Suspended Catholic priest battled loneliness before marriage, says sister
The suspended Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe of the Catholic Church of Warri Diocese dumped his celibacy vows and renounced his priestly calling to marry his in Dallas, United States of America, it was gathered Sunday evening.
The priest tied the matrimonial knot with his wife, Dora Chichah, at the Stream of Joy Church in Dallas, USA, on December 29, 2024, without waiting to be released from his canonical obligations and responsibility by the universal Church.
Consequently, the church authorities suspended him from priestly duties, stating, “By this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1”.
The suspension, which was contained in a statement titled ‘Decree of Suspension,’ dated Thursday, January 16, 2025, jointly signed by the Bishop of Warri, Rt. Rev. Anthony Ewherido, and the Chancellor/Notary, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo, had alleged that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with Ms. Dora Chichah on December 29, 2024, at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA.”
But more details emerged on Sunday evening on why the now-suspended Catholic priest, dumped his celibacy vows and renounced his priestly calling to marry his heartthrob in Dallas, USA.
A woman who claimed to be the biological sister of the suspended Catholic priest, Mary Okanatotor, maintained that “it was the best decision” for his brother.
Okanatotor, in a social media comment over the reports that her brother (Fr Oghenerukevwe) secretly married her partner in America, attributed his decision to “loneliness.”
Mary disclosed that Oghenerukevwe suffered from mental health issues for a long time and could not handle the “loneliness” as a priest.
She added that the family was not physically present to support the priest when he was undergoing difficult challenges.
She wrote, “Thank you all for the comments. The said priest is my brother, and it was the best decision for him because he had a lot of issues with his mental health for a long time and couldn’t deal with the loneliness.
“We his family members, are not with him to give him support physically. Thank you for your encouraging words.
“This is a trying time for our family, but he who finds a wife finds a good thing.
“Secondly, he did not do a secret marriage as he wrote to the diocese to inform them of his decision.
“Once again, thank you. For the sponsor of this post, may God bless you and award you accordingly.”
PUNCH Online gathered that Oghenerukevwe, who hails from one of the communities in Ewu Kingdom of Delta State, was ordained as a Catholic priest on June 21, 2008, into the Catholic Diocese of Warri.
