Wife of Suspended Catholic Priest Shares Love Story

Dora Chichah, the wife of suspended Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Daniel Okanatotor Oghenerukevwe, has opened up about her journey to finding love after years of prayers and waiting.

Rev. Oghenerukevwe, a priest from the Diocese of Warri, Delta State, was suspended for marrying without completing the formal process of being released from his priestly vows. According to the Diocese, the priest had requested a release from his canonical obligations on November 30, 2024, but proceeded with the marriage before finalizing the procedure.

Speaking during a testimony session at Pastor Jerry Eze’s Streams of Joy International Church in Dallas, Texas, Dora recounted her prayers for a life partner and how her faith led her to her husband.

“What God cannot do does not exist. My name is Dora, and I’m giving my testimony from Streams of Joy, Dallas,” she began.

Dora, a single mother of three, shared how she prayed fervently for over nine years for divine settlement. In July 2021, she said she felt reassured by Pastor Jerry’s prophetic message about God’s plans for her.

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“I kept on praying. Anytime Pastor Jerry said, ‘Women in their 30s, women in their 40s, receive your husband,’ I would dance and pray, believing God,” she said.

In 2024, Dora said she felt a clear call to relocate to Dallas, Texas, where she reconnected with Daniel, someone she had known from her youth.

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

The couple’s relationship progressed quickly, culminating in a wedding that included traditional, court, and church ceremonies. The wedding, held at Streams of Joy in Dallas, became the center of attention after photos went viral.

While Dora did not directly address Daniel’s status as a Catholic priest during her testimony, the Diocese’s statement and a video shared online provided context to the controversy surrounding the union.

A woman claiming to be Daniel’s biological sister, Mary Okanatotor, defended his decision, stating on social media, “He did not do a secret marriage as he wrote to the Diocese to inform them of his decision.”

The love story has sparked conversations, with many praising Dora’s faith and perseverance while others question the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s departure from the priesthood.