The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has conducted a mass wedding for thirty couples in Niger state.
While joining the couples in holy matrimony at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Agwara local government area of the state, Bishop Yohanna disclosed that until a couple is joined together in marriage legally, both traditionally (through bride price) and blessed in the church, it is wrong for them to cohabit.
According to him, “the people of Agwara rely more on traditional marriage, which encourages them to cohabit with more than one wife without paying their bride prices.
“We have to encourage them to do what is right, especially as Catholics. With this blessing of marriage, these thirty couples are now legally and officially married.”
Bishop Yohanna, while emphasising that marriage is meant for prepared adults, said, “some people refer to their marriages as dead while still alive due to lingering issues that are not tackled on time, thereby causing couples not to talk to one another even while living in the same apartment.”
Furthermore, he explained that marriage is a lifetime commitment that should be built on love and companionship.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okoro, while pointing out that the thirty couples completed their marriage traditional rites, especially paying their bride prices, said they were subjected to three months of marriage counseling which qualified them to be joined in the church.
One of the couples, Shuaibu Brisallah and his wife, expressed their joy, saying they have cohabited for several years with four children. “We are happy now that we are officially married, and I thank the Bishop for helping us realize the need to do the right thing.”
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