Born in Nigeria as the fifth of seven children, Father Jacob Dankasa grew up in a faith-filled environment that nurtured his vocation to the priesthood. Ordained on July 17, 2004, for the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Nigeria, he began a life devoted to serving the Church.
Father Dankasa earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy (Urbaniana University, Rome) and theology (University of Jos, Nigeria), attending St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine Major Seminaries. After ordination, he served as diocesan director of communications, secretary, chancellor, and pastor in his diocese.
In 2008, he moved to the U.S., earning a master’s degree in mass communications from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in information science from the University of North Texas in 2015. Father Dankasa served in multiple parishes within the Diocese of Dallas and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
Now the pastor of Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church in Irving, Father Dankasa is dedicated to fostering spiritual growth, evangelization, and community-building. He writes for The Texas Catholic and shares reflections on his blog and Facebook page. His scholarly research explores the intersection of communication, technology, and religion, with a focus on using modern media for evangelization. He has published three books and numerous academic articles.
A lover of country music, movies, soccer, and basketball, Father Dankasa connects with people from all walks of life. His priesthood, blending faith, intellect, and pastoral care, remains a testament to his mission to inspire others to deepen their relationship with Christ.