By Michael Nnebife and Ebube Edieh
It was celebrations galore for the entire noble Knights and Ladies of Catholic Order of Knights of St Michael the Archangel,CKMA St Patrick’s Council 001, as they gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, to mark the Feast of their Patron Saint, Archangel Michael.
The epoch-making event, which took place on Sunday, 29th September, 2024, began with a Holy Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, represented by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi.
In a homily during the Mass, the Priest Coordinator of the Knights and Ladies of St Michael the Archangel, Rev. Fr. Martin Anusi, admonished the noble Knights and Ladies to emulate St Michael, whose life, he said, was a great lesson to humanity.
Rev. Fr. Anusi, who recalled the Biblical account of a great war in Revelation Chapter 12, which, he said, defined Angel Michael, emphasized that Archangel Michael became a protector of God’s People because he had vision which was God-focused.
‘His victory came from the throne where he was looking at, that is, the vision he had. It is not because he was more powerful than Lucifer.
‘To him, it was always about God and what God could do, not about himself. This is a takeaway for all of us today,’ the Priest told the noble Knights and Ladies.
He further urged them to use their talents, wealth, among others, to defend the kingdom of God, the weak, the poor, and the voiceless in society.
The Priest Coordinator also conveyed Bishop Ezeokafor’s message to the noble Knights and Ladies.
‘The Bishop has great belief in you people; that is why he has convinced himself that this new Order will be a new dawn in the lay apostolate in the Church in Nigeria.
‘So, do everything possible not to disappoint him,’ he advised, and thanked them for their commitment and sacrifices to ensure the success of the event.
In his address, the President, St Patrick’s Council 001, Awka, Sir James Ogochukwu Ezeonu, expressed the readiness of the Order to wage war against Satan and his co-fallen angels ravaging the world today.
He thanked the entire congregation, for finding time to join the Devotional Order in appreciating God for the Canonical Authority granted to it by Bishop Ezeokafor.
The event, which also featured thanksgiving by the noble Knights and Ladies, attracted the presence of their Supreme President, Sir Felix Olowu; the President Emeritus, Rt Hon Dr Sir Dan Anaebo Okekenta; including top Anambra State government officials, who included the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Chukwuma Okoye; the State Commissioner for Housing, Hon Paulinus Onyeka; among others.
