Most Rev Dr Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, presided over a mass wedding for 30 couples in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday.
Conducted at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Agwara, Bishop Yohanna underscored the significance of legal and traditional marriage, stressing that cohabiting without proper marriage rites contradicts religious principles.
Bishop Yohanna addressed a longstanding traditional practice in the community, opposing the common practice of men cohabiting with multiple women without fulfilling the obligation of paying the bride price. He urged the couples to establish their families on foundations that align with both religious and legal standards.
The Parish Priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Okoro, revealed that the 30 couples completed their traditional marriage rites, including the payment of bride prices.
Additionally, the couples underwent three months of marriage counseling, a prerequisite for being united in holy matrimony in the church.
Among the newlyweds, Shuaibu Bisallah and his wife shared their joy, acknowledging that they had cohabited for several years and had four children. They expressed gratitude for the Bishop’s guidance, stating,
“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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