Bartholomew N. Okere was born in the family of Okere Asonye in Umuaku-Ntu, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. He was ordained a Catholic Priest in March 31, 1990. As a dedicated Priest, he travelled to Jerusalem on Pilgrimage (JP), as an effort to deepen the growth of the Nigerian Faith. Dr. Okere is Nigerian and has served as Pastor and Zonal Vicar for eighteen years in Nigeria, during which time he published two scholarly books  namely, Lean on Jesus Principles and My Journey to Jerusalem, Jesus Own Land. He founded many organizations that emphasize and encourage the study of the Bible as weapon to put into practice the teachings of the Catholic faith. Once a youth Leader, he always emphasized that discipline and values of right choices and behaviors are the keys to success. He has worked in many Parishes in the Archdiocese of Owerri, Nigeria. In addition to his Priestly Ministry on different levels, Dr. Okere has held many ecclesiastical and public positions in the Catholic Church. He was Assistant Administrator of  Marian Assumpta Cathedral Church, Owerri, Nigeria and a Fourth Degree Faithful Friar, an Honorary Life membership of the Knights of Columbus International and Associate State Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus, Tennessee.

His primary and post primary education distinguished him among his colleagues and acquaintances. Educated and schooled at Sacred Heart Seminary, Nsude, Enugu, St. John Cross Nsukka and St. Peter Cleaver  Okpala where he came out in flying colors. He holds the B.A. Honors in Philosophy and M.A in Divinity from St. Joseph’s Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene and Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu respectively, ( affiliated Institutions of the Pontificia Universita Urbaniana, Rome). Dr. Okere, as a Counselor and Psychologist, had Post Graduate Diploma in Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Clinical Pastoral Education, Certificate for Resolve through Sharing (RTS), Bereavement Training in Early Pregnancy Loss, Stillbirth and Newborn Death. He is a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC), and member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and has served over seven years in the Hospital Ministry.  He is currently the Pastor of St. Henry Catholic Church, Rogersville and St. James the Apostle Church, Sneedville, Tennessee. Dr. Okere holds a PhD in Pastoral Psychology from the Graduate Theological Foundation (GTF), an affiliate of Oxford University, London.