By Ngozi Nwoke
Members of the Catholic Knight of St John International District 15 led by their commander, Col. Cyril Sunday Eze, recently converged with friends and wellwishers to mark this year’s family day celebration in grand style in Lagos State.
The event, marked with Igbo New Yam festival, was held at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Isolo, Lagos and was attended by many dignitaries across the state.
Among the guests were the grand president of St John International, Lagos State, Brigadier General Chuks Amamgbo, who was the father of the day, while grand respected president, Lady Justina Nwankwo, was the mother of the day under the chairmanship of Engr. Blessing Oseghale.
The colourful event was also attended by members of other districts, including Lady Chiado Nworji, Captain Nnamdi Duru, Captain James Gbulie, who served as the organising committee chairman and secretary, respectively. The members children, known as cadets for boys and juniors for girls, also attended and showcased their various talents to entertain the guests.
The chief host, Col. Sunday Eze, explained that the event is a yearly event where members gather with their families to celebrate and interact to know themselves and to build better fraternity among the members within the districts.
He explained the significance of the event and noted that it offered members the opportunity to see and to have better understanding of themselves and to work together in the service of God, church and society.
He said: “We are excited to witness this year’s Family Day. It is an annual event that creates the opportunity for all families to gather and engage in social activities such as debate, quiz, dance competition and celebrae the new yam festival. The main significance and purpose of this annual event is for families to establish familiarity amongst themselves. For instance, when families become close freinds, their children can grow up and get married to each other. That is how the union begins.
“We are also excited to that this year’s Family Day is the most successful so far. This year, we witnessed the presence of all our grand commanders in the district. They came from far and wide to show their support and encouragement to us. This year, we also actualised the highest number of cash donations and other resources from our supporters. We are thankful to all who came to show us love with their presence. We hope that next year’s celebration will be better.”
He described this year’s event as very successful because members cooperated in various ways to ensure its success and commended the grand president, General Amamgbo and Lady Nwankwo, for honouring their invitation to attend this year’s event.
In the same manner, Brigadier. General. Chuks Amamgbo, grand president, Lagos Command, commended the committee for its remarkable performance to carry out a successful event. He said: “I am well impressed with the chief host in the person of Cyril Sunday Eze for this wonderful reception. It is indeed commendable and he has my commendation to the fullest.
“For all the family day events I have witnessed so far, this year’s celebration supercedes all. It is a great initiative to create an avenue for Christian families to come together and engage in activities that portends love and unity. The committee and guests have all done great in making this year’s Family Day a huge success.”
Lady. Justina Nwankwo also commended Col. Eze and members of District 15 for their organizational ability that made the event successful and encouraged other districts to emulate them so that they will be more improvements in future.
She stated: “Family is everything for us as a church and organisation. We value family values and orientation. We value communal life. That is why we initiate activities that promote family unity and peace. This Family Day celebration is one of many activities we engage to bring families together. I also applaud the host and committee that made this celebration so entertaining and enlightening.”
Col. Charles Okonkwo, second vice grand president of District 15, noted that the annual Family Day celebration and New Yam festival is one of the most impactful activities that is aimed to foster progress and inculcate family values in the children.
Other guests who were at the event commended the organisers and hope that it will continue to be better in subsequent years.
The climax of the event was display of various dance groups by both men and women, quiz by the young boys and girls and awards for members, who have contributed immensely for the progress of the Knight of St. John International in various ways, including Chief Fidel Ononuju, Chief Mrs. Ngozi Okafor and many others.
The Knights of St. John International is an international Catholic fraternal service organization. Incorporated in 1886, the organization’s members commit themselves to service to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, their communities and fraternal brotherhood, with individual units, or commanderies, established within a parish.
The regimented organization pledges royalty to their King, Jesus Christ, which strengthens and prepares them to complete His earthly mission through acts of charity and fraternity. They pledge on their honour and live to manifest His Word and Truth through their actions.