By Naseer Al-sirajdeen, Minna
Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna has conducted a mass wedding for twenty one couples in Niger state.
He joined the couples in holy matrimony on Saturday, at the St. Mark Catholic Church in Nsanji Nkoso, Magama local government area of Niger 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 were under compulsion”
“We have to encourage them to do what is right especially as Catholics. With this blessing of marriage, these twenty one couples are now legally and officially married”.
Bishop Yohanna who is also the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, noted that marriage is meant for the prepared adults, and advised the couples that marriage is a life time commitment which should be built on love and companionship.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Yasak Joshua said 21 couples completed their marriage rites, paid their bride prices.
He revealed that the couples were subjected to three months marriage counselling that qualified them to be joined in the church.
Accordingly, he said the oldest married couple is 24 years old and the youngest married couple is 21 years old.
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 to God to continue to bless their marriages”.
Some of the couples expressed their joy saying, 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 with 5 children had graduated from higher institutions, and the remaining ones are currently in secondary school.
According to Mrs. Cyprian “I am happy that my marriage has been blessed now. Ever since I have been a member of the women fellowship, I was not eligible to hold any position because she 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 realize the need to do the right thing”..
