News Report From District 4, KSJ Int l Courtesies of: Brig. Gen. James J. Schafhausen, Supreme Under Secretary, KSJI Journal. Brigadier General John R. Russo, Sr. President, Knights of St. John Int l, New York Grand Commandery. BY Capt. Titus Osuagwu MEDIA & INFORMATION OFFICER 4 TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK GRAND COMMANDERY KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS FROM MAY 1 TO JULY 31, 2018 DISTRICT FOUR DELEGATES & BUSINESS MEETINGS: The Second Quarterly Delegates meeting of District Four of the New York Grand Commandery hosted by Commandery 626 New York on June 30, 2018 at St. Clement Pope Parish, 141 11 123 rd Avenue, Jamaica, Queens New York. The meeting was chaired by Major Charles Igwebuike, the District Commander. This was his maiden meeting since his installation as the Commander of District 4 with his new Cabinet on April 21 st, 2018. Field reports from the Commanderies were received and there was no loss of membership reported. Commanderies under District 4 have continued to hold their regular monthly meetings where they conduct the business of their Commanderies and the good of the Order. Reports indicated that the Annual Feast of the Patron St. John the Baptist was celebrated by the various Commanderies in the Parishes with Eucharistic Masses and private parties. At this meeting it was announced that exemplification to the Noble and Exalted Order of the Holy Cross will be held on Saturday, October 20 th, 2018 and Commanderies were urged to utilize this opportunity and forward the names of candidates under their various commands who qualified in accordance with the Supreme and Grand Constitution and Bylaws. NEW YORK GRAND OFFICERS AND DELEGATES MEETING: New York Grand Annual Grand Delegates & Officers Meeting was held at St. Clement Pope Parish, 141 11 123 rd Avenue, Jamaica, Queens New York, on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Officers and Delegates from all the Commanderies in New York including District 4 participated in this Grand Delegates Meeting. Progress Reports were presented from all Cabinet Officers and the Grand Committees including the New York #626 Worthy President, Brother Kenneth Uchendu on their preparedness to host the 2019 Grand Convention, Legislative Committee Chairman (Maj. Fazio), and Cadet Organizing Division under the chairmanship of Capt. Titus Brown Osuagwu. At this meeting salient issues and disputes in Commandery 676
Trenton NJ arising from exemplification of candidates to the Noble and Exalted Order of the Holy Cross in Baltimore/Washington DC 2017 was amicably resolved by the New York Grand President and the Supreme Secretary. Commanderies who were delinquent in submitting their monthly activity reports to the Grand were admonished to wake up and submit it in a timely manner to enable the Grand also forward its own report to the US Subordinate and Supreme Commanderies respectively. NY GRAND OFFICERS & DELEGATES MEETING IN SESSION COMMANDERY NEWS: COMMANDERY #680: This was a busy period for Commandery 680 and Ladies Auxiliary 592. On June 10, 2018, they processed and mounted guard of honor for the Most Rev. John Walter Flessey, STD, from the Archdiocese of Newark who officiated the confirmation ceremony of about 41 children at the Blessed Sacrament Church, Newark NJ. MOST REV. JOHN FLESSEY WITH BROTHER KNIGHTS & LADIES AFTER THE CONFIRMATION On June 22, 2018, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, CSSR, Archbishop of Newark Diocese, performed the dedication ceremony of the Mercy House of Archdiocese of Newark with the guard of members of Commandery 680. The mission of The Mercy House is to offer a welcoming space for individuals and families in need and to provide emotional support and healing in a comfortable, faith-filled environment.
