Marriage preparation according to Amoris Laetitia as a remedy against instability of christian families at Asamuk-Lepanto Parish

Abstract

Family instability is a wide spread phenomenon among socio-cultural groups, and geographical setting which largely impacts on women and children. However, it is a clear knowledge that Family instability affects all members of the family. With conviction that I come from a family and a society of families, I chose this topic after observing and listening to a lot of devastating causes of instability among the Christian families, Family instability comes in many forms; economic, emotional, social, and physical. such as: family breakdowns, high rate of divorce, unstable economy, loosing of trust among the spouses, conflicts in the families Bearing of children outside the official marriage, overwhelming number of single parents, violence, many families have suffered consequences of such conflicts at times leading to death, high levels of poverty, loss in the sense of the sacredness of the family. So as to provide potential solutions for the unstable families. General Objective; to foster marriage preparations as a remedy against instabilities of Christian Families in Asamuk- Lepanto. Methods used the researcher, used questionnaire, Library book work observation and interviewed people. Proponents of Marriage preparations; Out of the hundred and forty-five (145) respondents were consulted: thirty three, 33(22.7%) of the hundred and forty five (145) respondents noted that the duty and responsibility of preparing couples for marriage rests on the church and her leaders, 10 (6.8%) on cultural leaders.45 (31%) on the parents and 30 (20.6%) partners themselves.10 (6.8%) on teachers. Major Findings: many people have insufficient knowledge on marriage preparations, there is little attention on family care, and the Pastoral agents generally are reluctant in attending to the families Challenges encountered during Preparations: Fear of Misconception, Ecumenical Marriage, Knowledge Insufficiency, and Poor Attendance during Preparations, Unwanted Marriage, Expenses in Dowry, un exemplary life lived, Illiteracy, Poor Turn ups for Marriage Sessions. Recommendations: Evangelization, Proper Marriage Preparation, Accompanying Couples, Educating to Love, Training of Pastoral Agents, Formation for Families, Education of Children, Making the Youth responsible. Promoting Spiritual Life in the Family, Preparations for Sacramental Celebrations, On Celebration of Marriage, Strengthen Solidarity Between Families, Reflecting On Difficult Matrimonial Situation, A Call upon Governments.