Sister Explains the Reason Behind Her Catholic Priest Brother's Marriage.

Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, previously affiliated with the Catholic Church of the Warri Diocese, has abandoned his vows of celibacy and renounced his priestly vocation to marry in Dallas, Texas, as reported on Sunday evening. The priest wed Dora Chichah at the Stream of Joy Church in Dallas on December 29, 2024, without awaiting the formal release from his canonical duties by the Church. As a result, ecclesiastical authorities have suspended him from his priestly functions, declaring, “By this action, Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe has incurred a Latae Sententiae suspension in accordance with the provisions of Canon 1394 S1.” This suspension was detailed in a statement titled ‘Decree of Suspension,’ dated January 16, 2025, and co-signed by the Bishop of Warri, Rt. Rev. Anthony Ewherido, and the Chancellor/Notary, Very Rev. Fr. Clement Abobo. The statement alleged that “Fr. Oghenerukevwe entered into marriage with Ms. Dora Chichah on December 29, 2024, at the Streams of Joy Church in Dallas, USA.” Further information surfaced on Sunday evening regarding the reasons behind the suspended priest's decision to abandon his celibacy vows and marry his partner in Dallas. Mary Okanatotor, who identified herself as the biological sister of the suspended priest, asserted that “it was the best decision” for her brother. In a social media comment addressing the reports of her brother (Fr. Oghenerukevwe) marrying his partner in secrecy in America, Mary attributed his choice to feelings of “loneliness.” She revealed that Oghenerukevwe had been grappling with mental health challenges for an extended period and found it difficult to cope with the “loneliness” associated with his priestly life. Mary further noted that the family was not physically present to provide support during the priest's challenging times. She expressed her gratitude, stating, “I appreciate all the comments. The priest in question is my brother, and this decision was the best for him, as he has struggled with mental health issues for an extended period and has been unable to cope with feelings of isolation. “As his family, we are unable to provide him with physical support. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. “This is a challenging time for our family, but it is said that he who finds a wife finds a good thing. “Furthermore, he did not enter into a secret marriage; he communicated his decision to the diocese. “Once again, thank you. To the sponsor of this post, may God bless you and reward you accordingly.” It has been reported that Oghenerukevwe, originally from one of the communities in Ewu Kingdom, Delta State, was ordained as a Catholic priest on June 21, 2008, within the Catholic Diocese of Warri.