My name is Rev. Fr. Oliver I. Offor. I am a Nigerian-American and a veteran of the United States Army Reserve. I was ordained a priest on April 30, 1994, in the Catholic Diocese of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. I served in two parishes prior to my coming to the United States in June 2007, first for studies and later, for pastoral mission in this Archdiocese of New York. 

In terms of studies, I had my Masters in Pastoral Counseling under Religious Education at Fordham University in 2009 and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Pastoral Counseling at the Graduate Theological Institute, Indiana, in 2011. After my studies, I joined the United Army Reserve as a Chaplain, got commissioned as a Captain in 2012, went for training at Fort Jackson in 2013, and deployed thereafter to Afghanistan for a period of ten months. 

In terms of my pastoral assignment here in the Archdiocese of New York, I briefly assisted in St. Joan of Arc parish in the Bronx and St. Bartholomew Parish in Yonkers. I was officially assigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Pelham Manor in 2008, with Rev. Fr. Robert Dejulio as the pastor. I served in this parish for a period of five years, from 2008 to 2013. While serving in this Parish, I became a US Citizen in 2012, Joined the US Army Reserve as a Chaplain, and later deployed to Afghanistan. On my return from the tour, and at the request of my diocesan bishop then, Most Rev. Dr. John O. Afereha, I went back to Nigeria to continue my pastoral mission. In 2019 after my Priestly Silver Jubilee, I returned to the United States to pastorally assist in OLPH-St. Catherine Parish, Pelham Manor, at the request of the then Pastor, Rev. Fr. Robert Dejulio, and with the approval of my then Local Ordinary, Most. Rev. Dr. John O. Aferha. While in this parish, I was asked by the Pastor to take residence in St. Catherine’s Rectory and oversee the church of St. Catherine. I served in this capacity from November 2019 to this year August when I was transferred and assigned to serve in this parish, St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection, and All Saints.

It is worthy of note that my pastoral experiences in all the parishes I served briefly/long term in this Archdiocese of New York, have been fulfilling. I enjoyed a good rapport with the various Pastors and Parishioners, and I am very optimistic that, that fulfilling experience will continue while serving in this parish of St. Charles Boromeo, Resurrection, and All Saints.  I am grateful to the Archdiocese of New York for giving me the opportunity to serve in the Archdiocese, and a very big thanks to the various Pastors I assisted and the Parishioners I served. I pray for good health of body and soul, and the grace to make my pastoral contribution to the pastoral growth and development of the Parish and Parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection, and All Saints. May God bless us all. Amen.