The Knights of St. John International (KSJI) in Nigeria has rolled out the drums to celebrate its 50th anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to evangelisation, charity, and fraternity.
It has unveiled a packed programme of spiritual, social, and charitable activities to mark the golden jubilee.
The celebrations, themed: “50 Years of Faith, Knighthood and Service in Nigeria”, have brought together members, clergy, and dignitaries from across the country to reflect on the Order’s journey, achievements, and future aspirations.
The KSJI, founded in the United States in 1886, berthed in Nigeria in 1975, was accepted by Bishop Godfrey Okoye to operate in Enugu Diocese from where the Order began spreading in 1976, following official approval of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) when His Eminence, the late Dominic Cardinal Ekandem was CBCN President.
At the official unveiling of the anniversary logo at the Catholic Resource Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee and Grand President of Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Rt. Hon. Chevalier Emmanuel Okene outlined the line-up of activities.
He announced that the programme will begin with catechetical competitions in all Grand Commanderies, the Second Catechetical Colloquium in Port Harcourt Diocese, and the Hail Mary Jingle rendered in various Nigerian languages.
Other highlights include a 50 unique rosary exhibition of framed images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in response to Pope Francis’ call to “journey with hope,” and an “Evangelisation and Charity Initiative” to be executed through local commanderies and auxiliaries with lectures on contemporary societal issues and targeted interventions.
“We are going back to our roots. At the local commanderies, we will have interventions that address morality, discipline, and raising children with the right values. We want to create a balance between spiritual growth and social engagement,” Okene said.
Other planned events include the production of a commemorative fabric tagged: 50th Anniversary Abada, the design and presentation of golden chasubles for spiritual directors and advisers, inter-commandery and grand commandery military parade competitions, a golf tournament, the erection of a statue of St. John the Baptist at a parish within Nigeria, and a 50th anniversary lecture and award dinner.
Part of the celebration will also revive traditional Catholic hymns in a concert of 500 choristers, symbolising each year of the Order’s five decades.
“Catholic hymns are deep. Many were composed by people who encountered God in profound moments, either in hardship or joy. The choruses we hear today are not without meaning, but they lack the depth of those hymns. We want to take people back to that spiritual richness, blending the ancient with the modern,” Okene added.
Subordinate President of KSJI Nigeria,Major General (Prof.) Remy Uche, Supreme described the milestone as a testament to perseverance and growth.
“Fifty years is not fifty days. This Order has been committed to spreading the gospel through faith, hope, and charity, assisting the less privileged, and strengthening fraternity. From fewer than 50 founding members, we have grown to over 10,000 men, and when you include women, cadets, and juniors, we are about 25,000 strong,” Uche said.
He noted that KSJI’s contributions over the decades extend beyond spiritual guidance to tangible support for the Church, through infrastructure projects, the training of priests and religious, and charitable outreach.
Chairman of the event, Rt. Hon Chevalier Arumemi Johnson, a veteran member of more than 40 years, emphasised the Order’s inclusive humanitarian mission.
“We are people of diverse ethnicity, spread across the country, with both clergy and laity in our ranks. When disaster struck in Benue, we distributed food items without asking if you were Christian or Muslim. To us, you are first a child of God, and our duty is to save souls and help humanity,” he said.
National Spiritual Director of the Knights and Ladies of St. John International Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Michael Omughale described the anniversary as a “landmark celebration”, adding that one of the Order’s priorities is recruiting and mentoring younger members.
“If we succeed and do not pass the torch to the next generation, then we have failed. Through proper scrutiny, we enlist members who will uphold our values and continue our mission in Nigeria and beyond,” Omughale said.
Host of the Lagos celebrations, Grand President of Lagos Grand Commandery, and host of the event, Brigadier General Chuks Amambo said the Order’s four cardinal points, discipline, charity, fraternity, and spirituality, remain inspired by their patron saint, St. John the Baptist.
“St. John was known for humility. In that same spirit, we speak out against societal ills while serving with compassion and discipline,” he said.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oshogbo, John Oyejola, said the work of the faith-based evangelisation group had brought hope, meaning, and transformation to countless individuals in Nigeria and beyond.
“It’s a way of making the whole world, particularly in Nigeria, know the impact of what they’ve been doing for the past 50 years and what they are planning to do for the other 50 years,” the cleric said.
He described the group as one committed to “saving souls, helping others, and bringing meaning to people’s lives,” stressing that the church’s mission remains rooted in service and compassion.
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According to him, the organisation has not only reached out to communities but has also extended its mission to prisons, offering care and support to inmates.
“They’ve gone as far as prisons to take care of those you can call criminals, but we don’t judge anybody. We go out to help people because we don’t see criminals, we see human beings,” he said.
Bishop John emphasised the dignity of every individual, noting: “We see people who are created in the image and likeness of God. Our duty is to help them know who they are, in order to know God.”
He urged the faithful to emulate the group’s dedication, assuring that such acts of evangelisation bring people closer to Christ and strengthen the community.
The jubilee celebrations will culminate in a grand thanksgiving Mass later in the year, with members rededicating themselves to the Order’s mission of serving God and humanity.