Our Team

Alexander Ezechukwu, OCD is a Carmelite priest and serves as the prior of the Carmelite community at Boars Hill, Oxford. Fr Alex is a trained spiritual director with many years of pastoral experience in guidance in the spiritual life. He holds a Licence in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. Fr Alex also serves as the Director of CACS.

Ruth Preston, the Administrator, Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality and Executive Assistant to the Director The Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill, Oxford.
Ruth is an experienced administrator, having worked within a variety of disciplines, and before joining the Carmelite Priory she had been working with world-renowned members of the University of Oxford. She has worked in the commercial area of the television industry and is also a Freelance Artist. Ruth has worked in the Private Personal Care sector and is qualified as a Care Giver. She has several charity interests and is a keen supporter of animal welfare and rescue across the world and is a serious supporter of our British wildlife.

Heather Ward, OCDS is a Carmelite with many years of experience in spiritual guidance. She holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham and an M.Ed. from Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. She teaches a number of modules on Carmelite spirituality for the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland (CIBI) and has had many articles published. She is a tutor for our Carmelite Prayer Guides Course (2018-2019).

Liam Finnerty, OCD is a Carmelite priest and holds degrees in Theology and Social Work from Milltown Institute, Dublin and Glasgow University, respectively. Fr Liam has many years of experience in the retreat ministry and mentoring.

Julienne McLean practises as a psychologist and Jungian analyst. She is a Visiting Scholar in Christian Spirituality at Sarum College, Salisbury and also teaches at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London. For many years, she has led retreats, workshops and study groups throughout the UK. She is a tutor for our Carmelite School of Prayer (2018- 2019). Julienne’s book, Towards Mystical Union (St Pauls, 2003, 2013 & 2017), is a modern spiritual and psychological commentary on St Teresa’s classic text on contemplative prayer, The Interior Castle.

Yamai Bature, OCD is a Carmelite priest and he holds degrees in both Philosophy and Theology from The Dominican Institute, Ibadan. He has also completed a course in Spiritual Theology at the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation.

Anthony Parsons OCD, newly joins the community having served in a number of different roles within the Order. He has ministered at various levels of responsibility and looks forward to sharing his experiences of Parish and Retreat ministry in this new venture in his life as a Carmelite. Having studied in the Carmelite Institute he brings a passion for the Orders’ spirituality and charism.
Fr Anthony looks forward to working with like-minded people interested in gospel living today.

Kelvin Ekhoegbe, OCD is a Carmelite priest and is involved in the retreat work at the priory. He holds degrees in Philosophy and Theology from The Dominican Institute, Ibadan and Institut Catholique de Toulouse (Catholic University of Toulouse), respectively.