KNIGHTHOOD ORDER OF ST PAUL

How was the Knighthood Order of St. Paul formed?

In February, 1990, Most Rev. (Dr.) Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, the then Bishop of Benin City Diocese, now Archbishop Emeritus of the Metropolitan See of Benin City, invited one hundred and twenty men and women from across the length and breadth of the Diocese to the Chancery where he informed them that he was contemplating inviting Knights of St. Peter Clavier/ladies Auxiliary of the USA to come and establish a Council in the Diocese. All through the month of March, 1990, courses of instruction on the History of the Church, History of Knighthoods, liturgy and Worship, etc., were organized for the men and women every Thursday and Saturday. On May, 1990, shortlisted candidates were given application forms to complete. But, sadly thereafter, it became known to the Bishop that the Knights of St. Peter ladies Auxiliary were not prepared to establish a branch outside the United States of America. Hence, he decided, after due consultation and clearance from the Vatican found a Knighthood Order under the heavenly patronage of St. Paul, the Great Apostle. On 13th March, 1991, the provisional list of successful candidates for admission into this New Order was released. And so, another round of lectures were organized for them in the month of April, 1991. On 9th May, 1991, the Solemnity of the Ascension of our lord, Jesus Christ, Most Rev. [Dr.) Patrick E. Ekpu, promulgated a Decree erecting the Knighthood Order of St. Paul. Following the footstep of the Apostles and their successor down the ages, Bishop Ekpu founded the Knighthood Order of St. Paul to tap the great treasury of talents and skills, enthusiasm and dedication of eager members of the lay faithful for more active participation in the mission of the church'. The first intake of 34 members, made up of 18 Knights and 16 Knighted Ladies, were formally admitted into the Order on Saturday 2nd June, 1991 (the Solemnity Corpus Christi) during a concelebrated Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City presided over by the Founder himself. The Second Set of Knights and Knighted Ladies admitted into the Order, numbering the 48 [20 Knights and 28 Knighted Ladies were also invested by His Grace, Most Rev. [Dr.] Patrick E. Ekpu, OFR, on Saturday 29th April, 1996, at Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City. On June 2nd, 2001, 17 Knights and Knighted Ladies were invested as the Third Set. The Fourth Set, which comprised 55 members - 28 Knights and 27 Knighted. Ladies were invested on 4th September, 2004. It should be noted that the 4th admission reflected the Dioceses that made up the Benin Metropolitan Province. The 5th Set, invested on 5th October, 2008, was made up of 35men and 33women; 68 in all. The 6th Set admission in to the Order place on 31st October, 2010, when members were invested. This, being the largest intake thus far, was made up of 47men and 40women. The same procedure of training was also applied in the admission of the' r: Set of 23 Knights and 33 Knighted Ladies [58 in all] invested at Uromi Diocese on 15th August, 2015, by the Bishop of Uromi Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. [Dr.] Donatus Ogun, OSA. This was the first investiture carried out outside 'Benin City, the National Headquarter of the Order. On the 16th of December, 2017, 56 members, comprising 21 men and 35women were invested at Warri as the s" Set, by the Bishop of Warri Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. [Dr.] John Oke Afereha. This was the second investiture done outside the national headquarters. This new admission brings the numerical strength of the membership of this noble Order, since its inception in 1991, to 421. However, of this total number, 15 members have been disrobed/resigned, while 30 members have been called to glory, as at date. May the souls of our departed members and those of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace; amen. On the 1st June 2019 at st. mathia catholic church, Amarata, Yenagoa Bayasa state His Lordship Most Rev. Hyacinth Oroko Egbodo Msp. Bishop of Bomadi Diocese invested the 9th set of 43 members which comprises 19 men and 24 women. This was th 3rd investiture carried outside Benin city, the National Headquarter of the order. After the training of the 10th set, 36 members were admitted as knight and knighted ladies which made up of 21 knights and the 15th knighted ladies. On the 5th of August, 2023 at Holy Cross Cathedral Catholic Church; Mission Rd, Benin City. His Grace Most Rev. (Dr) Augustine O. Akubeze, Archbishop Benin City Invested the 11th set with a total of 44 knight and knighted ladies- 35 knight, 8 knighted ladies with 3 from Lagos Council. Hence Lagos Council was created. 9 Honourary members were also invested On the 15th March 2025 the first investiture to take place in Lagos held at Christ the King Catholic Church, Akowonjo , Lagos, His Grace Most Rev Dr Alfred Adewale Martins (Archbishop of the metropolitan See of Lagos) was represented by Rev Fr Oscar John Obi (Director, Lay Apostolate Centre Chaplin, Lagos Archdiocese Laity Council) , Very Rev Fr Gregory Ndaeyo CM (Parish Priest CKC Akowonjo, Lagos) and Rev Fr Emmanuel Nwaloka, CM (Asst Parish Priest CKC Akowonjo, Lagos) which was for the 12th set of which 33 people were invested (including 2 honorary members).