Our Parish Priest is Fr Mark Reilly

Fr Mark Reilly MA (Cantab), PhB, STL

I was born and brought up in Upminster, and attended St Joseph’s Primary School and the Campion School. I studied Classics at Cambridge University before working in Oil and Gas Insurance in the City of London. At the relatively late age of 32, I entered seminary at the Venerable English College in Rome in order to train for the Priesthood, and was ordained at Brentwood Cathedral on 12th September 2009. My appointments as Assistant Priest were to St Antony’s in Forest Gate and Brentwood Cathedral before being appointed as Parish Priest at Our Lady of The Assumption, Maldon linked with St Cuthbert’s, Burnham on Crouch.  I have now been appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Wickford.

Our Parish Secretary is Tori McGhee

I joined Our Lady of Good Counsel at the end of November 2020. I attend Our Lady of Ransom Church in Rayleigh where I have been a parishioner since birth. I am married with three children all who attended Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School (which I also attended as a child).  My two oldest are now at senior school, however the youngest still has a few years left there!  I am also Secretary for the Parents Association at OLOR which is a voluntary role.  I can be found in the parish office on a Monday and Wednesday from 9.00am till midday and Friday from 9.00am to 1.00pm (you will find the door between the church and Presbytery). I am responsible to the Parish Priest and provide full administrative support to him, to enable him to be the shepherd of his flock and not bogged down with paperwork!  To give you an idea of just some of my duties, I update and maintain the parish website, produce the weekly newsletter and Order of Service for all the liturgical seasons and sacraments. I maintain the parish diary and Mass intentions diary, parish register, update baptism, marriage and death registers, order supplies for the church and ensure that the bills are paid.

Liz Baker is our Parish Treasurer.

Chris Tisi is the Steward of the Gospel for our parish.

Esther Leighton is the Parish Safeguarding Officer.