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June 29, 2023Father Damian Okoye has spent the past couple of decades as a priest. Raised in a devout Catholic family, and influenced by his parish priest where he attended Mass, he felt a calling to the priesthood from an early age. He is now undertaking a new missionary role, serving as parochial vicar at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Ponca City and Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Newkirk, and has quickly made an impact on the community in that role, along with seminarian Max Marcott, who himself is studying for the priesthood.
“I was born a Catholic,” Father Okoye said. “When I was very young, I was inspired by my parents. They were very religious.”
He was also inspired by his parish priest, Father Lazarus Iwezue.
“I had an interest (in the priesthood), and he was my model,” Father Okoye said.
Moving between parishes is not uncommon in the Church, but moving between parishes in foreign countries, and even continents, is less common. Father Okoye is from Nigeria, Africa. He was most recently pastor of Stella Maris Catholic Church in Abayi, part of the Diocese of Aba.
The term “Catholic” means “universal,” and parishes across the world have the same Liturgy, but there are many differences between African and American Masses. For one, they have more music.
“We have the same liturgy, but Nigerian Catholics are very religious, they stay longer in the church, and in our liturgy, we beat drums and dance,” he said. “The homilies, at times, are longer.”
Father Okoye had been to the United States several times, but his most recent trip led him to seek a ministry position here.
“I visited a close friend, the pastor of Saint Joseph Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City. During my visit to him, we went to the archdiocesan pastoral center in Oklahoma City,” Father Okoye said. “I met the chancellor and indicated my interest in coming and doing missionary work.”
Bishop Luscius Ugorji contacted Archbishop Coakley, and Father Okoye soon found himself as a missionary in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, specifically at Saint Mary Catholic Church and Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Stella Maris Catholic Church has a lively congregation in Nigeria, one that is actually larger than Saint Mary Catholic Church.
“It’s a bigger church. We had lots of youth, lots of fathers married in the church, the same for women folk, too,” Father Okoye said. “In terms of parishioners, we are bigger, and the population is bigger, too.”
Father Okoye has only been serving Saint Mary Catholic Church and Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for a few weeks, but he has already immersed himself into the community.
“We were assigned to go to nursing homes, to visit elderly people, taking Communion to them, and the homebound,” Father Okoye said.
He isn’t alone in the missionary work, as Marcott is learning what it means to be a priest, a pastor, and to reach out the community.
Max Marcott was raised in Norman and grew up in Saint Joseph Catholic Church but said Saint James Catholic Church in Oklahoma City is now his home parish. He is following in the footsteps of Father Krittenbrink and Father Okoye and is currently serving as a seminarian at Saint Mary and Saint Francis as part of his formation.
“I enjoy it very much – the community’s wonderful,” Marcott said. “I like the small-town setting.”
Like Father Okoye, his emphasis been serving the Kay County community by reaching out to the most vulnerable.
“I’ve been with Father Okoye to visit nursing homes and those who are homebound,” Marcott said. “My first week, I was helping with VBS.”
Marcott has seen his faith in the ministry grow.
“Never underestimate God’s love and providence,” Marcott said.
Father Okoye has also seen a level of love himself, stating “They are very accepting of me, the received me with all their hearts.”
Everett Brazil, III is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Photo: Seminarian Max Marcott and Fr. Damian Okoye. Photo Everett Brazil, III/ Sooner Catholic.
