Catholic Bishop Conducts Mass Wedding for 21 Couples in Niger
By Yahaya Zakka, Minna
The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, recently officiated a mass wedding for 21 couples in Niger State.
The ceremony took place at St. Mark Catholic Church in Nsanji Nkoso, located in the Magama local government area.
During the wedding, Bishop Yohanna emphasized that a couple must be joined together in marriage, both legally and traditionally (including dowry or bride price), and blessed in the church.
He stated that cohabitation without these rites is inappropriate. He noted, “Most people have relied more on traditional marriage, which encourages them to cohabit. We needed to ensure that none of them was under compulsion to marry.”
The bishop, who also serves as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, reminded the couples that marriage is a lifelong commitment based on love and companionship.
He encouraged them to do what is right, especially as Catholics, affirming that with the blessing of their marriages, these couples are now legally and officially married.
Rev. Fr. Francis Yasak Joshua, the parish priest, shared that the 21 couples had completed their traditional marriage rites, including the payment of bride prices, and had undergone three months of marriage counseling, which qualified them for the church ceremony.
He noted that the oldest couple among them has been married for 24 years, while the youngest has been married for just one year.
One of the sponsors for the couples, Lydia Ishaya, expressed her happiness, saying, “I am thrilled for them, especially with their cooperation, and I pray that God continues to bless their marriages.” Many of the couples voiced their gratitude, stating that without this opportunity, they might never have had the chance to get married.
Mr. and Mrs. Cyprian Uche, a couple who had been cohabiting for 22 years and have five children (some of whom have graduated from higher institutions while others are currently in secondary school), shared their joy.
Mrs. Cyprian remarked, “I am delighted that our marriage has now been blessed. Until now, I was not eligible to hold any position in the women’s fellowship because I wasn’t married in the church. Now, I feel so excited because we are officially married, and I thank the bishop for helping us realize the importance of doing the right thing.”
The following day, the parish celebrated the sacraments of Confirmation for 400 parishioners, administered by the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese.
