Fides Media Living the Faith
By Chinecherem Efobi
Knights and Ladies of St Mulumba, Awka Zone, joined the International Alliance of Catholic Knights (IACK), to celebrate the Unborn Child on Friday, December 28, 2019, the Feast Day of the Holy Innocents. The Knights not only prayed and had lecture, but equally marched round some streets in Awka in defense of the rights of the unborn child.
A Holy Mass for the celebration of the Holy Innocents which kick started the day at the Mulumba Hall at the St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, had the Diocesan Deputy Chancellor, Rev Fr Anthony Ezeokeke as the chief celebrant. Fr. Ezeokeke pointed out that the Church found it befitting to celebrate the innocent children that were slaughtered by King Herod in the gospel of Matthew, as he was trying to snuff life out of the newly born Jesus Christ, as martyrs on every December 28, a feast which falls within the solemn octave of Christmas.
“It is only God who gives children and Him alone takes. Sometimes however, we abuse the word by killing the child by ourselves, and still say that God brings and God takes. We must remember the commandment of God that says, though shall not kill. Therefore, he who pounds on ground should know himself” Fr Ezeokeke advised. He concluded by thanking the Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba worldwide for bringing up this idea and standing by it. He then asked God to continue to strengthen them as they continue their good deeds.
Bro. Ubboe G. I., himself a knight, gave a memorable lecture to the knights and Ladies of St Mulumba Awka Zone after the Mass March on the theme “The Rights of the Unborn Child”. He reiterated the fact that both the Church and Knights and Ladies of St Mulumba have maintained that life begins at conception, and given by God. “Every Human being begins life as a cell at Fertilization. Subsequent development are grouped into two major stages; Intrauterine and Extrauterine” Bro Ubboe taught.
He continued by saying that the innocent babies who committed no crime but were killed in a bid to eliminate the newborn king, Jesus, the Church later beatified and named them collectively, THE HOLY INNOCENTS. Today, he observed, the reckless killing has extended for the unborn for one unacceptable reason or the other. Hence, the Church was drawing attention to this group of innocent beings being killed through induced abortions. The rights of unborn child include life, protection, care, shelter, education, legal representation. ‘What is good for the goose is also good for the gander’ he said. People should avoid doing harm to the unborn through omission or commission Bro. Ubboe concluded.
Sir Boniface Orakwe, the Metropolitan Grand Knight of the Order, covering Onitsha Metropolitan Province, which comprises Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi State, in his own contribution, said that the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), is an order that is associated with some other international knighthoods in other countries like U.K, Canada, Thailand and other countries. He pointed out that they known as the International Alliance of Catholic knights (IACK) and is recognized by the Vatican. Sir Orakwe further said that KSM chose the feast of the Holy Innocents to celebrate Holy Mass, say the holy Rosary and have a brief lecture on the evils of abortion in order to join forces with the Church to make sure that abortion is eradicated in the world.
After the Mass, the Knights and Ladies of marched prayerfully round the Awka streets adjacent the Cathedral vicinity while reciting the Rosary and carrying the banners with unscribed messages for the public. Some of the banners had the following messages on them: ‘No killing of innocent unborn child’. ‘No! to planned abortion’. ‘No! to termination of pregnancy at gestation’. ‘Abstain from premarital sex’. ‘Embrace natural family planning’ and ‘Reject artificial family planning’.
Knights March for Life
Ladies of St Mulumba stand for Life for all
