By Nna Anulumadu
Onitsha Archdiocese’s Family and Life Unit held a one-day phase one workshop for marriage instructors last Saturday, February 5th.
The workshop attracted the presence of marriage instructors from all the parishes in the Onitsha Archdiocese.
The archdiocesan unit’s coordinator, Fr Emmanuel Megwalu, who spoke to Trinitas during the programme, said the aim of the workshop was to equip those who handled marriage courses with useful information and knowledge about marriage preparation.
“Sometimes these people who teach marriage courses are not well equipped and as a result of that, those preparing for marriage or intending to marry are not well prepared.
“In order to get it right this time around, we decided to train the instructors in order to deliver,” he said.
According to him, five lectures were delivered. The first lecture was on the sacrament of marriage, by Rev. Fr Gregory Nwachukwu; the second was on factors affecting marital stability and also the impediments in marriage, by Rev. Sr Mirian Perperual Egbuna. The Billings method was delivered by Dr Juliana Onwuzulike, the Enneagram by Rev. Fr Christogonus Ibemere, responsible parenthood by Barr. Chizoba Nnabue, and the catechumenal pathway for married life by Rev. Fr Emmanuel Megwara.
He charged the instructors to apply what they had learnt to intending couples.
One of the resource persons, Barrister Nnabue, while speaking to Trinitas, said that responsible parenthood meant that husband and wife are aware of their fertility and are being generous with their gift of life and taking into consideration their circumstances such as emotional and spiritual stability with regard to procreation. He added that God’s command to humans to procreate has to go with responsibility.
One of the participants, Mrs Oby Umeh, who spoke to the press, said she had learnt a lot, stating that one of the topics treated, the Billings method, can help a lot in child bearing. She advised every couple to embrace the method.
Mr Chukwujekwu Ofordum called the training a good development, describing marriage as a sacrament.
