…As LSM Isolo Sub-council throws weight behind reconciliation of marriages with Catholic norms
The drums were rolled out, last weekend at St. Mary Catholic Church, Isolo, Lagos, when the Church celebrated the ratification of the marriage of 32 couples from the parish in grand style. The mass wedding, sponsored by Ladies of St. Mulumba, LSM, Isolo Sub-council saw the church premises filled with great joy and merriment from the celebrants, family, friends and well-wishers, as well as the Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba all dressed in their colourful uniform. Speaking on the occasion, Rev. Fr. Phillip Egbuniwe, OSJ, the Parish Priest, thanked God for the celebrants and the Ladies of St. Mulumba who sponsored the wedding, and the Confraternity of Christian Fathers for their support. According to Fr. Egbuniwe, the essence of the ceremony is for the men and women to be reconciled with the Church and God, as they begin their journey fully as Catholic Christians.
Commending the couples for making good use of the opportunity, Fr. Egbuwine advised them to cherish the grace and favour that God has given to them. He said three things are needed to sustain marriage, namely decision to be husband and wife, determination to make the marriage work and the couple detaching themselves from anything that may lead them to losing their marriage. On hardship confronting families, he said, “Any Nigerian family can be sustained if they have God because if you do it on your own, you break down. But when you have God as your backup, it becomes easy. Nigerians are surviving because they believe that there is God, somebody more supreme who can help, who can intervene. So, even with the fuel hike and every other hardship, people have been calm because there is this conception that God is there, God is sustaining me.
It is not by my power, nor by my might, but God who is sustaining me. Sir Lawrence Ojemen, Grand Knight, Knights of St. Mulumba, Isolo Sub-council speaking on impediments to couples’ wedding in the Church said people do not need huge funds to wed. According to him, “It just requires the spiritual sponsors. We hope that as people are seeing this today, they know that they don’t need too much fund to wed, and if there are impediments to their wedding, they can open up and tell the Church. He advised the couples to utilise this period they have for the work of God and to join societies to become strong members of the Church. He added that the goal is not just getting wedded, but to go to heaven to be with God after their sojourn on earth. He further advised the couples to be open with each other, adding that it is not money that makes a successful marriage but love, respect and truthfulness. “Let the spirit of God guide you, be prayerful and be patient with each other.
The children you have are gifts and beings that God has given to you to take care of. You have the responsibility to train your children, bring them up in a godly way”, he admonished. For her part, Lady Neta Nwosu, President, Ladies of St. Mulumba, Isolo Sub-council, disclosed that the event is the fourth edition of the St. Mary/LSM, as she added that LSM has a duty to promote the Catholic faith. According to her, “We are a family Order and we strive to make Catholic families Catholic in the real sense of it. And in partnership with the Parish Priest, we are able to win more Catholics to be communicants. Today, we have been able to bring 64 Catholic communicants. They are complete Catholic families now. They can receive communion and are free to join societies and take positions there.”
