KSJI

The St. Thomas More Commandery number 497 of the Knights of St. John International was inaugurated in December 1995.

The Order’s objectives and aims are:
1. To cultivate a love among its members of the Roman Catholic Church, its rituals and ceremonials, and a desire to advance the spiritual interests of the Church;
2. To promote a more generous and filial respect for the spiritual authority of the Church;
3. To create and foster a feeling of fraternity and fellowship among the various Commanderies and among the members thereof; to improve their moral, mental and social conditions, and to aid, assist and support members, their families and their dependants in case of want, sickness or death; to hold, manage and disburse beneficiary funds with which to pay losses and expenses incident to its business and purposes, and for the relief of members in the Commanderies and their families and dependants:
4. To encourage and develop the spirit of love of country and of its institutions, and to extend to the whole world the spirit of good Membership: Membership is open to all Roman Catholics of 18 years and above and provided they are in gainful employment.

The Commandery was started with an initial number of 15 who were members of the Order in Koforidua, Osu and Adabraka. The current membership is 50.

ACTIVITIES
Members are enjoined to be the conservative supporters of all Church activities and be the defender of the authority of the Church, protect the weak and ensure active participation in all Parish activities. In fulfillment of these, the Commandery organizes at least two spiritual retreats in a given year for its members. It is obligatory for members to receive Holy Communion during the Easter and the period following Easter till the recommencement of Ordinary time. The Order’s Charity activities include a mandatory support for the St. Vincent de Paul Society every year. There is also a special focus on widows and orphans in the Commandery’s jurisdiction.

Significant Donations to the SS Thomas More and John Fisher CommunityThe Order paid half of the cost of roofing the St. John Fisher Church. Parishioners who had taken up service to the Church as Ordained Ministers or religious life practitioners have been well supported by the Order. The Commandery paid for the Altar of the Church which is to be dedicated today.

The Commandery supports in diverse ways the annual party and get-together for the sick and aged. It part of the annual programme to spend time with the clergy of the church during the Christmas festivities.

ACHIEVEMENTS
The Commandery’s members have taken major positions in the management of the Order in Ghana including the Grand Presidency of the Accra Ecclesiastical Province, Head of the Noble Temple, and the nurturing of Commanderies in Abelemkpe and the University of Ghana, Legon. Currently, the Noble Scribe and the District Commander of the Kehe Deanery are all active members of the St. Thomas More Commandery No. 497.

Over the last 20 years, members of the Order have excelled and been adjudged the best graduating members of the Order’s Archdiocesan Degree Examinations. Youth Development: The Commandery has an active Cadet Corps from which over half the membership had graduated to the major order ranks.