Niger State Catholic Church Blesses 21 Couples in Mass Wedding, Ending Years of Cohabitation
Niger State – In a significant act of faith and reconciliation, the Catholic Church in Niger State has formalized the unions of 21 couples who had been cohabiting for varying lengths of time. The mass wedding ceremony, held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Nsanji Nkoso, Magama Local Government Area, saw couples finally unite in legal matrimony, adhering to the tenets of both tradition and religious doctrine.
The Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Yohanna, who also serves as the Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, presided over the ceremony. He emphasized the importance of legal marriage, stating that cohabitation is not in line with the Church’s teachings until a couple is united through traditional rites, parental blessings, and the sacrament of marriage.
The couples participating in the mass wedding represented a range of cohabitation periods. One couple had been together for 24 years, while another had been cohabiting for just one year. Bishop Yohanna highlighted that many of the couples had previously placed greater emphasis on traditional marriages, which can inadvertently encourage cohabitation before a church ceremony. He ensured that the couples were entering into these marriages freely, without any external pressure.
“With the blessing of these marriages, these 21 couples are now legally and officially married,” the Bishop declared, emphasizing the lifelong commitment inherent in the sacrament of marriage, which he said should be built upon love and mutual companionship.
Rev. Fr. Francis Joshua, the Parish Priest, further explained that the couples had fulfilled all traditional marriage requirements, including the payment of bride prices. They had also undergone a three-month marriage counseling program, preparing them for their church wedding.
Lydia Ishaya, a sponsor of the couples, expressed her joy at the event, saying she was grateful to God for using the church to formalize the unions according to Catholic doctrine. She offered prayers for the couples’ continued happiness and blessed marriages.
Several couples shared their emotional experiences with reporters, stating that without this opportunity afforded by the church, they might never have been formally married. Cyprian Uche and his partner, who had been cohabiting for 22 years and have five children, expressed their joy. The couple’s children have achieved higher education levels. The wife added, “I am happy that my marriage has been blessed now. Ever since I became a member of the women 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.”
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