News Report From District 4, KSJ Int’l BY Capt. Titus Brown Osuagwu

MEDIA & INFORMATION OFFICER

4TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK GRAND COMMANDERY KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN INTERNATIONAL

NEWS AND EVENTS FROM AUGUST 01, 2017 TO OCTOBER 31, 2017 This was a beautiful season as we transitioned from summer to fall. We have continued to demonstrate our commitment to the Noble Order and practice our values in this region. The District experienced one loss of human live during this quarter. Our condolences go to Maj. Alexander Jeaploh, the Worthy President and members of Commandery 676, Trenton New Jersey, who lost their member – Brother Kojo Aponsah after a protracted illness. Knights and Ladies of District 4 mounted a guard of honor, paid their last respects and also participated in the Christian wake keeping. The New York Grand President’s condolence message and the Citation was read by Maj. Alexander Jeaploh, Commandery 676 Worthy President. His remains were buried in the Ewing Township Cemetery, Trenton, after the Funeral Mass. We continue to be grateful to the Almighty God thus far. DISTRICT FOUR DELEGATES MEETING: The Third Quarterly Delegates and Officers meeting of District Four of the New York Grand Commandery was hosted by Commandery # 626 New York on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at St. Clement Pope Parish, Jamaica Queens, New York. The meeting was presided over by Major Patrick Mombo – the District Commander and was fully participated by delegates and members of Commanderies 626 NY, 676 Trenton NJ and 680 Newark NJ. Impressive reports on the good of the Order were received from the three Commandaries of the District. 2nd and 3rd Degrees Initiation Report: Capt. Titus Brown Osuagwu, Chairman of the Committee for the 2nd and 3rd Degrees Exemplification gave an update on his committee’s successful preparation for the hosting of this ceremony. The three-man committee was made up of the three Commanders from the three Commanderies of District 4.

Courtesies of:

Brig. Gen. James J. Schafhausen, Supreme Under Secretary, KSJI Journal.

Brigadier General John R. Russo, Sr. Grand President, Knights of St. John Int’l, New York Grand Commandery.

According to Capt. Osuagwu, Commandery 680 Newark NJ will host the event on Sunday, November 12, 2017. He stated the Committee resolved that only candidates who qualified according to Chapter 11 Section 18 of the KSJI Constitution will be eligible for the initiation. The list of qualified and verified candidates for exemplification from the three Commanderies were read to the members. At that meeting the District Commander, Maj. Patrick Mombo, directed the Committee’s Chairman to get in touch with the Parish Priest of Blessed Sacrament Church, Newark NJ for the Liturgy preparations and Maj. Mombo also stated that he had liaised with the Supreme and Grand authorities of the KSJI for further necessary actions and invitations. Maj. Mombo is also liaising with other Grand and District Commanderies in other metropolitan areas to take advantage of this upcoming initiation in the 4th District and send in their qualified candidates to participate. Supreme Mandated Inspections and Muster of all the Commanderies: The District Commander, Maj. Patrick Mombo in conjunction with the District Inspector, Lt. Rudolph Weedor, will carry out a joint inspection and mustar of all the Commanderies in the District on Sunday, November 12, 2017 prior to the 2nd and 3rd Degrees initiation ceremony. All the Commanderies have been duly notified. District 4 General Elections: Chairman’s Electoral and the Floor Electoral Committees were empaneled during the District 4 Delegates meeting in New York on October 7, 2017. The Electoral Committee members were charged with the duties of screening and nominating the right and qualified candidates for the general elections coming up during the District 4 Delegates quarterly Meeting of December 2017. COMMANDERIES MONTHLY MEETINGS: Regular monthly meetings of all the Commanderies under District 4 have continued to be held, where matters of mutual interest are deliberated upon and resolutions taken for the good of the Order. NEW YORK GRAND RETREAT 2017:

The annual pilgrimage of the New York Grand Commandery was held at the Sacred Villa of Our Lady Retreat House, Mount Pocono, PA on Saturday, September 30, 2017. The retreat commenced with a Eucharistic Celebration which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Henry Okenu of Nnewi Diocese, Nigeria who filled in for Monsignor (Col.) Anselm Nwaorgu, NY Grand Spiritual Director who was inadvertently absent resulting from a prior event/meeting already scheduled with Cardinal Joseph William Tobin at the Cathedral Basilica, Newark Diocese.

In his closing remarks, the Grand President – Brigadier General John R. Russo, Sr., thanked members for finding time to come and wished them God’s travel mercies back to their respective places of abode.

SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS AT THE NEW YORK GRAND PILGRIMAGE

Please go to http://frontiernet.net/~nygrand and click on Photos for Full Documentary of the 2017 New York Grand Pilgrimage. GOOD OF THE ORDER: Rev. Msgr. (Col.) Anselm Nwaorgu, New York Grand Spiritual Director was installed in his new Parish as Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, Union, New Jersey, on October 15th, 2017 by the Most Rev.

Manuel A. Cruz, DD (Auxiliary Bishop of The Archdiocese of Newark). Knights and Ladies of Commandery 680 Newark NJ participated in this event. The event was followed by a Reception Party at the Parish Hall.

MSGR. NWAORGU WITH MOST. REV. MANUEL CRUZ (CENTER)

AND OTHER PRIESTS AFTER THE INSTALLATION

MSGR. NWAORGU WITH KNIGHTS OF COMDRY 680

The Igbo Catholic Community of the Blessed Sacrament Church of the Archdiocese of Newark NJ had her 2017 annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Celebration on Sunday, October 28, 2017. In continuation of her charitable works to promote the good of the Order and the Church, KSJI 680 and LAUX 592 participated actively and made a cash donation of $2000:00 as a group in addition to individual family thanksgiving and gift offerings. Brother Linus Ebere was the Chairman of the 2017 Harvest Committee, Brother Cyril Amadiegwu and Lady Ngozi Amadiegwu were the Couple of the Day, Brother Vitus Eleanya was the Father of the Day, Lady Dr. Ifeyinwa Egu was the Matron of the Day, while Lady Beatrice Chinwe Njoku was the Mother of the Day. The event commenced with a Eucharistic celebration which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Erasmus Okere - Spiritual Adviser. UPCOMING EVENTS:

1. November 12, 2017: Supreme mandated inspections and muster of all the Commanderies in District 4 at Commandery 680, Newark NJ

2. November 12, 2017: Second and Third Degrees Exemplification by District 4 at Blessed Sacrament Church, Commandery 680, Newark New Jersey.

3. Commanderies’ Christmas Parties and End of Year Events. 4. May 5, 2018: New York Grand Officers and Delegates Meeting,

Commandery 626, New York

Fraternally submitted: Capt. Titus Brown Osuagwu Media and Information Officer

DISTRICT FOUR, NEW YORK GRAND