Diocesan Advisory Team

Raising Up Leaders, Equipping Parishes, Serving the Vision.

The Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis is the department responsible for the promotion, support and development of evangelisation, catechesis and adult formation in the Archdiocese of Southwark.

The Agency comprises an advisory team and administrative support all aimed at serving parishes, helping them to raise up missionary disciples. The main way by which this support is given (in addition to courses and resources) is via Some Definite Service, the diocesan-wide approach for parish growth in evangelisation, catechesis, and formation supported through local people, plans, and prayer.

 

Fr Marcus Holden

Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation and Catechesis

Fr Marcus was appointed by Archbishop John Wilson to be Episcopal Vicar in February 2020. He was born in Chorley, Lancashire, but also spent ten childhood years in Wales. Fr Marcus read Theology at Oxford University, 1996-1999, before heading to Rome (Venerable English College and the Pontifical Gregorian University) for preparation and studies for the priesthood. His home base at that time was New Malden and he was ordained there in the parish of St Joseph on 10 September 2005. He served as priest in Balham, Tunbridge Wells and at Ramsgate. He is presently parish priest at Clapham Park and Dean of Lambeth. Fr Marcus has helped set up St Anthony Communications, the Evangelium Project and also writes for the Catholic Truth Society.

Dr Mark Nash

Director

Mark joined the diocese in 2014 with over seven years' experience promoting and supporting small Christian communities in the Diocese of Westminster. He completed a PhD in Russian and East European Studies at the University of Birmingham in 2007. Together with his wife, Rachel, he set up House on Rock, a family publishing firm, in 2014 providing parish resources. A father of four, Mark became Director of the Centre for Catholic Formation in 2016 and now heads up its successor, the Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis. He lives in the parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Herne Bay. Mark also serves the Archdiocese in a number of other ways including with Ongoing Formation of Priests.

Mrs Ingrid La Trobe

Family, Child and Youth Catechesis Advisor

Ingrid is the Agency’s Advisor for Family, Child & Youth Catechesis. She has over 20 years of extensive parish catechetical experience supporting families pass on their faith to their children. She holds the Diocesan Catechetical Certificate (which she now oversees) as well as a BA in History and Linguistics and a post-graduate diploma in Journalism, both from Rhodes University in South Africa. Married for over 30 years and a mother of five, Ingrid is an avid walker, completing the Camino Frances in 2016, and the Camino Portugues with her 3 sons in 2019, she frequently walks parts of the Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury which runs through her parish of St Thomas of Canterbury, Sevenoaks.

 

Mrs Lissette Jeannet

Adult Formation and Missionary Discipleship Advisor

Lissette is the Advisor for Adult Formation and Missionary Discipleship. She participated in the renowned Catechetics programme at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, receiving her BA in Theology.  Lissette has over 20 years of experience working in a variety of pastoral ministries including children’s catechesis, sacramental preparation, youth work, retreats, Bible studies, adult formation, resource development, and volunteer training. Originally from southern California, Lissette lives in southwest London with her husband and three children. She enjoys old films, classic literature, good food, and firmly believes (quite rightly, ed.) that British cheese is much better than American.

Mr Daniel Ferguson

Evangelisation and Outreach Advisor

Daniel is the Advisor for Evangelisation and Outreach. He brings to his work wide experience in evangelisation and evangelising catechesis in both parish and university contexts. He holds a Bachelors in Quantity Surveying and a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and particularly enjoys accompanying and collaborating with others. Daniel was born in London but grew up in Devon so particularly enjoys the countryside. Daniel recently married and, together with his wife, enjoys hosting family and friends.

Miss Isabel Fawcett

Local Leadership and Resource Coordinator

Isabel is the Local Leadership and Resource Coordinator. She holds an M.A. in Divinity from the University of Edinburgh where she also had the opportunity to study abroad at Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands. Following her graduation Isabel continued to live abroad completing the Emmanuel School of Mission in Rome before returning to the UK to work as a Parish Youth Coordinator. She was then asked to help launch the Emmanuel School of Mission New York City in the South Bronx where she lived and worked for 3 years. Originally born in North London but having grown up in Herefordshire, Isabel is happy to return again to the capital this time crossing over the river to the South!

 

Mrs Mary Kotey

Department Administrator (part-time role)

Mary is the Agency’s Department Administrator.

Mrs Ann Williams

Course Administrator (part-time role)

Ann is the Agency’s Course Administrator (supporting both the CCRS and the Archbishop’s Certificate) and she is also the Administrator for the Rite of Election. She studied with Education for Parish Service, through St. Mary's University, successfully gaining a Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. She went on to further study at Heythrop College, Kensington, completing an MA in Philosophy and Religion.

Mr Niklas Carlsson

Planning Coordinator

Niklas is the Planning Coordinator for the Agency and will be working closely with parishes as they draw up their plans for Evangelisation, Catechesis and Formation. His background is in engineering and he holds an MSc Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark and, as a member of Cor et Lumen Christi Community, Niklas also acquired an MA in Applied Theology from Maryvale Institute. Married for just over 30 years, he is the father of six and recently became a grandfather for the first time. He has recently moved back down to the south-east after ten years in Cumbria living just 20 minutes away from the beautiful Lake District, where he enjoyed regular fell walking.

 

Dr Káren North

Káren is a qualified teacher and holds an M.Phil. in Pastoral Theology (Roehampton, 2002) and a doctorate from St Mary’s, where she is a core member of the Aquinas Centre. Káren works as a consultant for adult formation, as part of the Agency. 

Fr Mark Wharton

Fr Mark was ordained as a Southwark priest in October 2022. He is serving as university chaaplain at the University of Kent, Canterbury and regularly assists with the work of the Agency. Fr Mark originally comes from the North-east and has studied with the Dominicans in Oxford before completing his seminary formation at St John’s, Wonersh.