Hero Spotlight: Larry Onokpite

Born in Delta State, Nigeria, Larry Onokpite spent many of his childhood days at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Ighwrekpokpor, Ughelli. The church was more than just a place of worship; it was a refuge from violence and a symbol of hope for many in the community.

There, he watched well-educated Catholic priests speak with confidence. He often dreamed of becoming a priest just like them. 

But the path ahead was not easy. Onokpite lived in a poor town with limited resources and opportunities for children. There were no parks, no recreation centers, or after-school programs. Their classrooms were rundown with leaky roofs, and a shortage of teachers to teach them basic subjects like math, science, and geography. 

With sheer determination, his classmates studied together and taught each other those subjects after school. They were not only motivated to learn, but they also wanted to pursue a relationship with God and in a safe environment where they felt protected. 

“The only place we could go [where we were] safe was church,” Onokpite said. “A kid who went to church was a safe kid. If you did not go to church, you [would] be on the streets.”

Onokpite dedicated himself to attending Mass every day at 6:15a.m., followed by prayer. He served in the church as a lector [ a volunteer parishioner that reads holy scriptures] and an altar server, who assisted the priest with the Mass. 

“The church protected me [and] gave me value,” he said. “I learned from the young men that I saw pray.”

At 19 years old, Onokpite felt a calling to become a missionary priest. He joined St Patrick’s Missionary Society and after initial formation, was sent to St. Joseph's Theological Institute in South Africa where he studied philosophy. His time there helped shape and clarify his faith and commitment to service. He did various types of pastoral work, such as comforting the sick and patients in hospitals.

“That experience changed me and made me see the kind of missionary I wanted to be, a simple missionary that brings a simple God” he said. 

Onokpite and another seminarian would ride their bikes to a small retirement town to visit the elderly. They listened to their stories and comforted them in any way they could.

He also remembered how the church gave him refuge as a child. Grateful, he wanted to provide comfort and safety for others. So, he volunteered for a local after-school program that helps children who were often left home alone while their parents searched for work. Onokpite taught math and science, just like he and his friends did for one another when they were younger. While making the most of these experiences, he stayed focused on his studies and earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 2016.

But after discerning whether to take his priestly vows, he realized his true calling lay elsewhere. 

Inspired by his experiences in the seminary and his work with kids, he decided to leave the seminary and return to Nigeria to work for an educational organization that consults with primary and middle schools. While working there, he became concerned with understanding why some children struggled to read.  Ultimately, he left his job and returned to school in South Africa, earning a Master of Education (focused on dyslexia literacy) at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2022. 

Today, Onokpite is pursuing a doctorate in educational studies with a track of special education (Reading disabilities) at The Ohio State University.

 In his free time, he enjoys running, and has completed three marathons – the Columbus Marathon in 2023, the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in 2024, and the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon in 2025.

One of his friends who ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon last year for Mercy Home told him about our mission and the ways we support young people in Chicagoland. Onokpite immediately knew he wanted to join the Heroes team this year as the cause reminded him of the refuge that the Holy Spirit Church in Nigeria provided for him when he was young. 

“I’m going to run for them because I wasn’t in a home like Mercy Home,” he said. “They do great work for boys and girls in Chicago.”

This will be Onokpite’s first Chicago marathon, and he’s not only dedicating his run to helping the kids of Mercy Home, but for all those who have supported him along the way.

 “I want to run for gratitude, for every person who impacted my life: the church, my parents, family, friends, and the Mercy Home kids.” 

When Onokpite toes the starting line at this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon, he will be thousands of miles from the church in Delta State, Nigeria. He will pass by our Mercy Mile and see the gold cross on Mercy Home’s Tichenor Chapel. It will serve as a reminder of hope, and Onokpite will find comfort in knowing that a small piece of home goes with him no matter how far he runs. He will be thinking of the kids back home, whose only support and structure comes from the church, and wishing for their safety and for a future where they have more than the church alone to rely on.