Lagos: The Catholic Church on Sunday stated that periodic hangouts by couples will enhance spouses’ intimacy and contribute to marriage stability. The church encouraged couples to indulge in outings to renew love and bonding, aiming to prevent instability in marriages.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the advice was given during the Catholic Men Organisation (CMO)’s couples feast, held at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Tedi, Lagos. The retreat, themed ‘Marriage that Works,’ had husbands attending alongside their wives. The event featured exchanges of pleasantries, gestures, and acts between spouses to strengthen marriage bonds.
The gathering aimed to commemorate the upcoming 2025 Father’s Day, emphasizing the importance of each partner’s role in the marriage sacrament. At the event, marriage counsellor Mr. Okechukwu Obereagu described marriage as a ‘calling with assigned purpose and rules guiding it.’ He noted that marriage was the first institution established by God for human sustainability.
Obereagu expressed concern over behaviors that threaten matrimonial unions, often leading to divorce or separation. He advised couples to reignite their bonds with hangouts and encouraged them to pray together, making God the guide of their marriage journey. He also urged partners to embrace each other’s imperfections with love, engage in activities that endear them to one another, and avoid unhealthy arguments and competitions.
Further, Obereagu highlighted the importance of resolving conflicts promptly, suggesting that one partner should initiate a healing process to resolve issues within 24 hours. Rev Fr. Anthony Thompson, the CMO Chaplin and Parish Priest, also spoke at the event, urging fathers to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. He advised wives to be submissive to their husbands, avoid complaints, and embody the qualities of good Christian mothers.
