faith, becoming beacons of truth in their community. As Catholic men of faith and charitable action, Uche stated that the noble order cultivates a strong love for the Roman Catholic Church, advances the spiritual and material interests of the Church, promotes a filial respect for the authority of the Church, fosters fraternity among brother knights, develops a love for country and, above alls extends to the whole world the spirit of goodwill.
He explained that: “As members of the Knights of Saint John International, the foremost principle of our order is charity, the greatest of all virtues and the crowning glory of a Christian life. Charity is that priceless gift placed by God in the human soul to measure man’s allegiance to his Creator. Charity is a duty, not a courtesy. It is an obligation imposed by heaven upon rich and poor alike.”
Uche further stated that it was the responsibility of every Knight of Saint John International to always be an exemplary role model of a Catholic.
On his part, the Lagos Grand President, Knights of St. John International, Brigadier General Chux Amamgbo, while congratulating the new members, urged them to live out the ideals of the order as their parents did.
Other notable persons at the ceremony were Brigadier General Patrick Igwilo, Director of Evangelization and Catechization, Brigadier General Emmanuel Okene, Grand President of Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Cletus Ntong, Supreme Subordinate Secretary of KSJI, among others.
KSJI is a family apostolate charged with the defense of the Roman Catholic faith and came to Nigeria in 1976. It has a membership of over 18,000 knights and their ladies in Nigeria. The order exists in the United States, England, Germany, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Kenya, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
