Marriage counseling: A Pastoral guidance for contract married couples in Motoring Satu Village, Motoling District, South Minahasa Regency

Abstract

The author grew up and was nurtured in Motoring Village, with its Christian population encompassing Protestant and Catholic believers. The community was tightly knit, upheld by robust kinship bonds, and upheld values of mutual support, "gotong-royong," and respect. The community encountered personal, familial, and societal challenges despite their mature and deep-rooted faith. The contentious issue of contract marriages arose, causing strife among the villagers. The Motoling villagers firmly believed contract marriages to be religiously and legally unlawful. However, instances persisted where contract marriages were established, typically lasting two years, especially involving men from the Philippines already married and women from Motoling. Despite the upheaval caused, these marriages proceeded. Recognizing the necessity, the church offered pastoral counseling, mainly targeting the couples involved, to prevent such occurrences in the future. Employing a literature review and conducting interviews with the contract marriage couple in Motoling Satu, the study highlighted the significance of pastoral guidance for contract marriage couples. The counseling aimed to imbue these couples with a comprehensive understanding of marriage's true essence and bolster their faith, enabling them to navigate challenges successfully. Interviews revealed that love united the contract marriage couple, although economic circumstances also played a role.