By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
It was celebration galore for family members, friends and well wishers as the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, in Niger state, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna conducted mass wedding with marital vows to formalize their union the Christian way for 21 couples.
Also, no fewer than 400 parishoners in Kontagora have received sacrament of confirmation to become full fledged members of the Catholic community.
During the event which took place at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Nsanji Nkoso in Magama local government area, Bishop Bulus argued that, until a man and woman are legally joined together in marriage both by traditional payment of dowry or bride prize, and also blessed in the church the Christian way they are only co-habiting.
“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", this according to him prompted the mass wedding whereby each of the couples took vows to remain husband and wife.
Bishop Bulus who is also the state Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, “We have to encourage them to do what is right especially as Catholics. With this blessing of marriage, they are now legally and officially married”.
The Clergy man however pointed out that, marriage is meant for two adults that loved each other and are prepared for both the good and difficult times that comes with marriage, and not for youths who are not prepared to bear the burden of such unions.
He reminded the couples that, 'marriage is a life time commitment which can only be separated by death, and therefore should be built on love and companionship'.
Earlier, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Yasak Joshua had disclosed that the 21 couples completed their marriage traditional rites of paying their wife's bride prize and undergoing three months marriage counselling which qualified them to be joined in the church.
While the oldest beneficiary of the mass wedding have co-habited for 24 years, the youngest of them have been together without sacrament of marriage the Catholic way for a year now.
Some of the couples expressed their joy for the solemnization of their marriage, adding that they may never have been able to achieve the feat if not for the window of opportunities given to them by the Catholic Diocese.
Our correspondent reports that the joy of one of the couples, Mr. and Mrs. Cyprian Uche knows no bounds as they have co-habited for 22 years and have 6 children, 5 of them graduates of tertiary institutions already. NNL.
