Rev. Fr. Kenneth Mereh, the Administrator of St. Kizito College, Iju and the Metro Assistant Chaplain of The Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Lagos Metropolitan Council has called on Catholic Knights to see their membership of the knighthood as a call to service to the Church, the Order and society and leave no room for pride. He said this in his homily during Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere on Saturday 26th April as KSM Nigeria, Lagos Metropolitan Council elevated 154 of her members (76 Knights and 78 Ladies) to the 3rd degree of the Order.
Quoting 1 Cor.12:1-12 on gifts of the Holy Spirit, he told the new 3rd Degree Knights and Ladies that: “….. gifts are from God. See this investiture as a gift from God; a gift given to you for the good of the Order, the Church and the society. Your investiture today is to be seen as a call to service, and not as a room for pride.” The ceremonies were led by the Lagos Metropolitan Grand Knight, Sir Don Ezeh and the Lagos Metropolitan President, Lady Juliet Damian-Osuigwe. Rev Fr. Kenneth Mereh celebrated Holy Mass with Msgr. Bernard Okoduwa, the Parish Priest of the host parish and Rev. Fr. Augustine Aniagboso Priest-in-residence at St. Leo Catholic Church Ikeja.
Also in attendance were the Past Metro President, Lady (Dr.) Ify Mbelede, the Deputy Metro Grand Knight, Sir Nosa Ehigiator, Metro officers, Grand Knights and Lady Presidents. Before Mass, the candidates were admitted into the 3rd degree of KSM. During Mass, they were invited by the Metro Grand Knight and Metro President who supervised their investiture ceremony. Rev. Fr. Kenneth Mere prayed for them and blessed their new royal purple 3rd degree regalia before being robed in them. Sir Don Ezeh, the KSM Lagos Metro Grand Knight congratulated the new 3rd Degree Knights whom he said had “demonstrated commitment, resilience and the “can do” spirit through more than 10 years to arrive at this unique milestone of the 3rd degree of our Honoured Order.”
He admonished them to be worthy in their personal and family lives, in their decisions and choices, in their leadership roles in the Order and society and in their support for the Catholic Church, its Clergy and the Religious. The Metro President, Lady Juliet Damian-Osuigwe advised the new 3rd Degree Ladies of St. Mulumba to be good mothers in their families, to remain humble and support their husbands to make the home conducive for family life. KSM membership is classified into four classes or degrees in an ascending order of seniority from first to fourth degree. The weekend ceremony was for advancement of qualified members from the second to the third degree.
• Sir Dom Nkwopara writes from the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba, Lagos Metropolitan Council.
