Very Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Odii-Abia
Director of Spiritual Care
Fr. Augustine Odii-Abia is a seasoned pastoral care professional with over three decades of ministerial experience and more than 25 years of distinguished military service. He brings deep spiritual insight and compassionate leadership to clinical and military environments, specializing in holistic pastoral support, grief care, crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Chaplain Odii-Abia most recently served as a Staff and Unit Chaplain at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York, where he provided spiritual care to patients and families during times of profound need, mentored Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) students, and supported interdisciplinary care teams. He is a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).
Throughout his military career, Chaplain Odii-Abia served in key leadership roles across various Army medical brigades and mobilization centers. His assignments included Senior Chaplain for the North East-Medical Area Regional Support Group (NE-MARSG), Chaplain at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and deployments to Iraq as a Battalion and Garrison Chaplain at Camp Slayer. He provided multi-faith spiritual support to thousands of soldiers, healthcare professionals, and their families, and advised commanders on ethical and moral concerns affecting personnel readiness and well-being.
Chaplain Odii-Abia’s pastoral leadership also includes clinical roles at Huguley Memorial Hospital and the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital, where he completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education. He is trained in suicide prevention, trauma recovery, nonviolent crisis intervention, and spiritual care in psychiatric and combat medical settings.
An advocate of lifelong learning, Chaplain Odii-Abia holds a Master of Divinity from Texas Christian University, two Master of Science degrees in Management and Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Divinity from the Catholic Pontifical Urban University in Rome. His military education includes the Chaplain Basic and Advanced Courses, the intermediate Leadership Education (ILE) Courses, Master Resilience Training, and Family Life Chaplain Training.Dedicated to community service, he has volunteered in education, hospital visitation, and military family support roles both at home and abroad. His contributions have been recognized with numerous military honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the prestigious Chaplain’s Order of Titus Award. Chaplain Odii-Abia continues to inspire others through mentorship, advocacy, and ministry rooted in empathy, resilience, and hope.