Why I Initiated All Knights Day Celebration In Awka Diocese -Bishop Ezeokafor

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr.
Paulinus Ezeokafor has said the reason why he initiated the annual All Knights Day celebration was to bring various Awka Diocesan Knighthood Members together and to remind them of the need to work towards uplifting the common goals of the Church and Christendom irrespective of their different colourations.

Bishop Ezeokafor, who stated this while speaking at the 2015 annual All Knights Day Celebration at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka described the Papal Knights, the Papal Medalists, the Knights of St. Mulumba and the Knights of St. John International as Noble Orders of the Roman Catholic Church.

According to the Bishop, 'I established it in 2013 and was celebrated on May 9 that year. I have sponsored it for the past two years just ensure they get to maturity age before allowing them to sponsor it themselves. You can see this third year they now take care of themselves. The are now in-charge of the sponsorship.

'The purpose is to bring them together; remind them that they are one body in Christ, and was conferred with Knighthood to evangelise for Christ, defend the Christian faith, and speak with one voice. Therefore, they should cooperate and work collectively and individually for propagation of Christian faith,' Bishop Ezeokafor concluded.



In his homily, the Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye extolled the members for their selfless service and commitment even as he urged them to live lives worthy of emulation.

His words, 'The Knights are called to serve God and mankind. I advice them to show interest on the social and economic relevant without compromising their Christian faith. By virtue of their position in the church, they are expected to be flag bearer for Christ and set the pace for others to follow,' he said.

The Auxiliary Bishop, while speaking on issue marriage, admonished the Catholic faithful to strictly follow the Canon Law 11 (24-27) which encourage the Catholic believers, not to deny non-Catholics suitors from marrying their daughters.


According into him, 'The Church insists that parents should follow canon law while giving out their daughters into marriage to non-Catholic faithful. The canon law insisted that the intended couples must wed in Catholic, baptise and nurture their children in Catholic faith. This is in order not to make the daughter to lose her Catholic faith. Once the suitor accepts, nothing stops them from marrying', Bishop Jonas Benson said.

In his paper titled "Marriage Relationships Among Catholic Knights And Ladies " at St.Patrick Cathedral Awka Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Chiegboka charged the Knights to always monitor the children and also educate them on how to about life. He explained that nowadays young people flout traditional marriage procedures as a result of the quest for material gains in marriage .

According to him, marriage has procedures beginning with the traditional knocking at the door of the prospective in-law which he said signifies registration of interest and thereafter investigations are conducted by both families .

He also explained that there was need for young people who wish to be engaged in nuptial bond to embark on courtship in the interim to determine compatibility as well as profound understanding of each other before marriage but the irony of situation according to the guest lecturer was that most people think that the period of courtship was for sexual intercourse .

Contributing Brigadier Gen. Godfrey Muotolu, the Grand President of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), Awka Grand Commandery, noted that unification of Knights had accorded them better platform and encouragement to defend the Church and the Christian faith.

 For his part, Prof. Sir Pita Ejiofo the Chairman of Joint Council of Knights in Awka Diocese, described the Council as coordinating action of the all association of Catholic knights towards achieving common front.



In an interview, the Provost Nwafor Orizu College of Education (NOCEN) Dr. Mrs. Ego Uzoezie, a Papal Knight, commended the diocesan bishop for instituting the event noting that the kind gesture would serve as an avenue for the Knights to move together as one family.

 The event which was kick-started with con-celebrated Eucharist Holy Mass presided by Bishop Ezeokafor had in attendance people from all walks of life notable among whom were the deputy diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Francis Chidume; the Cathedral administrator, Rev. Fr. Patrick Amobi Chukwuma; Rev. Fr. Anthony Ezeoke (Chaplain KSJI); Rev. Fr. Michael Anozie ( Chaplain Knights of St. Mulumba); Rev. Fr. Christian Amogu; Rev. Fr. Andrew Emenike; Rev. Fr. Fabian Bielu; Rev. Fr. Sylvester Dunu; Rev. Fr. Pius Odilimuo; Rev. Fr. Bernard Okafor; Rev. Fr. Christian Okafor; Rev. Fr. Augustine Okeke; Rev. Fr. Valentine Offomata; Rev. Fr. Patrick Umezi .