Parish of the Good Shepherd

I was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on the 29th of July, 2008 in Nigeria. I belong to the Holy Ghost Fathers, (The Spiritans). For the last twelve years I did Missionary work in the Philippines. I had a very flourishing and joyful experience among the Filipino People. I was helping the poorest people in the island of Mindanao. I was a chaplain to University students, and later took charge of the Spiritans Social Actions which builds houses for the poor, provides food for those affected by natural disasters (typhoons) and the constant Muslim conflicts in Mindanao. In 2014, I served as the Provincial Superior of the Spiritan Mission in the Philippines. I also served as the Parish Priest at the Resurrection of the Lord Chinese -Filipino Parish, Iligan City from 2017 to 2020. I am very happy and blessed to share my life with you here at the Parish in Dover. God bless.

I was brought up in North London, and was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1969. I have had over fifty years of ministry which I have loved. I discovered early on, that God is full of surprises in how he uses his people in sending us to places and people we would never have dreamed of. As in any ministry, it is full of challenges, but they all add to priestly development. I was a diocesan youth chaplain before becoming a school Chaplain and Head of Religious Studies in both comprehensive and boarding schools. It was not until I was 55 that I had my first parish, or rather three parishes, near Uckfield, before moving to Eastbourne to be vicar of an Anglo Catholic Charismatic Church. Along, with many other Anglicans, I left the Church of England in 2011 to become a priest in the Ordinariate set up by Pope Benedict XVI. This meant three years of training before Archbishop John Smith ordained me priest at Our Lady Help of Christians in February 2015. As many ex-Anglicans have said, be received into the Catholic Church is like ‘coming home’.

I was Ordained on the 28th of July, 2018 in Nigeria as a member of the Holy Ghost Fathers; (Spiritans). I have served in various capacities in North Eastern Nigeria; as an Assistant Parish Priest, Youth Chaplain and a dynamic School principal. I will assist Fr. Leo and Fr. Jamie and am looking forward to my time serving the people of Dover & Aylesham.

I was ordained permanent deacon in 2003 in the Diocese of Leeds. The word ‘deacon’ is from the Greek word diakonos; to serve. The deacon is ‘a living icon of Christ the servant within the church.’ With the relevant bishops permission, I provide service to the Parish of the Good Shepherd (St Paul’s and St Finbarr's) and to Our Lady of Dover, Buckland. As deacon, I fulfil the 3 areas of responsibility, namely; service to the altar, service to the word, and service to the poor. I am currently the chair of Christians Together in Dover, Vice Chair of Governors at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, a Youth Alpha Facilitator and Lead Money Coach for Dover Money Course.

Born and brought up in Dover, I attended St Paul’s Primary School and St Edmund’s Secondary School. I moved to Bristol where I lived for over 30 years bringing up five sons and working for Bristol Old Vic Theatre School as their Finance Officer. I moved back to Dover in 2013 and became Parish Secretary in 2016, shortly after St Paul’s amalgamated with St Finbarr’s. I love Dover and being part of parish life.

I have lived in Aylesham all my life, and I am part of community life here. I became a Catholic 11 years ago, after attending St Finbarr's church in Aylesham. I have two business's that I run from my home. I run a walking group to help people get out and about and meet new people. After St Finbarrs and St Pauls amalgamated, my ministry seemed to be in Dover. I am a street pastor which I love doing, getting out in the community getting to know the people of Dover. I help at the night shelter, soup kitchen and Community Table, where we feed people with food and love.