Pastoral Administrator

Fr. Eugene Okoli

eokolistgabriel.org

Fr. Eugene has been a priest for the past 30 years. He has served in various ministries and pastoral settings in Nigeria, Michigan, and currently at St. Gabriel Catholic Community, Texas.

Early basic education and seminary formation took place in Nigeria. Fr. Eugene owes his early upbringing and interest in the Catholic priesthood to his uncle and his wife, and the parish priest in the local community where his uncle was a teacher/headmaster.

After his ordination on August 21st, 1993, he was assigned as the Parochial Vicar at All Saints Catholic Church, Awgbu, Awka Diocese, in Southeastern Nigeria. He discharged this pastoral responsibility after two years.

On Sept September 1, 1995, his Bishop appointed him the pioneer Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Awgbu, created out of All Saints Catholic Church, the mother parish. With the help of his faith community, he built up this parish from scratch to an enviable height before his bishop sent him to the United States to further his education.

Fr. Eugene is an avid learner. Some of his friends tease him as a professional student. His educational background covers Philosophy, Theology, Counseling, Educational Leadership, and Organizational Analysis. His doctoral dissertation was on Women Education in Nigeria: Gender Disparity and access to Western Education.

In the diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he served as Pastoral Administrator, and Pastor of several churches, and was a Chaplain at Catholic Central High School.

His first pastoral assignment in the diocese of Dallas was at St. Jude, Allen, from 2011 to 2014. He served for a brief period of time at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Mesquite from 2014 to 2015.

Prior to coming to St. Gabriel's, he served the parish community of Holy Spirit in Duncanville, for eight years. He also served as Dean of the Southwestern Deanery for one year.

He has a special spot in his heart for the marginalized, the lonely, and the sick. Luke's gospel and his presentation of Jesus Christ as a friend of sinners and outcasts appeal to him dearly! At different times, he has served as a hospital, and Prison chaplain, pro bono. He believes we can all be instruments of empathy and compassion to our troubled world!

Fr. Eugene's hobbies include playing tennis, golf, watching soccer, and hanging out with friends, when time permits.