Leadership at Bongor & Slindon RC parish 

Leadership Team 
The Parish Leadership Team, which the Parish Priest leads, discerns the vision for the parish and decides on the strategy for it’s implementation.  Through prayer and supportive relationships, they seek to encourage and develop fruitful ministries and service for evangelisation.  Members of the Team also take responsibility for some part of the strategic plan, with a view to raising up and forming new leaders within the parish.

Fr Chris Bergin 

Fr Chris Bergin leads the parish. He was appointed Parish Priest by Bishop Richard in 2015.  He has a passion for enabling all people to know themselves as loved by God, and called by God to proclaim his love to those around them.
email: chris.bergin@abdiocese.org.uk

Fr Victor Onwukeme

Fr Victor joined the parish in Oct 2020 for a sabbatical year. 
Victor is a priest of The Missionaries of St Paul, and since ordination in 1996 has worked in parishes, schools, and  the MSP leadership across Africa and worldwide.  
​
email: chikeb2010@yahoo.com

Margaret Fraher 

Margaret takes a lead on the Ministry of Welcome in the Parish and works part-time as the Inclusion Adviser for the Diocese.       

 
email: margaretfraher@live.com

Caroline Phillips

By profession Caroline is a Psychological Fitness Coach and has previously worked in Human Resources in Hospitality & Retail. Alongside her husband Bern, she is a table host at Alpha in the parish.
email:cphillips01@btinternet.com

Bethan Townsend

David Beresford

This is Bethan's home parish, since returning in 2019 she has been part of the Leadership team. Alongside academic studies, she works in our deanery secondary school, St Philip Howard, Barnham in the school Chaplaincy.
​ email: bethantownsend96@gmail.com

David has worshipped in the parish since 2014, he leads our leadership stream, and lends a hand in Alpha. Along with Sarah, his wife, he co-leads the Catholic Bible school.
email: davidrberesford@gmail.com

Ethnic chaplaincy: Polish Mission to Bognor Regis 

Fr Antoni Prosowicz

Since 2006 Bognor has been home to an ethnic chaplaincy to the Polish community in Bognor and the surrounding areas. In the worldwide Roman Catholic church it is common for areas with diaspora communities to be served by chaplains from their home countries. The current Polish chaplain is Fr Antoni, who celebrates the sacraments in Polish in Bognor & Slindon and the surrounding parishes.
Further info: www.parafiabognorregis.com

Parish Centre

Caroline Battersby

Parish Secretary
​Caroline is the go to person if you have a query. She is responsible for the running of the parish office.
The Parish Secretary is a part time paid role. 
email: bognor@abdiocese.org.uk ​

Abby Leggatt ​

Parish Administrator
Abby provides admin support to Fr Chris, manages building maintenance, security, health and safety, and oversees the management of the parish office.  
The Parish Administrator is a part time paid role. 
           email: admin.bognor@abdiocese.org.uk

Safeguarding lead 

Liz Bedford 

Liz is our parish's safeguarding lead.
If you have any concerns or queries relating to the safety of a child or vulnerable adult in church please contact her directly.  In the case of an emergency or where there is an immediate danger or risk of harm please call 999.
e mail: l.bedford@live.co.uk | ​Mobile telephone: 07456 420108  | www.bognorcatholicparish.co.uk/safeguarding

Parish Finance committee
The finance committee provides oversight of all the parish's money and ensures it is being well used. Fr Chris Bergin, Abby Leggat, and Caroline Battersby are also members of the committee.

Angela Liu

Angela is the current Chair of the committee. Prior to retiring she was the Bursar of our parish primary school, St. Mary’s. She also co-ordinates Baptism preparation and has helped relaunch the parish woman's fellowship, Ruth Group. Angela has four grown up children and seven grandchildren.

Philip Wildsmith 

Philip has worshipped in the Parish since 1964. He is an active member of Knights of St Columba, Council 324 Bognor Regis, and the Parish Gift Aid Co-ordinator; prior to retiring Philip had a career in banking.

Robert Bruce

Robert joined the parish in 2005, and with his wife usually worships at St Richard's church in Slindon. In addition to being a member of the Finance Committee, Robert is part of the Slindon Trust, which owns and is responsible for the upkeep of St Richard's church. Prior to retiring Robert held leadership positions within estate and business management. 

Dan McNamara

With his family, Dan moved to the area and has worshiped in the parish since 2016, he was part of the Parish Leadership team between 2017-2019, and joined the Parish Finance committee in Spring 2021. Dan works in the charity sector, leading in business development and fundraising.

Slindon Trust 

When St Richard’s church at Slindon was built in 1865, the Leslie Family, descendants of Anne Countess of Newburgh and owner of Slindon House and Estate, created a trust for ‘the purpose of establishing and maintaining a church, presbytery, school and burial ground’. They bequeathed the land and paid for the building of the church and a handsome presbytery next door, still called St Richard’s House. They also gave a generous endowment. Since St Richard’s merged with Barnham and then Bognor parish, the church’s day-to-day running and administration is run from the Parish Centre in Bognor Regis, but the Slindon Trust still continues its responsibility for maintaining the church and graveyard.

Current trustees (appointed by Bishop Richard Moth):
Robert Bruce, Lawrence Owers and Bishop Richard (represented by Fr Chris Bergin).

Liturgy Committee

The celebration of Holy Mass is the source and summit of our lives and the Liturgy Group meets to ensure that the praise and worship of God in the Mass and other celebrations is planned and co-ordinated so as to enable all parishioners and visitors to participate in prayer with mind and heart and in a welcoming and inclusive community.
Current members: 
Liz Lucas (Chair), Liz Bedford (Secretary), Brendan O’Brien, Anna Tatarczak, Anne Ward, Tony Lucas, Maureen Johnson, Katharine Amaladoss, Vanessa Townsend, and Fr Chris Bergin.