New York Grand Retreat 2024

Report and pictures by 1st Lt Lawrence Ibe, NYG press attache.

October 12th, 2024, witnessed a large turnout of Knights and Ladies of Knights of St. John International from the New York Grand Commandery for the 2024 annual retreat. The venue was Our Lady of Martyrs shrine, 136 Shrine Road, Fultonville, New York.

All brothers and sisters who attended the event left the venue satisfied spiritually with the rich history of the shrine and the Martyrs, which was handed down by the pilgrimage coordinator and museum manager of the shrine- Beth Lynch and the spiritual talk by Rev. Lawrence Nonso Onyegu.

The retreat witnessed benediction, break time, museum visit, stations of the cross, confession, as well as Mass. Speaking, Rev. Nonso Onyegu told brothers and sisters that ”as a Knight, we are supposed to build each other up and not tear each other down’. He said that ”people come and go, but the Catholic Church remains ” (showing the difference between the catholic church and the pentecostal churches). He concluded by saying that, ”at the holy ground of Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, you are asked to believe in the blessed Sacrament”. The event was simply put ‘spiritually satisfying.’

Some of the officers in attendance were: Maj. Gen. Don Anigbogu, Brig. Gen. Charles Abiakwe, Brig. Gen. Francis Kollie, Brig. Gen. Richard Morse, Brig. Gen. Andrew Voce, Colonels Rudolph Weedor, John Akwuobi, Chinedum Uche, Dave Wilson, Maj. Jason Fazio among many other brothers and sisters.

Lawrence Ibe