Our Parish Clergy
For 15 years he was a parish priest in his home diocese of Mahenge, Tanzania. Following that he became Treasurer General of the diocese for three and a half years and then Director of Formation for four years.
Prior to his appointment at St. Bartholomew's Father Deo had worked in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Gravesend from 2008. He also studied Ecumenism and Scripture in Jerusalem for one year. He was appointed Curate at St. Bartholomew's in 2011, and Priest in Charge in 2013.
Prior to his appointment at St. Bartholomew's Father Deo had worked in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Gravesend from 2008. He also studied Ecumenism and Scripture in Jerusalem for one year. He was appointed Curate at St. Bartholomew's in 2011, and Priest in Charge in 2013.
Fr Paul Etafo Ubebe is a Priest of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, an international Religious Order. On October 7th 2017, he was elected Delegate Superior of that order in Nigeria, going on to serve as Major Superior until October 2022. He also served on the Executive Council of the Conference of the Major Superiors of Nigeria until January 2023.
Father Paul was born on September 12th 1978 to Christopher & Victoria Ubebe, both since deceased. Having 4 brothers and 2 sisters, Father Paul is the 6th out of 7 siblings. |
After having finished school, and having answered God’s call to the Sacred Priesthood, he went on to do his Seminary training in both philosophy and theology at the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul, in Gwagwaglada, which is in Abuja, Nigeria. This was followed by a Masters Degree in Social Communications at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
Ordained Deacon in Italy on 24th January 2009, he was later ordained Priest in Nigeria on 27th June that same year. Father Paul has since occupied a variety of posts in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, including that of Project Manager of the Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV). In addition, he served in the Diocese of Warri, which is also in Nigeria.
Father Paul’s hobbies include: the direction of spiritual retreats, travel, adjusting to new realities, making new friends and getting to grips with the many new technologies available nowadays.
Ordained Deacon in Italy on 24th January 2009, he was later ordained Priest in Nigeria on 27th June that same year. Father Paul has since occupied a variety of posts in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, including that of Project Manager of the Catholic Television of Nigeria (CTV). In addition, he served in the Diocese of Warri, which is also in Nigeria.
Father Paul’s hobbies include: the direction of spiritual retreats, travel, adjusting to new realities, making new friends and getting to grips with the many new technologies available nowadays.
Reverend Ged Perkins
Permanent Deacon Deacon Ged Perkins was born in West London but he has lived in South London for the majority of his life. Initially he lived in Brixton Hill where he attended St. Bernadette’s Infant School and St. Bede’s Junior School. He then went to Bishop Thomas Grant RC Secondary School in Streatham. It was whilst Ged was at BTG that his parents decided to move to Norbury in 1975. |
It was during this period that Ged joined the various activities that the Parish offered – he was a part of the 32nd Scout group and the St. Bart’s football team where he played football under the guidance of the ‘legendary football coach’ Eddie Sanders.
After school Ged went into a career within local government working on frontline services at two London Boroughs. He still works in local government but with a national organisation which works with all local authorities in England & Wales helping them to manage the delivery of their services within an ever-changing environment.
Ged is happily married to Kathy. They have been blessed with two sons Nathan & Theo (their names mean ‘Gift of God’ in Hebrew and Greek) both of whom went to St. James the Great and St. Joseph’s College. It is through their influence that Ged became a football coach as well as a foundation governor at SJG with the hope of giving all children at the school the opportunities to excel.
Ged was asked to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion by Father Richard Whinder. He was then asked to become a catechist by Father Tom Cooper (prompted by Maria Lopeman). All of these factors alongside Deacon Paul’s Vocation Homily were strong influences in motivating him to make an enquiry about the permanent diaconate. A wonderful journey which culminated in Ged being ordained a deacon on 17 June 2016.
Ged is enthused by Pope Francis’ words "…holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things but doing ordinary things with love and faith". Therefore, through God’s grace, Jesus Christ’s inspiration and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Ged hopes to serve wider St. Bart’s community for many years to come.
After school Ged went into a career within local government working on frontline services at two London Boroughs. He still works in local government but with a national organisation which works with all local authorities in England & Wales helping them to manage the delivery of their services within an ever-changing environment.
Ged is happily married to Kathy. They have been blessed with two sons Nathan & Theo (their names mean ‘Gift of God’ in Hebrew and Greek) both of whom went to St. James the Great and St. Joseph’s College. It is through their influence that Ged became a football coach as well as a foundation governor at SJG with the hope of giving all children at the school the opportunities to excel.
Ged was asked to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion by Father Richard Whinder. He was then asked to become a catechist by Father Tom Cooper (prompted by Maria Lopeman). All of these factors alongside Deacon Paul’s Vocation Homily were strong influences in motivating him to make an enquiry about the permanent diaconate. A wonderful journey which culminated in Ged being ordained a deacon on 17 June 2016.
Ged is enthused by Pope Francis’ words "…holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things but doing ordinary things with love and faith". Therefore, through God’s grace, Jesus Christ’s inspiration and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Ged hopes to serve wider St. Bart’s community for many years to come.