Fr Daniel Ogbeifun: a Biography

Rev. Fr. Daniel Ehijiator Ogbeifun was born March 19th, 1975 in Enugu State, Nigeria. He is the second son and the second child of seven children, four boys and three girls. Fr. Daniel was raised in a strong Catholic faith by his parents. His parents are devout Catholics and they love their Catholic faith. His dad passed 2013 and his older brother passed this past August 2019.

Education and Seminary Formation: From 2000-2003 Fr. Daniel earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at St. Joseph’s Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and Urbaniana Pontifical University, Rome. In 2004, he had a year pastoral training at Mercy Juniorate, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. He studied Theology in Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Owerri. Nigeria, from 2004 to 2006. In 2007 Fr. Daniel took some time off and worked at the airport in Nigeria and was also a Religious Educator in one of the Catholic schools in Lagos Archdiocese, Nigeria. In 2010, he won a scholarship to the prestigious Institute of Lumen Vitae in Belgium, an affiliate of Catholic University of Leuven where he earned a degree in Pastoral Theology and Catechesis. Fr. Daniel obeyed the voice of God calling him to the diocese of Buffalo, left his home country to Belgium and eventually joined the Diocese of Buffalo in 2011. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, from 2011 to 2014.

Ministries/Ordination: As a seminarian, Fr. Daniel did a Summer Pastoral Assignment in different parishes within Buffalo diocese: St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Lancaster, in 2011 and St. Mary Immaculate Conception Parish, East Bethany/Pavilion in 2012. He was installed as a Lector in 2004 and Acolyte in 2012. As part of his formation, he did his Clinical Pastoral Education at Sister’s Hospital in Buffalo. Fr. Daniel was ordained a Deacon in September, 2014. He served as a Deacon on Pastoral Year in St. Benedict’s Parish, Buffalo, New York. On June 6, 2015 Fr. Daniel was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Buffalo. Fr. Daniel is the first African and Nigerian to be ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in the history of the Diocese of Buffalo. In 2015 he was assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Lawrence and St. Martin de Pores in Buffalo and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish on Harris Hill Road in Williamsville. In 2018 Fr. Daniel was re-assigned as Parochial Vicar only to Nativity Parish, Williamsville. In 2018 Fr. Daniel served as Temporal Administrator of Nativity parish, Williamsville. He held the parish together in prayer, faith and love with his charismatic zeal. Everyone supported him and loved him so much in his leadership role and skills. His mother and three of his siblings visited him in Buffalo during his ordination. In 2016, through his Papal Nuncio friend (Pope’s representative) and spiritual director in Vatican City, Fr. Daniel had the opportunity during his priestly ordination anniversary to meet with the Holy Father, Pope Francis in Rome. A joyful moment for Fr. Daniel as the Holy Father embraced him and gave him his apostolic blessing and a Rosary.

Hobbies: Fr. Daniel is a good cook, rides his bike and plays sports, such as soccer, lawn tennis and basketball. He is a Buffalo Bills fan.

“Life is good. Jesus is the best. Be happy and keep smiling.” - Fr. Daniel’s favorite quote. His favorite restaurant and food in America is Red Lobster, chicken wings, pizza and meatballs. He eats everything except pork.

Fr. Daniel was recently assigned as the pastor here at All Saints. This is his first assignment as pastor. Fr. Daniel comes with a lot of experience. He is a teacher and a preacher of the Gospel of Christ. He is an inspirational speaker and a good listener. He has a strong working zeal with the Youth ministry and visits to the elderly, especially the sick. He is gifted in many areas of his ministries, especially in his spirituality and prayer life. He has his own healing ministry through which God has used him to touch and bless many lives. Through his healing ministry Fr. Daniel has ministered in many places, both within and outside of New York. Fr. Daniel is a very happy priest. He is friendly, opened and transparent. He is very humble and easy to work with. He welcomes everyone. Fr. Daniel has a strong ministerial presence.