Nigerian woman who married Catholic priest in U.S speaks

Dora Chichah, the wife of Rev Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, the Catholic priest who was recently suspended from the Diocese of Warri, Delta State, has explained the circumstances leading to her meeting her husband.

Recall that the Catholic Diocese of Warri suspended Oghenerukevwe for contracting a secret marriage in the United States without completing the formal process of being released from his priestly vows.

The Diocese clarified that Oghenerukevwe had requested on November 30, 2024, to be released from all canonical obligations associated with Holy Orders.

However, the Diocese said it reached out to him, “asking for the required documents to begin the process, but the priest went on to marry without completing the procedure.”

Pictures of the wedding, which took place in Dallas, Texas, have since gone viral.

While speaking during a live testimony session at Pastor Jerry Eze’s Streams of Joy International Church in Dallas, Dora shared her journey.

In a video reposted on Monday by a Catholic missionary priest, Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, Dora introduced herself as a single mother of three who had prayed for a husband for over nine years

“What God cannot do does not exist. We dey pray, e dey show. My name is Dora, and I’m giving my testimony from Streams of Joy, Dallas.

“Indeed, the lord has shown me mercy. Since 2020, I have been on this altar, believing God for a life partner. I’m a single mother of three and I have been believing God for over nine years for a divine settlement. I kept on praying. I said, God settle me,” she stated.

Dora added, “In July 2021, Pastor Jerry said the Lord has heard you; he said the Lord allowed all that has happened happen to take you to your wealthy place. He is your salvation. In your waiting time, He will build your character.

“I kept praying. Anytime Pastor Jerry says women in their 30s, women in their 40s, receive your husband. I would dance and I would pray and I was believing God.”

“In 2024, I heard God clearly to relocate from where I was to Dallas, Texas.”

Dora said she reconnected with Daniel, someone she knew growing up in the same area, and they quickly exchanged contact details.

“He told me stories about how he has been praying for four years for discernment in his vocation. And in my own case, I had been praying too. He said he had been fasting for three months, asking God to give him the woman for him,” Dora revealed.

The relationship progressed swiftly, culminating in their wedding.

“In three months, we had gone through the marriage class. Within three months, we did the traditional wedding; we did the court. And the white wedding in Streams of Joy, Dallas,” she said.

While Dora did not address Daniel’s status as a Catholic priest during her testimony, the video package featured pictures of her and Daniel during their wedding.

A woman claiming to be Daniel’s biological sister, Mary Okanatotor, defended the marriage, stating it was the best decision for her brother.

“He did not do a secret marriage as he wrote to the Diocese to inform them of his decision,” she said in a social media post.