Francis Innocent Otobo BST, GDBS, PhD

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Francis was ordained for the Diocese of Otukpo, Nigeria, in 2001. In 2011, after a mutual missionary agreement, the church in Otukpo sent him out on mission to the Diocese of Sale, Australia, where he currently serves as the Parish Priest of St Michael Traralgon, Vic.

In 2001, Francis graduated from St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, Nigeria, having obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. His passion for the sacred scriptures urged him to further his studies at the University of Divinity, thus obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Biblical Studies in 2014. Thereafter, having been encouraged by the scholarly and friendly environment of the University of Divinity (the YTU community in particular), Francis enrolled in a PhD program from which he graduated in 2019, with the thesis: “Overcoming Resistance: The Holy Spirit as Legitimator of Mission in Luke-Acts”.

His current research interest centres on the life/mission of the early followers of Jesus and the role of the Holy Spirit in this early community, especially as reflected in the Gospels and Acts.

Francis teaches

  • The Gospel according to Mark, and
  • Entering the World of the New Testament (which he currently co-teaches).

Articles

  • Francis Innocent Otobo, “’Neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem’ (John 4:21): A Reflection on the Closure of Churches in the face of Covid-19,” https://hail.to/laidlaw-college/article/bImaLAD/print, May 10, 2020.

Francis is also the chaplain to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Diocese of Sale, Victoria. In his spare time, Francis loves watching Nollywood movies (the Nigerian home movies).

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