Knights of St. Mulumba Commemorates Founder's Day with a Call to "Dogged Patience"

 -By Ruben Mario Brodrick

Benin City, Nigeria - The Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba (KSM/LSM) in the Benin Archdiocese, encompassing the New Benin, Ikpoba, Uselu, and Ugbowo Subordinate Councils, recently gathered for their 2025 Founders' Day commemoration.

 Held at the Sir John Uwa Iredia Multi-purpose Hall, the event centered on the profound theme, "Patience in Life or Servant of God - Fr. Abraham Anselm Isidahomen Ojefua."

The ceremony saw a significant turnout, with the Archbishop of Benin City, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, represented by Rev. Fr. Raphael Anoje, Director of the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre and a Chaplain to one of the sub-councils. Other chaplains, delegates from various knighthood orders, leaders of Lay Apostolate groups (led by the Archdiocesan Laity President), Catechists, representatives from the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Christian Mothers, Lay Readers, and Catholic Media Practitioners were also in attendance. 

The event was ably chaired by Prof. Charles Eregie, KSM, with Sir Anthony Ezama serving as the Chairman of the Planning Committee.

Upholding the Founder's Virtues: Defenders of Faith and Discipline

In his stirring homily, Rev. Fr. Raphael Anoje emphasized that the KSM is more than just a knighthood order; it is a vital body of "defenders of the Faith, defender of the sacrament and a disciplinarian of the teachings of the church." 

He passionately connected these attributes to the very "soul and the spirit" of the founding father, Fr. Anselm Ojefua, urging all KSM and LSM members to continue upholding his virtues and vision.

Fr. Anoje also used the occasion of the liturgical feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to call for an emulation of their lives in promoting the Christian faith. He underscored the crucial role of the family as the smallest unit of the Church and society, stating, "If the family gets it right, the church and society will get it right." He further stressed the importance of prayers and care for the elderly, referencing the late Pope Francis's message that "ageing is not a death sentence, or humiliation or discomfort," but rather "a moment of new relationship with God that is to sublime, which one's awaits in God's time until his or her return." He implored attendees to maintain strong connections with their aged parents, ensuring their proper care and celebrating their sacrifices while they are still alive.

Unpacking "Dogged Patience": The Legacy of Fr. Anselm Ojefua

A central highlight of the commemoration was a deeply insightful talk delivered by Rev. Fr. Francis Abubokhale, priest in residence of St. Albert Catholic Church, UNIBEN, Ugbowo. His discourse, titled "Patience in the Life of a Servant of God, Fr. Anselm Isidahome Ojefua - A Dogged Patience," resonated profoundly with the audience.

Fr. Abubokhale began by introducing patience as an urgent contemporary virtue and delved into the life of Fr. Anselm Isidahome Ojefua, born in Igueben, Edo State, in 1910. Ordained a priest and monk in 1942, Fr. Ojefua emerged as a "prophet of patient reform" in post-colonial Nigeria. He envisioned a Church where African Catholics were not merely passive participants but active spiritual leaders collaborating with the Church hierarchy. He firmly believed in the power of the laity to transform society through persevering prayer, patient service, and enduring unity.

In 1953, after years of reflection and dialogue, and under the instruction of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, Fr. Ojefua founded the Knighthood Order of St. Mulumba, modeling it after the Knights of Columbus. This was no easy feat, facing resistance from colonial structures, religious sectarianism, skepticism from local elites, and even apathy within the Church. Yet, he remained "resolute in spirit," building the order "slowly, person by person, prayer by prayer, year by year."

Fr. Ojefua's vision was one of social justice, akin to the Old Testament prophet Amos. He used media and lectures to combat social evils and anti-social institutions like Freemasonry, Ogboni society, and Rosicrucianism, which were prevalent and often provided advantages to Protestants over Catholics during the colonial era. The KSM was founded to fight against such secret societies, injustice, discrimination, and marginalization, aiming to instill Christian (Catholic) values. Fr. Abubokhale underscored that Fr. Ojefua's patience was not inertia but "conviction," knowing that lasting change required careful and deliberate development. Today, the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba stands as a testament to his holy perseverance.

In a world that prioritizes speed and instant gratification, Fr. Ojefua's life offers a compelling witness to "a dogged patience" – a resilience that is spiritual, deliberate, and unshaken by delay or disappointment. He did not merely endure; he transformed "waiting into worship, suffering into service, and hardship into holiness."

On Patience: A Theological Virtue and Practical Weapon, 

Fr. Abubokhale meticulously defined patience as not weakness or passivity, but "spiritual maturity in motion."

Theologically, He said patience (makrothumia and hupomone in Greek) signifies the "power to suffer well," the capacity to remain anchored in faith amidst trials and opposition. 

Citing scripture, he highlighted how St. Paul describes love as "patient and kind" (1 Corinthians 13:4) and James encourages letting "patience have its perfect work" (James 1:4). He emphasized that patience is the "soil in which virtue grows," a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1832), and a heroic virtue that triumphs over anger, frustration, and fear.

For Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba, as servants of Christ, their battles are against injustice, ignorance, and apathy, and patience is their "veritable weapon."

 He said Jesus himself exemplified this, waiting 30 years before His ministry and patiently enduring His disciples' ignorance while speaking truth to power. Fr. Ojefua, in founding the KSM, displayed the patience of a "spiritual craftsman," enduring misunderstandings and setbacks with quiet resolve.

Speaking on "Dogged patience," Fr. Abubokhale explained, combines the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love with other virtues for Christian living. It means waiting while actively working, patient but never passive, rooted in prayer and trust in God's promise. 

He drew scriptural parallels to figures like Moses, Job, and Paul, as well as historical figures like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa, all of whom demonstrated patient perseverance in their fights for justice and human dignity.

Implications for the Knighthood Order and All Christ's Faithful

Theological reflection on patience reveals it as a participation in the "redemptive patience of Christ." Fr. Ojefua's patience was self-sacrificing, a daily offering lived out in the Paschal Mystery. His life sets the tone for the KSM's mission: teaching perseverance in spiritual formation, practicing fraternal charity, sowing seeds of Christian moral principles in apostolate, and embracing God's slow wisdom in leadership.

He said in today's world, characterized by blurred truths, negotiable values, and systemic corruption, Fr. Anselm's life serves as a moral compass. He teaches that patient endurance in fighting evil is more powerful than outrage, and that obedience to God's will is a noble adventure. He said  his was a patience that "spoke out," confronting injustice not with anger but with clarity, correcting not with scorn but with dignity.

For Knights and Ladies to be effective in their mission against societal anomalies and religious syncretism, Fr. Abubokhale urged them to:

 Cultivate personal patience through daily prayer, fasting, and exemplary life.

 Build a patient fraternity by being slow to judge, quick to understand, and correcting with charity.

Exercise spiritual endurance in service, not giving up on difficult missions.

 Mentor younger members, teaching patience as a sign of spiritual and moral maturity.

 Be morally courageous, speaking truth with love even when it costs them, refusing to compromise.

In conclusion, Fr. Abubokhale exhorted the Knights and Ladies to not only wear their founder's colors and crest but also to "wear his spirit." Fr. Anselm Ojefua built not monuments, but men and women, leaving a legacy of patient holiness and resilience. He called on them to honor him by living out this "dogged patience" in their homes, parishes, and nation – standing firm in trials, speaking gently in conflict, fighting strongly against evil, waiting faithfully in storms, and serving humbly in love.

 Only then, he concluded, can they truly call themselves sons and daughters of the Servant of God, Fr. Anselm Isidahome Ojefua.