Mercy House is the former Convent Building of the Blessed Sacrament Church of the Archdiocese of Newark NJ. CARDINAL TOBIN FLANKED BY REV. FR. ALBERT, FR. ERASMUS (COMDRY 680 CHAPLAIN) AND MEMBERS OF COMDRY 680 CORPUS CHRISTI CELEBRATION: June 3 rd, 2018 witnessed the celebration of Corpus Christi by the Congregation of Blessed Sacrament Church in conjunction with the Igbo Catholic Community of the Archdiocese of Newark. This solemn ceremony was preceded by a Eucharistic Mass officiated by Rev. Dr. Erasmus Okere, Commandery 680 Chaplain, and the Sacrament of the First Holy Communion which was administered on over 30 children of the Congregation. KSJI GUARDING THE BLESSED SACRAMENT AT THE CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION LED BY WORTHY PRESIDENT, BROTHER CHIDI DURUGO GOOD OF THE ORDER: Congratulations and best wishes to Ms. Emmanuela Njoku (daughter of Chief Dr. Sir Ignatius Njoku, Commandery 680 Treasurer), for being honored by the Supreme
KSJI with a Distinguished Award for her outstanding role in promoting the cause of humanity, charity, hospitality, hunger and poverty alleviation and respect for humanity. In a very colorful ceremony during the Banquet of the Supreme Convention in Philadelphia, the Supreme Secretary, Lt. Gen. Thomas Zdanowicz, read her citation and Ms. Emmanuela was given a standing and rousing ovation by the general floor. Commandery 680 and LAUX 592 have continued to reach out to their members who are afflicted in one way or the other. They poured get-well messages, gifts, and visitations to 1 st Lt. Chinedu Duru (former First Vice Commander) who has been sick for the second year running and now convalescing at home from a stroke attack. Also a joint visitation was carried out to one of the Sisters Lady Suzan Onwuzuluigbo, who suddenly fell sick, discharged from the hospital and now convalescing at home. We thank the Lord for His infinite mercies in hearing our prayers and granting them recovery. MS. EMMANUELA, SUPREME SECRETARY, DR. & LADY RITA NJOKU SUPREME CONVENTION 2018 IN PHILADELPHIA Knights of St. John International Supreme convention 2018 has come and gone and we had a joyful and most colorful experience. Participants were drawn from all parts of the world with concentration from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo and the United States - host country. Among the highlights was the election to various supreme offices where contestants participated in a free and fair election conducted by members drawn from the Supreme President and Floor Nomination Committees. General Frank Waseleski was reelected as Supreme President and Lt. Gen Thomas DeLuca was also reelected as the First Supreme Vice President. Highlights of the convention featured the Banquet Nite where the Supreme President, Gen. Frank Waseleski and his wife were conferred with Honorary Chieftaincy Titles of Ohamadike 1 of Igboland by the Nigerian Chiefs representing His Royal Highness, Eze Sir S.B. Nnabue, KSJI. The citation was delivered by High Chief Sir Titus Brown Osuagwu, who is the Ambassador of the Royal Highness in America, a Justice of Peace of the International Human Rights Commission and
Member of the United Nations 2030 High Level Committee on Tradition and Cultural Heritage. According to High Chief Osuagwu, the definition/illustration of the title Ohamadike means: A Known Public Tiger or The Lion of the People; a consensus builder, dependable a Great person who people depend on who navigates through and delivers results. Chief Waseleski was presented with a Chieftaincy Certificate, decorated with staff of office, royal crown hat beaded with gold, a tiger regalia, and other chieftaincy accoutrements which enjoins him to the full rights and privileges of a Chief in Igbo Land, Nigeria. NEW YORK GRAND OFFICERS AT THE SUPREME CONVENTION BUSINESS MEETING CHIEF, GEN. FRANK WASELESKI & WIFE AT THE CHIEFTAINCY CONFERMENT CEREMONY Please go to http://frontiernet.net/~nygrand and click on Photos for Full Documentary of the 2016 Supreme Convention in Buffalo.
UPCOMING EVENTS: 1. 4 th District 3rd Quarterly Meeting: Hosts: Commandery 676 Trenton NJ Date/Time: (TBD) 2. New York Grand Day of Recollection: Saturday, September 8, 2018 Venue: Our Lady of the Pocono s Retreat House, 245 Meadowside Road, Mt. Pocono, PA 18344 3. October 16, 2016: 2016 St. John The Baptist Prayer Breakfast honoring John A. Russo with the Lifetime Achievement Award Club Monarch, Yorkville, NY 4. Exemplification of the Noble & Exalted Degree of the Holy Cross: Saturday, October 20, 2018. Venue: St. Joseph Cathedral Buffalo, New York 5. New York Grand Convention: May 3 5, 2019 Host: Comdry 626 New York Venue: Holiday Inn Hotel 154-71 Brookville Blvd Jamaica Queens, NY Fraternally submitted: Capt. Titus Brown Osuagwu Media and Information Officer DISTRICT FOUR, NEW YORK GRAND