Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, a suspended Catholic priest from the Warri Diocese, abandoned his vows of celibacy and renounced his priesthood to marry Dora Chichah in Dallas, USA, on December 29, 2024.
The ceremony took place at the Stream of Joy Church without the priest awaiting formal release from his canonical obligations.
Following the marriage, church authorities suspended Fr. Oghenerukevwe from his duties, citing his violation of Canon 1394 S1, which led to a Latae Sententiae suspension.
A statement from the diocese, dated January 16, 2025, confirmed his marriage to Ms. Dora Chichah in Dallas, USA.
However, new details surfaced regarding his decision to leave the priesthood.
https://youtu.be/Ew0wED9-ci4
His sister, Mary Okanatotor, shared her perspective on social media, explaining that her brother’s decision was driven by prolonged struggles with mental health and loneliness.
She stated that the family had not been physically present to support him during his challenges, which made it difficult for him to continue his priestly life.
Mary wrote, “Thank you all for your comments. The priest in question is my brother, and this was the best decision for him because he had long-standing mental health issues and couldn’t handle the loneliness. Our family wasn’t there to support him physically.”
She further clarified that the marriage was not a secret and that her brother had informed the diocese of his intentions. Mary concluded with gratitude for the supportive messages and prayers during this challenging time for their family.
Fr. Oghenerukevwe, originally from Ewu Kingdom in Delta State, was ordained as a Catholic priest on June 21, 2008, in the Catholic Diocese of Warri.
