No fewer than 35 couples received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony at Christ the King Catholic Parish Achara, Ngor-Okpala on Saturday, June 29, 2013.

The rare event which attracted the presence of Achara Catholic faithful and their neighbouring communities also witnessed the presence of Rev. Fr. Dr. Alphonsus Oha, Chancellor Owerri Archdiocese, who represented the Chief Shepherd of the diocese, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna.

Introducing the Mass, Fr. Oha, who with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Christian Iwuagwu received the marriage vows said the “occasion is a remarkable feat designed by God and manifested with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Archbishop Obinna during his recent pastoral visit to the parish”.  Fr. Oha therefore noted that the Archbishop was passionate about the event, hence appointed him to preside over the Mass.

Delivering a homily at the Mass, Fr. Christian Iwuagwu reminded the people of God that the wedding “is part of the dividend of the Archbishop’s pastoral visit.  He drew the people’s attention to the letters to the Hebrews how God instituted the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.  According to the homilist, it was this biblical passage that the Catholic Church anchored her teachings when she says: “Matrimony is the sacrament that unites a Christian man and a Christian woman and both become husband and wife”.  stressing that it is by virtue of this sacrament that , the couples gained the power of cohabitation.  He said that God in his infinite wisdom has made this sacrament available in order that husband and wife may become instrument of procreation.  To this effect, Fr. Iwuagwu therefore advised couples that as an instrument which God is using in bringing His ‘image and likeness’ into the world their lives and day-to-day activities must hinge on love and respect.  This he said, will enable them overcome the challenges and vicissitudes of married life.  Calling to mind the inordinate ambition of wealth that is prevalent in the present day society, the parish priest also admonished couples to be courteous in swimming with the current.  He asked them to put their trust in God and never allow their sense of judgement to be blurred by earthly material.

In conclusion, Fr. Iwuagwu thanked the newly wedded for their disposition and positive responds.  He asked them to remain steadfast in prayers so that the marriage blessings which they received on the wedding day would remain aglow and never depart from them.

Welcoming the guests at the end of the Mass, Fr. Iwuagwu noted that the event which was the first of its kind in the parish is part of the archbishop’s pastoral efforts in seeing that men and women who want to live together as couples are imparted with the blessings of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.  He thanked the chief celebrant, Fr. Oha and prayed to him to extend their (parish) appreciation to Archbishop Obinna.

Comments

comments