Knights of St. John International, Lagos Grand Commandery

It was a solemn and joyful gathering as members of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI) gathered at the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, Lagos, for a special thanksgiving service recently.

The various chapters of the Lagos Grand Commandery assembled to thank God for His infinite mercy in guiding their affairs and establishing new leadership peacefully within the Order.

Brigadier General Paulinus Nwankwo, Grand President, Lagos Grand Commandery, described the thanksgiving as the beginning of a new era.

“This thanksgiving marks the dawn of a new chapter in the annals of the Lagos Grand Commandery. It is with humility and a deep sense of sacred duty that I accept the noble burden of leadership entrusted to me and the newly elected officers. Relying on divine grace and strengthened by your prayers, we pledge to govern with justice, lead with integrity and serve with unwavering devotion to the Church and humanity.”

He reminded members of their solemn vows of fidelity to the Catholic faith, obedience to the Holy Mother Church, and commitment to the timeless ideals of charity, unity and Christian discipline.

“We stand today to renew our spiritual lives, strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, and expand our works of mercy in the vineyard of the Lord,” he added.

Also speaking, Col. Greg Amobi Ugwueze, first Vice President, Lagos Grand Commandery, expressed gratitude for the smooth transition of leadership.

“We gathered to thank God for a peaceful election of officers into the Lagos Grand Commandery. After four years of service by the previous officers, elections were conducted in December, ushering in new executives. Following a brief recess in January, we chose February for this thanksgiving service to appreciate God for the seamless transition.”

Noble Sister Okwui Sidney-Moka, Grand Respected President of the Lagos Grand Ladies Auxiliary, also thanked God for the gift of life and the peaceful conduct of elections across both the Commandery and the Ladies Auxiliary.

“We are grateful for the peace, unity, brotherly and sisterly love that prevailed throughout the process. To God alone we give all the glory.”

She called on members to support the new executives in their shared mission of building a stronger and spiritually vibrant Order.

Here are some pictures from the event.