49 couples tie knot at second mass wedding in Teso North

Forty-nine couples tied the knot in Teso North’s subcounty’s second mass wedding held at Chelelemuk Parish Catholic Church on Saturday.

Bungoma Catholic Diocese Bishop Mark Kadima presided over the wedding also attended by Chelelemuk Parish Catholic priest Bernard Famba.

More than 100 couples had been lined up to take marriage vows, but only 49 made it to the altar to stand before Bishop Kadima to fulfil the holy sacrament of marriage.

Deafening screams filled the air as couple after couple took vows before implanting wedding rings on the ring fingers of their partners.

Chelelemuk Catholic Church compound was filled to capacity during the event.

Kadima took the opportunity to preach love and respect among couples.

“Love and respect one another and the Almighty God will bless your marriages,” the Bishop said, adding that he was overjoyed to attend the mass wedding.

The first mass wedding in the parish was conducted on November 26, 2022, in which 61 couples wedded in a historic mass wedding.

The first-of-its-kind ceremony was also presided over by Kadima.

Organisers of the two ceremonies said they were meant to ensure more couples in Chelelemuk Parish in Teso North fulfil their matrimonial sacrament as stipulated in the Bible.

The choir from Chelelemuk Parish Catholic Church kept guests in attendance entertained.

Kadima praised the couples for their commitment and assured them of support from the church in their marriage life.

The bishop said marriage is a show of love from God.

“It is in marriage where God shows His love,” he said.

“With man and woman agreeing to commit to love one another for the rest of their lives, it means all the sacrifices have been made.”

The bishop said marriage is not a personal decision but one that comes from God.

“It is a calling from God and whoever you marry, it is God who gives you that individual,” he said

“We, therefore, pray that they remain faithful to their partners as God wishes.”

Kadima said couples must at all times be ready to sacrifice for one another lest the union fails.

The bishop called on the newlyweds to commit to marriage for the rest of their lives.

Famba said the church will continue encouraging couples to love one another.

“St Paul said we must love one another the way Jesus Christ loved the church, and that meant sacrificing,” he said.

“When we don’t sacrifice for one another, love becomes difficult to achieve.”

In the Catholic Church, marriage is between man and woman.