Bishop Bulus (left), and beneficiaries of the mass wedding.
By Chinwe Nnadozie
History was made in Kontagora, when the the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese in Niger State, Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, at the weekend, conducted mass wedding for no fewer than 21 couples to formalize their union as Christian to reduce their financial difficulties.
The cleric also ensured that 400 parishoners in Kontagora received sacrament of confirmation to become full-fledged members of the Catholic community.
During the event at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Nsanji Nkoso in Magama Local Government Area, Bishop Bulus argued that, until a man and woman were legally joined together in marriage both by traditional payment of dowry or bride prize, and also blessed in the church they are only co-habiting.
His words: “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 is the reason for 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.
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“With this blessing of marriage, they are now legally and officially married”.
The cleric however pointed out that marriage was meant for two adults that loved each other and are prepared for both the good and difficult times that come 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 lifetime commitment which can only be separated by death, and therefore should be built on love and companionship.”
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Yasak Joshua, had earlier disclosed that the 21 couples completed their marriage traditional rites of paying their wives’ 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 for a year.
Some of the couples expressed 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 had co-habited for 22 years and have six children, five of them graduates of tertiary institutions already.
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