Born in Nigeria, he was raised in “an ardent Catholic family.” He said his parents were always willing to accommodate their pastor’s request to welcome into their home seminarians assigned to do their annual three months of apostolic work or pastoral year.

“I deeply admired my pastor’s and seminarians' reverence and love for the Eucharist. Their love for the people was easily seen, their joy and happiness were genuine and highly contagious,” he said.

Deacon Ohaeri initially studied philosophy and then decided to pursue a degree in theology from a secular university in the U.S.

Hoping to graduate and move on with his life, he soon realized that God had something more in store for him.

“God was calling me to become a priest like the priests and seminarians I admired in my teenage days,” he said.

He is thankful to have landed in the Diocese of Austin, particularly at St. Albert the Great Parish in Austin, which he said has a similar feel to his home parish in Nigeria.

“They say blossom where you’re planted. The providence that brought me to St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Austin made it easy for me to blossom and flourish,” he said.