Catholic Knights, Pope medalists in Nigeria meets in Owerri

By Godwin Utuedoye,

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The national conference began with a Mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Innocent Osuagwu, who represented the Arch Bishop, Most Rev A.J.V Obinna.

In his Homily, Rev. Fr. Osuagwu charged the Knights to let their voice be heard against religious malpractices in the country. He lamented that the rate in which some of the new generation Churches recruit their members from the Catholic Church, stressing that the aim of the Conference was to see how the Knights can continue to be faithful in the affairs of the Church.

Rev. Fr. Osuagwu enjoined the Papal Knights to rise up and condemn election rigging and thuggery, adding that the Church should rise to the challenges of religious, economic and Socio- Political bigotry, which he noted has resulted in ethnic tension and conflicts, leading to destabilisation of the Polity and the Church.

In a welcome address by the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Anthony Elukeme, he called on parents to guide and direct their children in the Catholic faith to avoid Exodus movement of them to new generation churches.

In his Remarks, the Provincial Chairman of the Association of Papal Knights/ Medalists in Nigeria, Justice P. C. Onumajuru, noted that the Church has been attacked from various angles, particularly in the Northern part of the Country, where Priests and the lay faithful are murdered without recourse to their being Children of God. On his part, the National President of Papal Knights in Nigeria, Mr Patrick Ikemefuna appealed to government at all levels to implement their electoral promises for the common good of the masses.

Mr. Ikemefuna condemned the kidnapping of Catholic priests all over the nation, warning those committing such heinous crime to desist from it as the wrath of God will surely fall on them.

Delivering the conference lecture, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, the Bishop of Umuahia diocese and also the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara diocese, bemoaned the corruption that has become systematic in all sectors in Nigeria.

He maintained that corruption has crept into schools giving way to examination malpractice, bribing of lecturers with money and body, false domcumentation, illegal privatisation of public properties, election rigging, padding of government contracts, disregard for the rule of law etc. The bishop who was represented at the occasion by the Supreme Chaplain, Knight of St. Mulumba, Owerri Arch Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Nwaiwu also expressed his regrets over some charlatans now masquerade themselves as political leaders and, fraudulent prosperity preachers, noisy prayers warriors and miracle hawkers, using the both the broadcast and social media to sow seed of discord, malice and vengeance in families and communities.

According to him, the greatest challenge facing the Church is that most faithful have not been thoroughly evangelised. He added that economic challenges facing the Church can be addressed and minimised if the Church can become self sustaining.

Fr. Nwaiwu enjoined the Justice, Development and Caritas Commission to work with Catholic social forum to create awareness and encourage political participation in communities.