If anything, the choice of personalities visited by way of courtesy calls during the 43rd Supreme Council Convention of KSM,which held in Abuja (24-27 November,2022) signalled an Institution fast evolving into a global brand.
First was to the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guddio Filipazzi,whose disarming simplicity and through knowledge of Nigeria and the foibles of it’s people was amazing.To him unity among christians,nay Catholic faithfuls remains the major arsenal for confronting religious intolerance and persecution, an assignment KSM must lead.
A similar ring echoed from Archbishop Ignatius kaigama of Abuja Archdiocese, who charged Catholic faithfuls to embrace the ongoing synodality designed by the Vatican to ensure that the laity takes part ownership in running the church.
Then the Supreme Knight and members of the Supreme Executive Board were received in audience by a delegatee of the SGF, Boss Mustapha in his office. It was indeed an epoch, which gave a veritable platform for the SK to espouse the vision and mission of KSM at the top echelon of the Nigerian Government.
Perhaps the decision to hold the Opening Mass of the Convention at the Veritas University Bwari- Abuja was a kind cut. It at once enabled leaders of the Order across the Country to sight and savour the ambience of the magnificent Chapel built at a cost of 450 million naira and donated by KSM to the Catholic university 8 years ago. 7 Bishops, led by Archbishop Kaigama concelebrated the mass, during which he disclosed that the Catholic Bishops Conference had approved thet the Chapel be named after the founder-Father of the Order, Anselm Abraham Ojefua and that the Chapel will be dedicated in sync with the Catholic rites for Holy places of worship.The announcement was an added Filip to the cause for the Beatification of Ojefua, the same day that the Promotional uniform in Nigerian fabric was launched by the Ikemefuna led Committee driving the process for KSM.
Indeed the success of the first day of the convention was a pointer to it’s direction and overall Success.
John Cardinal Onaikan Emeritus Bishop of Abuja and Bishop Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri Diocese were the two Guest Speakers on the theme lines of the Convention…
“The Role of the Church in Advocacy and the Promotion of Peace, Equity, Justice and Development in the Democratic Transition in Nigeria” and “The Catholic Church in Nigeria and the growing challenges of supporting Christians and Victims of Religious Conflicts in Turbulent Regions of the Country”.
The two papers lucidly delivered were spot on and the erudite discussants drawn from the academia,clergy and Human Rights groups enhanced the knowledge of delegates on the thematic areas of the papers.
The loaded opening session ate deep into the plenary, but it once challenged the forum management of the SK, whose creativity and ingenuity ensured that the convention served it’s purpose and discharged it’s mandate equitably.
A pleasant development at this Convention was the emphatic presence of the Leadership of the Association of Papal knights and Medalists, Knights of St John International,Statutory groups in the Church – the Laity Council and the Christian Associations of Nigeria, at both the Opening Mass and official Opening sessions,where the groups presented goodwill messages. Beyond the solidarity it engendered for KSM and the church, it is at once the beginning of the much touted unity among the lay faithfuls and an elixir for the Vatican,s quest for ecumenism.
Proudly and Uniquely KSM.
SPRO