Our Lady of Mount Carmel & St Joseph, Battersea Park
Parish Priest
Father Peter Pagac sdb
Fr Peter Pagac was born on 29 June 1973 in Slovakia. From an early age, he served as an altar server at Mass. After completing his studies, he joined the Salesians of Don Bosco, where on 15 August 1993 he made his first profession as a consecrated religious. Subsequently, he began his formation for the priesthood, and studied philosophy at the Comenius University Bratislava and theology at the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome, with its campus-based in Jerusalem, where he completed a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo ordained him as a deacon on 3 June 2001 in Jerusalem.
Bishop Karol Herbst in Slovakia ordained him to the priesthood on 22 June 2002. After his ordination, he was appointed Assistant Priest at the national shrine of Sastin – Straze in 2002. He then worked in the Salesian formation house in Poprad, as assistant to the novice master. He was appointed Parish Priest at St Jacob’s Parish, Dubnica and Vahom in 2006. After having completed a vocational discernment with a strong desire to work in the missions, he offered himself to the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco to work in any part of the Salesian Mission world. In 2012, Don Pasqual Chavez, the ninth successor of Don Bosco sent him to the GBR Salesian province as part of Project Europe. He was appointed Assistant Priest at Sacred Heart parish in Battersea and later as Parochial Administrator. In 2018 he moved to Chertsey where he worked as Assistant Priest at St Anne’s parish and at the same time as a Hospital Chaplain at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey. At Easter 2021, he was appointed Parish Administrator at The Holy Family parish in Addlestone.
On 1 September 2021 he was appointed Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Battersea West, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Joseph Battersea Park by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark, John Wilson.
Tel: +44
Assistant Priest
Father Anthony Cliofford sdb
I hail from India, Mumbai. Born on August 2, 1972, I am the youngest of four children (two girls, two boys). My grandparents, parents are of Goan origin - Portuguese heritage.
My vocation stems from my Salesian School, Don Bosco Matunga, in Mumbai. After completing my Bachelor's in Philosophy, and studies in Electronics, I opted as a young Salesian to go to the missions. I worked/studied as a missionary in Africa (Mozambique & Kenya) for over a decade. I attained my Bachelor's in Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi. I was ordained a Salesian priest in Maputo, Mozambique, on August 25, 2002.
As a young priest in Mozambique, I was the youth ministry/communications delegate for the Salesian province of MOZ and for the Diocese of Maputo. I was a member of the Provincial Council and Council of Priests for the Diocese of Maputo. These were fantastic years of ministry amongst the young people.
My superiors then sent me for higher studies to Rome, where I attained a master’s in journalism & publications, and a PhD in Communications & Research Management from the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome, and Radboud University, Nijmegen. On completion of my studies, the Vicar of the Rector Major invited me to lecture at the Faculty of Social Communications at our Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. My areas of expertise are in International Communications, research methods for PhD students, specializing in qualitative analysis and project management.
I have a flare to study languages since it has always intrigued me to understand cultures and mindsets. I can speak (or rather) make myself conversable in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, (basic French), Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, and, obviously, English. My hobbies are cinema, theatre, music, reading, writing, travelling, accompanying-counselling youngsters, and as I am getting matured spiritually, devoting a lot more time to meditation & prayer.
I lived in Italy, Rome for thirteen years before coming to the GBR province, in order to take care of my health and to have an experience of parish pastoral ministry. I am thoroughly enjoying my pastoral ministry at our two parishes, which has truly been a moment of Grace for me to encounter the Lord among the simplicity/kindness of our faithful parishioners, which varies from my academic world. The multi-ethnic-cultural diversity of our Parishioners, and how we pray together as one parish community-family, edifies me every time I celebrate Mass at Sacred Heart. I am truly blessed to be part of the parish. The best part of my ministry at Sacred Heart is visiting the sick, the homebound, confessions and praying before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration with the parishioners on Thursdays and Fridays. Amongst the sick, in confessions and in adoration, I have found Jesus. Be assured of my prayers and thank you for accepting me into the parish community.
anthonycliffordlobo@rcaos.org.uk
Tel: +44 07305272629
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.
fidelischukwu@rcaos.org.uk
