He holds a Master of Divinity in Theology & Philosophy (Milltown Institute of Theology & Philosophy, Dublin, a Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling (Westminster Pastoral Foundation)  and a Masters in Psychological Counselling &  Psychotherapy (University of Surrey).

He is a registered and accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Fr Andrew says:

"My Christian journey has been shaped by a lifelong desire to serve, to accompany others through life’s challenges and to live with integrity before God. Raised in the Roman Catholic tradition in southern Ireland, I felt called to religious life from a young age and entered the Irish Province of Carmelites (O.Carm) in 1988.

Over the following twenty years, I studied theology, was ordained as a priest in 1995, and served in a variety of pastoral roles in Ireland and the Archdiocese of Westminster. Through parish ministry, counselling, leadership, and sacramental work, I had the privilege of accompanying people through times of joy, loss, change, and spiritual growth.

Alongside my ministry, I developed a strong interest in psychotherapy, training as a counsellor, and later completing a master's degree in counselling and psychotherapy. This journey of personal and professional growth led me to recognise that I could no longer remain in ordained ministry within the Roman Catholic Church while staying true to my conscience and identity. After much prayer and discernment, I made the difficult but necessary decision to leave the Carmelite Order and priesthood in 2009, with the formal process concluding in 2021.

Since then, my vocation has continued to find expression through service, care and leadership in the field of mental health. I have worked as a psychotherapist, clinical manager, and specialist mentor, and I now serve in a senior leadership role at Oxford Brookes University, overseeing student mental health, welfare and complex case management as well as offering psychotherapy in private practice. Throughout my work, I have sought to integrate pastoral care with professional practice, always guided by compassion, inclusion, and respect for the dignity of every person.

Faith remains central to my life, and my spirituality is rooted in the Carmelite tradition of contemplation in action—uniting deep silent prayer with active service. Inspired by Carmelites such as Brother Lawrence, I seek to practise the Presence of God by carrying out everyday tasks with an awareness of God's constant presence and a desire to do His will. 

Drawing on my theological background, pastoral experience, and professional expertise, I continue to feel called to serve within the Christian community. My journey has taught me the importance of authenticity, humility, and listening carefully for the movement of the Spirit. It has also deepened my appreciation of the diversity of human experience and the many ways God's grace is at work in people's lives.

I now seek to offer my gifts within a Christian context that values inclusion, integrity, and the flourishing of all God's people. My hope is to contribute to a ministry that welcomes the whole person, honours conscience, and reflects Christ's compassion in practical and transformative ways".

One of my guiding spiritual principles from St Teresa of Avila is ‘You find God in yourself and yourself in God’.

Fr Andrew joined OCAC at Eastertide 2026