Economic Hardship: Catholic Church Slashes Cost Of Marriages, Abolishes Calls For Donations At Weddings

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

For those scared to plunge into marriages owing to high cost of bridal preparations, reprieve, on Thursday, August 22, 2024, came their way.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, said, for just N22,500, intending couples  can hold their marriage ceremonies.

Due to the prevailing harsh economic situation in the country, the Owerri Catholic hierarchy has also scrapped such sundry pre-marital fees as Marriage Course registration, fuel/diesel and others.

The new rules on marriage ceremonies is contained in a letter dated August 15, 2024, and signed by the Archbishop, Lucius Ugorji.

The letter which was availed the media on Thursday in Owerri also urged all Parish Priests, Chaplains and Administrators to ensure full compliance with the new marriage directives.

“To ensure uniformity, equal access to the sacrament of marriage and unambiguity in the collection of its stole fees in Owerri Archdiocese, I, Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, hereby give the following directives.

“The official stole fee, or the sacrament of matrimony as ratified by the Catholic Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province is N2,500.00

“This is the basic stole fee for all Parishes ,chap3lains and Special Jurisdictions within the Archdiocese of Owerri till further notice.

“Parishes, Chaplaincies and special jurisdictions may also collect the following for marriages– N10,000.00 for the Choir, N5,000.00 for the CYON, ( N2,500 for parish ad quem and N2,500 for the Mary League Girls Association ( non member) N2,500 for parish ad quem and N2,500 for parish ad quo .

“Therefore, the total amount that may be collected for Marriage in Owerri Archdiocese is N22,500 .00.only . No parish priest ,chaplain or Administrator of special jurisdictions is permitted under any guise to collect any amount of money that exceeds the above stipulated amount”, part of the letter reads .

Similarly, the Archdiocese stated that the practice of collecting money for registration of wedding transfers, reception of files, clerical work, marriage courses as well as fuel/diesel has   been abolished.

In the same vein ,the conversion of wedding ceremonies into money making events, through calls for donations has been halted .

“The reply to Banns of Marriage should NEVER be accompanied with a particular sum of money from any Parish or Priest.

“In the event of any imposition,or forceful collection ,the couple is free to apply to the Archbishop for dispensation from the Banns of Marriage.

“Mass or Retreat Weddings are to be conducted free of charge. There should be no collection of any levy whatsoever for this purpose .

“This is to ensure that the needy are not deprived of equal access to the sacrament of marriage.

“The practice of unauthorized post-nuptial thanksgiving after post communion prayer as well as calls for cash donations and support at Wedding Masses is hereby abrogated.

“Couples are however ,free to come for thanksgiving on the Sunday after their wedding”, Archbishop Ugorji stated .