By Nna Anulumadu
The Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria (APKMN) has concluded a four-day national conference. The 17th National Conference, held from November 13 to 16, 2025, at the Madonna Renewal Centre (MRC) Nkpor, Anambra State, drew prominent attendees including Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha Archdiocese, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, other bishops, chaplains of APKMN, and a large number of Papal Knights and Medalists.
In a congratulatory message, Pope Leo XIV urged APKMN members to live theological virtues more intentionally and intensely, emphasizing that deepening their relationship with God would make them joyful witnesses to the gospel.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, His Excellency Michael Francis Crotty, reminded members that faith, hope, and charity are living gifts from God that shape Christians’ lives. He prayed for sustained grace to grow in faith, persevere in hope, and love without measure.
APKMN National President, Rt Hon Comrade Steve Adehi, thanked members for their support, highlighting the association’s achievements, including providing palliatives to internally displaced persons in Benue and Plateau States and supporting the training of seminarians.
The president expressed concern over Nigeria’s economic situation, attributing it to government policies, and noted the drift towards a one-party state due to opposition members being coerced into joining the ruling party.
In his keynote address/lecture, Archbishop Okeke commended APKMN for convening the conference, which he described as a pathway for evangelization. Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Faith, Hope and Charity in Contemporary Society,’ the prelate described faith, hope, and charity as theological virtues that are gifts from God. “When you’re given such gifts, you have to practice them and indulge in exercising them repeatedly.” According to him, faith is the substance of things hoped for and assurance of things yet unseen. “
To define faith, you’re talking about hope. To actualize faith, you have to show that faith in good works of love. St. James told us, faith without good works is dead. Therefore, faith, hope, and love are intrinsically united. Hope is the desire for something difficult to achieve but not impossible, which God can help us achieve through faith.”
The prelate urged Christians to practice agape love, which is the highest level of love not based on family ties or blood relations but a Christian love. “It is selfless love that doesn’t seek reward. Agape love is the irresistible and unconquerable desire to do good for your neighbor and look out for the best for your neighbor. It is the quintessential Christian love. This enables us to seek the good of others no matter what they’re saying to us. In essence, faith and hope can only be expressed in love.”
The Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, delivered a lecture on “Faith, Hope, and Charity, Imperative Virtues for the Nigerian Society, the Role of Catholic Knights.”
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