Lagos: The Catholic Church on Sunday said that periodic hangouts by couples will boost spouses’ intimacy and enhance marriage stability.
The Church encouraged spouses to indulge in outside-the-home treats to renew love and bonding to avoid marriage instability.
The Church advised the Catholic Men’s Organisation’s (CMO) couples feast, held at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Tedi, Lagos.
The retreat, themed “Marriage that Works,” was attended by husbands and their wives. The event featured spouses exchanging pleasantries, administered by men and women with gestures and acts that enhance marriage.
The event aimed to commemorate the 2025 Father’s Day, reminding couples of the importance of each other’s tasks in the marriage sacrament.
Speaking at the event, a marriage counsellor, Mr Okechukwu Obereagu, described marriage as a “calling with assigned purpose and rules guiding it”.
Obereagu said that marriage was the first institution established by God for human sustainability. He decried the breakdowns of couples that threatened the matrimonial union, which in several cases led to divorce or separation, advising spouses to reignite bonds through shared activities.
“Pray together as a family to make God the pilot of the marriage journey and family manager. “As partners made one in the union, always expect imperfection from your partner and do well to absorb such with love.
“Couples should captivate love for each other, know when best to do things that endear you to your spouse and facilitate those regularly.
“Laugh at each other’s conduct worthy of criticism and refrain from unhealthy arguments. Avoid unhealthy competitions.
“Avoid sleeping separately when there is friction; one person should activate a healing process to dose off the acrimony within 24 hours,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the CMO Chaplin, who doubles as the Parish Priest of the Church, Rev Fr. Anthony Thompson, asked fathers to love their wives just as Christ loves the Church and gave all to it.
The priest asked the wives to be submissive to their husbands, refrain from complaining, and adopt attitudes that would portray them as good Christian mothers.
The chaplain asked the parishioners to live a life of thanksgiving and gratitude to God for the gift of life. He prayed for peace in families and the protection of the children.