Mathias Mazinga
4 October 2008
interview
Kampala — SEVERAL Catholic churches have of recent embraced mass wedding, the practice of blessing and legalising many marriages at a single wedding ceremony. Mathias Mazinga asked Fr. Achilles Mayanja, the parish priest of Rubaga Cathedral, why the church has started the practice.
Why have you introduced mass wedding?
Because it is a good strategy for evangelism. Archbishop Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga declared 2008 as a year of the family. He dedicated it specifically to the promotion of the family in view of the objective of the archdiocese, which is to deepen Christianity in our families. One way of deepening and strengthening the faith of our people is through organising mass weddings.
How do you do it?
We use the existing pastoral structures of the Church. We issue announcements and encourage those Christians who wish to get married or to legalise their relationships through a mass wedding to register. This is done right from the grass roots. The Christian leaders are given the responsibility to examine the prospective couples and ensure that there is no impediment to their intended holy matrimony.
The couples then undergo instruction for four months, after which they are wed. We organise and pay for everything, including the mass reception and after-party.
How many couples did you wed recently?
We had 27 couples on August 31. Last year, there were over 30 couples.
Isn't this very expensive for the Church?
I agree with you, this is not very little money. But I think the Church must put aside some money for the spiritual welfare of her people. Evangelism is not all about putting up buildings. It involves uplifting the whole person - the Christian's mind, body and soul must all be catered for.
But are you achieving your objective?
Yes. Many people have decided to legalise their relationships. So many Christians out there have the desire to legalise their relationships, but are restricted by funds. And this is another reason why Rubaga Cathedral parish has decided to include the mass wedding ceremony in its annual budget. A couple should be left with no reason for not getting married in church.
But is marriage biblical?
Yes it is. According to the Bible, marriage is a God-given gift. A Christian marriage must be between one man and one woman. It must be monogamous and permanent as we read in Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:3-6 and Mark 10:6-9.
What is the stand of the Catholic Church on mixed marriages on grounds of faiths?
According to the Catholic Church Canon Law 1124, a mixed marriage is the marriage that is entered into by a Christian with a person who is a baptised member of a church or ecclesial community that lacks full communion with the Catholic Church. Without express permission of the local bishop, a marriage is prohibited between two baptised persons of whom one is baptised in the Catholic Church or received into it after baptism and has not defected from it by a formal act, and the other of whom is enrolled in a church or ecclesial community not in full communion with the Catholic Church.
Canon 1125, however, gives permission for mixed marriages only if there is a just and reasonable cause. The Christian party receives this permission from the local bishop.
Doesn't the fact that many Christians are co-habiting a sign of the failure of the Church?
Not at all. Evangelism is a slow and continuous process. Even at the time of Jesus, some people took time to make a commitment to Christianity, although others responded immediately. Others even rejected salvation completely. It is the same case even today.
While some people embrace radical transformation, some others are slow to make up their minds. So, effective evangelism depends much on the disposition of people's hearts.
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