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Murphy Meet the Rev. Augustine Ogar, the new priest at St. William Catholic Church, who was born in 1959 in Ogoja, Nigeria.
Ogar spent the first 20 years of his life in his place of birth before moving on to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, where he attended Catholic seminary. He first came to his faith through his primary and secondary educations, as the schools he attended were of the Catholic faith.
Ogar attended college from 1981-89. Once ordained as a priest, he was sent for post-graduate studies for a stint in Rome. He would remain there from 1990-94.
In January 2020, Ogar came to the United States, settling in Houston as an associate pastor, where he began teaching young people in the seminary how to become priests. His missionary church then assigned him to Charlotte before the bishop later reassigned him to Murphy, where he has been for about a month.
Ogar is the pastor of two separate congregations with about 700 combined parishioners, including Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hayesville.
“The Catholic community accepts me as their pastor. They show me respect, hospitality and reverence without problems, even though we may have differences,” he said. “They welcomed me.”
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Ogar’s positional duties include teaching others the faith and attending to those who need counseling.
As a youth, he worked on the family farm helping harvest root crops, including yams, vegetables, legumes and paddy rice.
Ogar enjoys long walks, music and playing the guitar. He first learned how to strum the strings while in training after meeting some talented folks. He enjoys singing as well.
Contrary to popular belief, some Catholic priests are married. Ogar said if the man is already married when he becomes a priest, he remains married. However, if he’s single at the time he’s ordained, he must remain single as long as he is in the position.
How does the reverend avoid worldly temptations?
“The value of my faith is a very strong incentive or motivation to commit myself in this way. It’s only in faith that you can make these sacrifices,” Ogar said.
“When you understand human sexuality in terms of faith, then you know that somehow you must be prepared. Faith causes you to seek value that’s more durable than that of worldly entertainment.”
Where does Ogar see himself in 10 years?
“I expect to have returned back home to Nigeria as a retired person if I am still alive then,” he said. “In 10 years I will be 75, and I’d like to return back home.”
But for now, he’s happy right where he is, as indicated by his smile.
Details: Visit st-william.net or call 828-837-2000.