Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St Joseph, Battersea

Father Gerard O'Shaughnessy sdb

Fr Gerry is a member of the Salesian Community and lives on the Surrey Lane Estate with his fellow Salesians who have lived in Battersea since St John Bosco sent the very first group of three Salesians in 1887. He is a former teacher and still enjoys Chaplaincy Ministry in our excellent parish schools. He has a firm love of history and is author of the 2016 publication "Pastoral Popes" which is a look at the modern papacy and how it has influenced parochial practice across the Church. Together with Deacon Michael he is working on a new book for teachers, parents and governors on the need for effective worship within our Catholic schools. Gerry leads the Parish Team that serves both Battersea Parishes.

Father Hugh Preston sdb

Fr Hugh was born in Oxford and is a twin-his brother Francis is also a Salesian and works in the Salesian Community in Nairobi, Kenya. Hugh is a former teacher and lecturer in Theology, working for many years in the national seminary in Durham. His area of expertise is Sacramental Theology and he is in great demand as a retreat preacher across the UK and the English speaking world. We are privileged to have him as a member of our Team.

hughpreston@batterseapark@rcaos.org.uk

Deacon Fidelis Chukwu

Deacon Fidelis has been a Deacon for over 20 years and was the first Nigerian born Deacon to be ordained in the UK. Born and brought up in Nigeria, Fidelis came to the UK as a young man; he was a successful civil servant in local government and worked for HM Prison service as a Chaplain until his retirement from the Prison Service. As a long-standing parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St Joseph parish, he still lives in the parish with his wife and family.

Deacon Michael Kennedy

Deacon Michael grew up in the parish of Sacred Heart, attending the parish school and gaining a place at the Salesian College, then a highly respected grammar school. For many years he worked as an active volunteer in the parish looking after and training a group of altar servers that are still the envy of the Archdiocese. He has a natural flair for working with the young and is especially effective as a primary school Chaplain. In his day job, Michael is the Administrator of the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Southwark. He was ordained to the permanent Deaconate over ten years ago.