Christian Mentorship for Embracement of the Sacrament of Marriage in Ogembo Town Catholic Church, Kenya

Abstract

This study focuses on the role of Christian mentorship in embracing the sacrament of matrimony in Ogembo Town Catholic Church. The study argues that today, in the church membership, there is a serious inconsideration of the institution of marriage as a sacrament to a height that some even opt to substitute it with temporary arrangements (cohabiting) for living together without officially being married in church. Such temporary arrangements can be dissolved whenever either party desires. Many Christians seem to have lost commitment to conducting church marriages. A triangle theory of love and social capital theory was used to enucleate the arguments of the paper. The target population of the study was 400 participants. However, the actual sample size of 120 participants (comprising 2 priests, 4 catechists, 6 married Christian couples, 6 Christian counselors, 93 cohabiting Christians, and 15 local church leaders from all the 15 local churches that compose Ogembo Town Catholic Church) was used to collect data using a questionnaire, interview schedules, and Focused Group Discussions. The study found that:

• The response of young Catholic Christian couples to mentorship marriage programs was not appealing to many of them,
• Christian role models are wanted in the church such that the young couples have no admirable lived experience of role models that encourage them to regularize their marriage in church

The study recommended that the Catholic Church should emphasize a lived marriage faith that is not only for those married but also for future church marriages; those leading marriage programs to be people of real marriage sacramental life.