In style, 80 Couples Exchange Marital Vows in Nasarawa State

…Over 600 Receive Sacrament of Confirmation

The atmosphere was akin to a carnival of sort. In their numbers, many shunned the palpable fears of insecurity renting the air to storm New Nyanya in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on this special Sunday whose memories will long remain indelible in the minds and hearts of residents and visitors to the bouncy locality. With memories of past and emerging security issues easily paling into insignificance on the day, a record eighty (80) couples, parishioners of New Nyanya and their well-wishers made this sprawling settlement, loosely tied to the umbilical cord of Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a colourful sight to behold in both religious and social activities on Sunday, November 27, 2016. Indeed, the festive mood at the Holy Mass was striking in variety and interest as His Lordship, the Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Mathew Ishaya Audu duly administered the sacrament of matrimony on the 80 couples. In addressing the newly wedded, Bishop Audu said couples must always cloth themselves with the love of Christ in order to overcome turbulence and enjoy sustainable married lives. According to him, ‘marriage without love is meaningless’ even as he told them that ‘exemplary Christian life was key to successful marriage.’ The Bishop, who highlighted and cautioned against causes of many failed marriages, urged couples to always avoid pitfalls that would lead to regrets, stressing that patience and love were important virtues in sustaining stable marriages in the Christendom. For the couples, families, their kiths and kin, their joy knew no bounds with the Church’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ewache John Ajefu describing the ceremony as “unique and historic in the annals of St. Sylvester’s Catholic Church history.” Ajefu told Forefront that the marriage ceremony and the Sacrament of Confirmation were packaged by the Parish Priest, Reverend Father Lawrence Soja Anyembugu as part of activities to herald the first pastoral visit of the Bishop to St. Sylvester’s Catholic Church as an Independent Mission.