Bride disrupts her own wedding to give birth in church

Bride Catherine Mwikali and bridegroom Josphat Nderitu with their newly born baby at St Bakhita Catholic Church in Nairobi on Saturday April 6, 2013. The bride stunned guests when she gave birth after taking marriage vows. Photo/DENISH OCHIENG  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Newly weds continued with their wedding party after delivery

A bride gave birth only minutes after tying the knot in Nairobi on Saturday, achieving two of a woman’s greatest desires in one day — being a bride and becoming a mother.

Guests at the wedding at St Bakhita Catholic Church in Mukuru slums were lost for words when Ms Catherine Mwikali developed labour pains immediately after exchanging the marriage vows.

Catherine, who got married to Mr Josephat Ndiritu, went through the wedding and exchanged rings with the groom then she gave birth to a baby girl.

She was immediately named Blessings Malaika (Angel) but other worshippers called her St Bakhita. In the end, Father John Wambu, who presided over the wedding, baptised her Blessing Bakhita Makena.

The newly weds had finished the ceremony and were going outside the church for a photo session when the bride suddenly felt unwell and was taken to the sacristy. She gave birth at around 3 p.m.

“The cry of the new born girl was an emotional moment. It was a first for us. We couldn’t believe it,” a congregant, who only gave her name as Alice, said.

“Most of us couldn’t believe it. We were shocked. Women assisted the bride to give birth,” Mr Robert Muli told the Sunday Nation.

“After she gave birth the wedding reception continued as planned. The bride and the bridegroom are currently cutting the cake,” Mr Muli said on telephone.

Mr Nicholas Kimeu said the ceremony was speeded up after it was sensed the bride was uncomfortable.

“The priest noticed the bride was unable to stand well, sing and participate actively in the ceremony. She was exhausted and appeared to be in pain. Some of the activities including taking of photos in the church had to be skipped,” Mr Kimeu said.

The man who said he was the couple’s neighbour added that the bridegroom was the first to arrive for the wedding at 11 a.m.

“The wedding was well planned. The bride and her party entered the church at 12 p.m. When the bride and maids came, the priest noticed the situation was not normal. When he started the mass, the bride remained uneasy,” Mr Kimeu said.

After tying the knot, Mr Kimeu said the couple went outside the church for a photo session at the church entrance.

Pains heightened

“The bride was however unable to stand and leaned on the bridegroom before she was given a seat. However the labour pains heightened and she was rushed to the priest’s room as the guests wondered what was happening,” Mr Kimeu said.

He added: “People did not know what was happening. After an hour there was rumour that she had given birth. The rumour spread fast and after few minutes everybody had known.”

The party continued with the bride and bridegroom being showered with gifts. By 6 p.m. the wedding party was still on.

Mr Kimeu said Catherine who is in her 20s is unemployed while Joseph, who is in his 30s, is a businessman. 
 

The name St Bakhita originates from a Sudanese born in 1869 and died in 1947. She is recognised as a Saint by the Catholic Church since the year 2000.

According to Internet sources, Josephine was kidnapped at the age of seven, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita which means “fortunate one”.

She was re-sold many times, experiencing the humiliation and suffering of slavery, both physical and moral. She ended up being owned by Augusto Michieli and was baby-sitter for his daughter Mimmina, who was being instructed by the Canossian Sisters in Venice’s Institute of the Catechumens.

It was there that Josephine felt drawn to the Catholic Church. She was baptised and confirmed in 1890 taking the name Josephine.

By this time the young African, who had come of age, enjoyed the freedom of choice which Italian law ensured.

And so she entered the Institute of St Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and on December 8, 1896 Josephine Bakhita was consecrated forever to God who she called with sweet expression “the Master!”