By Cosmas Omegoh
The Catholic community in Agric, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, is still celebrating the mass wedding that took place at St. Martins de Pores Catholic Church in the area, featuring 20 couples.
Some of the couples, who were over 60 years of age, were married in the traditional way over 30 years ago.
They were part of the number admitted into communion with the church through the sacrament of holy matrimony solely administered by the priest of the church, Rev. Fr. James Arebiyi.
The solemn ceremony, which started at 9am, was witnessed by an auditorium full of the couples’ children, family members, friends and parishioners of the church.
Elated Fr. Arebiyi, who officiated on the occasion, said the ceremony was special to him: “Special in the sense that we didn’t expect to get that number. Our expectation was to have about 10 couples. But we were surprised that 20 couples showed up.”
He described marriage as “something good, something spiritual,” noting that “being married is not doing so traditionally or at the court registry. Marriage is a spiritual undertaking.
“Whenever we give sacrament to the people of God, it is always a thing of joy to the church and the priest – whether it is sacrament of baptism, or confirmation or Holy Eucharist.”
He recalled that “the last time we (St. Martins de Pores) had such a number of couples in a mass wedding was about seven years ago.
“When we started creating the awareness, many of the couples who came forward were happy. One of the participants, I recall, had been married traditionally for over 27 years.
“It was very necessary for couples who were married traditionally to be part of this so that they would be able receive the holy communion. Some of the participants have grown-up children, but were not happy. They said they felt this emptiness inside them. So, the mass wedding was a great spiritual way that has helped them come back to sacrament and to live their lives happily together as couples.”
According to him, “It is very necessary to get people married in the church because marriage is a sacrament ordained by Christ; every sacrament gives grace to the soul.
“Recall that, in the Gospel of John, Chapter 2, wedding was the first public function performed by Jesus Christ. When the couple’s wine finished, Jesus ensured that they had more to continue with their ceremony. So, God values marriage, and wants His people to be married in the church.”
While stating the benefits attached to marriage in the church, he said: “When people marry in the church, they invite Christ into their home, and their union. They ask Him to be the head of their union. So, marriage is something we, Catholics, cherish so dearly. That is why we encourage couples to marry in the church so as to bring Christ into their affairs.”
Fr. Arebiyi, therefore, advised couples yet to marry in the church never to look at the monetary aspect of it. “I say to them: don’t get discouraged about organising parties and entertaining guests. Marriage is not about the money. We just want couples to be together in love founded on Christ. You don’t need too many people – just a few people as you come together stating your consent to get married.”
He admitted that conducting a mass wedding involving 20 couples was a huge “sacrifice,” but “the grace of God is what matters here.”
A member of the parish marriage coordinating team, Lady Pauline Anunandu, disclosed that “the journey started early this year when the parish marriage facilitators got the approval from the parish priest to plan the group wedding.
“We started creating awareness by visiting church societies to sensitise them. Immediately we got a few couples interested, the marriage preparatory classes began; it lasted eight weeks.”
She expressed happiness that “the sacrament of matrimony will bring the participants back to holy eucharist, thereby allowing the light of God to shine in their marriages and their homes.”
One the couples, Mr. and Mrs. Livinus Idi, expressed happiness at the opportunity of marrying in the church, describing their experience as fantastic.
“I was married traditionally 28 years ago,” Mr. Idi said. “The experience I got from that outing was thrilling. I have come to believe that God’s time is the best. I say so because, right now, my wife and I feel really fulfilled.”
He praised the pastoral team and organisers of the programme for taking them through the “ three-month class.”
“It was a colourful group wedding. The church took care of everything.
“Right now, there is a great difference in our marriage. It is fantastic.
“I never knew that my wife loved me so much. Even at this stage of our marriage, she has begun to tell me that we have just begun.”