A THANKSGIVING Mass has been held in honour of visiting Supreme officers of the Knights of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliaries at the Christ the King Catholic Church, Cantonment in Accra with a call on members of the Noble Order to get out of their comfort zones and smug surroundings and reach out to serve the poor and needy and stretch a helping hand to the poor and the youth of the world.

The visiting Supreme officers, who are on a West African tour from the United States of America, were General Dale Gossiaux, Supreme President; Lieutenant General Thomas Zdanowicz, Supreme Secretary; Lieutenant General Terrence W. McCann, Supreme Treasurer; Noble Sister Irish Turner, Supreme Respected President and Sister Carol Sniezyk, Supreme Ladies Auxiliary Treasurer.

The visit of the Supreme Officers is the fourth of its kind in the 80-year old history of the Noble Order in Ghana. The five-day visit of the Officers took them to some parts of the country. The visit forms part of their programme of West African tour to interact with members of the Order and chart the way forward.

Before the commencement of the Eucharistic celebration, a parade was formed by a contingent of the Knights and Ladies where the two Supreme Presidents, reviewed the parade, which attracted Supreme Subordinate Officers, Accra East and West Grand Commanderies, as well as the various Battalion District Commanderies and the Ladies Districts in Accra. Reiterating Pope Francis’ call at the just-ended World Youth Day celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle said it was not enough simply for Christians to open the door in welcome, but must go out through that door and meet the people who needed them desperately. He challenged the Knights and Ladies to take risks and go out among the faithful who need them most, admonishing them to respond to the duties of the Church since they are the salt of the earth and light of the world.

Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell (SVD), Parish Priest of the Christ the King Catholic Church, in his homily, which was themed “A World to Win for Christ,” noted that it was the duty of every Catholic society to lead its members to holiness, Christ and prayers to stand the test of any temptation, and urged the Knights and Ladies and for that matter, Catholics, to know the teachings and doctrines of the church and be able to defend the faith of which they profess as well as defend the Church at all times.

He appealed to all, especially Catholics, to be committed to the will of God, and shun social vices such as cheating, bribery and corruption and live exemplary lives for others to emulate.

Whilst urging Catholic faithful to be committed in the service of God and participate in sharing the Gospel of God to others, Fr. Campbell said Christians must commit their energies to the supreme duty of proclaiming Christ to all peoples to win souls for Christ.

General Gossiaux on behalf of the visiting team, expressed gratitude to the leadership and entire membership in Ghana for the warm reception accorded them.

After the Mass, the group converged for a foot drill demonstration by some selected Cadets and Junior Auxiliaries, after which there were inaugurations of the various Battalion District Commanderies; the Accra East Ladies Districts One and Two; Accra West Ladies Districts One and Two of the Accra East and West Grand Commanderies.

The Knights of St. John International was formed in1886 by some American Roman Catholics in New York City to commemorate the gallant Knights who had courageously defended the Catholic Church.

The Noble Order was then introduced into the then Gold Coast through one Anthony Quansah of Saltpond, who when he made the sign of the Cross before a meal on board a ship, attracted the attention of an American sailor, who introduced him to the Noble Order and gave him literature on the Order to read and he turn gave the literature to his father, Emmanuel Quansah, both of blessed memory.

With the approval and support of the late Archbishop Thomas William Porter of Cape Coast in 1933, the Order was introduced into the country and in 1937 the first Commandery – St. John the Baptist Commandery, was inaugurated at Saltpond. Since then, the Order has flourished in many Parishes in the country. The Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St John International was formed to work with their men counterparts to spread the Catholic Faith through generous charitable works of mercy and promoting among its members a deeper and more abiding respect for the Catholic Church and the community.

It is further encouraging to learn that the Knights of St John International and the Ladies Auxiliary have affiliate organizations for young boys and girls called Cadets Commandery and Junior Auxiliary of Knights of St John International respectively, and today, they can boast about 100 Local Commanderies and over 80 Ladies Auxiliaries, with over 10,000 members across the country.

Among the aims of the KSJI include: to create and foster a feeling of fraternity and fellowship among the various Commanderies; to aid, assist and support members and their families in case of want, sickness and death; and to promote respect for the spiritual authority of the Catholic Ch