Fr. Dennis Gallagher, provincial, places a cross on newly accepted postulant, Matthew Mary Onyemaechi Okerete

On Wednesday evening, December 6, Matthew Mary Onyemaechi Okereke was accepted into the postulancy program of the North American province by Fr. Dennis Gallagher, the provincial, who is currently attending meetings of the Congregation's Plenary General Council in Rome. Matthew Mary is a native of Nigeria who is in his last year of theology studies at the Angelicum (Pontifical University of St. Thomas) in the Eternal City. Matthew Mary completed his undergraduate studies in philosophy at the Dominican University in Ibadan, Nigeria. In Nigeria, he was involved for many years in youth ministry. He met the Assumptionists in Rome two years ago and began his period of candidacy last spring. He is interested in teaching one day. Matthew Mary's family resides in Lagos, where he has two married sisters and a brother who is still at home with their widowed mother. Matthew Mary is living at the general house in Rome where he will complete his period of postulancy. In his spare time, Matthew Mary enjoys spending time as a guide in Rome for English-speaking tourists.