On Saturday, September 28, 2024, Catholic Central’s Director of Diversity, Student Engagement, and Community Outreach, Chris Okoye '14, spoke at the St. Joseph and Jesus Father-Son Breakfast.
The event was held at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and featured several keynote speakers, notably Senior Priest Fr. Theodore (Ted) Parker and Fr. John McKenzie.
Fr. Ted, currently retired, was ordained into priesthood in 1972. He served as Catholic Chaplain at Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York, and as an educator at several institutions, including Dutches Community College in New York, St. Mary’s College in New York, and Marygrove College in Detroit.
He is also a former Board Member of MOSES (Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength), was previously involved in Detroit Regional Interfaith Voice for Equality, and, along with other colleagues, established the first Street Court. He also served as Pastor of All Saints Church in Harlem, and St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Detroit, formerly known as St. Cecilia Parish.
Born in Detroit, Fr. John McKenzie was baptized Catholic at 11 and attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and School before moving to St. Louis in 1994. In 2001, he joined a discernment house in Rome and later became part of the Benedictine Community in Norcia, Italy, while studying at Conception Abbey in Missouri.
In 2015, he returned to Detroit, entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 2016, and served at three parishes before his ordination as a priest on June 8, 2019. He then served as Associate Pastor at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica and founded a Webinar for the Black Catholic Community of Detroit.
Currently, he is the Pastor/Priest in Solidum, President and Treasurer of Christ the King Catholic Church and School, co-founder of the podcast The Father and Father Podcast, and serves on the Evangelization Task Force for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
During their presentations, Fr. Ted and Fr. John discussed how modern-day Joseph relates to modern-day Jesus, stating, “You’re not a man unless you’re a man of God.”
"This was such a powerful event because it shows how there is a safe space for our diverse population in the Catholic church,” stated Okoye.
Okoye emphasized the significance of leading by example and being intentional in our interactions with youth, as they are always observing us. He highlighted the potential of leveraging social media positively to support and uplift young people.
“The Bible says it takes a village to raise a child. It’s important to realize that social media is now part of that village and try to find healthy ways to involve it rather than try to eradicate it,” Okoye explained.
Several panelists also spoke at the event, including Jason Smith and Kurt Hill, members of the Black Catholic Ministry Advisory Board, Jonathan Sanders of Our Lady of Victory Parish, Curtis Simpson Jr. or Corpus Christi Parish, Joseph Taylor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, and Teron Varner of Christ the King Catholic Church.