The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has conducted a mass wedding for 21 couples in Niger State.
While joining the couples in holy matrimony at the St. Mark Catholic Church in Nsanji Nkoso, in Magama Local Government Area of the state, Bishop Yohanna disclosed that until a couple is joined together in marriage legally, both traditionally (dowry or bride price) and blessed in the Church, it is wrong to cohabit.
According to him, “most of the people had relied more on traditional marriage, which encourages them to cohabit. And we needed to be sure too that none of them was under compulsion.
“We have to encourage them to do what is right, especially as Catholics. With this blessing of marriage, these 21 couples are now legally and officially married.”
Bishop Yohanna, who is also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger State Chapter, while emphasising that marriage is meant for prepared adults, informed the couples that marriage is a lifetime commitment that should be built on love and companionship.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Yasak Joshua, while disclosing that the 21 couples completed their traditional marriage rites, especially paying their bride prices, said they were subjected to three months of marriage counselling, which qualified them to be joined in the church.
Accordingly, he said the longest married couple had been married for 24 years, while the shortest married couple had been married for one year.
One of the sponsors of the couples, Lydia Ishaya, expressed her joy, saying, “I am happy for them, especially with their cooperation, and I pray God continues to bless their marriages.”
Some of the couples expressed their joy, saying that if not for the leeway given to them, they may not have gotten married, even till death.
One of the couples, Mr and Mrs Cyprian Uche, who have been cohabiting for 22 years and have five children, some of whom have graduated from higher institutions while the remaining ones are currently in secondary school, shared their experience.
According to Mrs Cyprian, “I am happy that my marriage has been blessed now. Ever since I have been a member of the women’s fellowship, I was not eligible to hold any position because I was not married in the church. But now, I feel so excited because we are officially married, and I thank the Bishop for helping us realise the need to do the right thing.”
The following day, the Parish witnessed the sacraments of confirmation for 400 parishioners by the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese.
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