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The Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU) project President, also the Bishop of Kotido Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dominic Eibu MCCJ has advised married couples to celebrate their marriages every month, contrary to the usual practice of celebrating this milestone at the end of the year by most couples.
Bishop Eibu made the remarks at St. Kizito Naoi Catholic Parish-Moroto Diocese while presiding over the wedding ceremony for one of the KAPATU staff, Ms Bridget Akolebirungi, who got married to Mr Raphael Lokol, an Engineer with Amudat district Local Government.
“We’re happy that at the beginning of KAPATU, we’re having one of our staff members getting married. (Bridget) you have opened the gates. Many people have good wishes for you. I urge you to celebrate your wedding day every month, not every year, as most couples do. Don’t wait for a year, do it every month,” he advised, noting that by doing so, the couple would be able to reflect on their journey and celebrate every milestone in real time.
He said he also uses this same approach in the execution of his pastoral duties, instead of waiting for a year to elapse.
Bishop Eibu wished the newlywed couple a successful marriage and asked God to bless them in their new journey.
Meanwhile, Fr. Paul Ngole, the Parish Priest at St. Kizito Naoi-Moroto Diocese, but also works closely with Bridgette as a PEPSKA Chief Scholarships Officer at KAPATU, described the wedding as historic because it brought together two adults from different regions and dioceses of Uganda.
“This is a relationship that binds two regions, western and north-eastern Uganda. Also, the dioceses of Fort Portal and Moroto are in jubilation because their children have tied the knot. Matrimony is a permanent union before God; a wedding fades after one year, but Matrimony lasts forever. Even on your wedding Certificate, there’s no expiry date,” he counselled the couple.
He preached that isolation and loneliness are ungodly and make an individual vulnerable, while at the same time being dangerous. He explained that people who isolate themselves from the community are usually dangerous, which is why society ought to be afraid of them.
“Man is a social being; he’s supposed to be in the community exchanging ideas. Those who walk alone may be evil. Even when God created Adam, he said; it’s not good for Man to be alone. I will create for him a helper to give comfort, company, and procreation. That’s why when Eve was given to Adam, he felt joy,” he preached.
He commended Bridgette and Raphael for agreeing to come to Church and, therefore, asked them to procreate, noting that giving birth to children would validate their marriage.
The wedding was attended by the Bishop of Moroto Catholic Diocese, also KAPATU, 2nd Vice President, Rt. Rev. Damiano Guzzetti. Others in attendance included KAPATU Vice Chancellor Rev. Fr. Callisto Locheng AJ, Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs Prof. Annette Deborah Kezaabu, Catholic Priests in Karamoja, KAPATU staff, among others. The couple concluded the ceremony with a sumptuous reception for their guests, held at Maesto Hotel Moroto in Moroto Municipality.