Parish Officers
Parish Pastoral Council Members and Ministry Representatives
Get to know who does what on the Parish Pastoral Council
Parish Priest & Deacon
| Parish Priest | Fr Robert Bissell |
| Parish Deacon | Mike Brooks |
Parish Office
| Parish Secretary | Deborah Jordan & Vivien Cones |
Parish Pastoral Council
| President | Fr Robert Bissell |
| Chairperson | Karin Parkin |
| Vice Chairperson | Vacant |
| Secretary | Kim Ewing |
| Buildings/Maintenance | Brian Pickup |
| Communications | Karen Parkin |
| Evangelization | Mike Brooks |
| Worship | Shirley Roos |
| Welcoming | Gabi Steenkamp |
| Discipleship | Luke Holderness |
| Social Justice | Rod Norman |
| Ministries | Jean Chadwick |
| Youth | Nick Stipinovich |
| Community | Irene Ochem |
Association Representatives
| Snr Catechism | Fr Robert Bissell |
| Catechism | Sonja Davids |
| Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary | Sr. Heidi |
| Child Safeguarding | Alison Killick |
Other Associates
| Finance Chairperson | Mike Brooks |
| Choir | Andrew Bentley |
Parish Ministers
| Roster - Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion - EMHC | Tony Cole |
| Roster - Readers | Ann Steyn |
| Care Group | Jean Chadwick |
| Flowers | Les Alcock / Pat Danford |
| Altar Servers | Alan Corbello / Alison Killick |
| Head Sacristan | Sonja Davids |
| Sunday School | Nic Stipinovich |
| Webmaster | Karen Parkin |
Contact: Put a face to the name!
Meet the people who work on the various ministries in the church (listed alphabetically by name below). They welcome people contacting them to say hello, to find out more, or to get involved!
Fr. Robert Bissell
Parish Priest
I was born in East London. I attended boarding school at Dale College and then went to University of Stellenbosch where I attained a BSc and LLB.
I then studied to become a priest at the Seminary at St Francis Xavier in Athlone and was part of the first group to finish all my studies at that Seminary. I was ordained as deacon on 14 May 2004 and as priest on 7 June 2005. From 2004 to 2006. I served as assistant priest in Somerset West; then was Parish Administrator in Kraaifontein from 2006 to 2010; and Parish Administrator in Elsies River in 2011.
I spent time in Rome from 2011 to 2016 where I studied Canon Law and obtained a M. Juris JCL and JCD.
Returning to South Africa I then became parish priest in Strand from 2016 to 2017.
I have been the Parish Priest at Constantia Catholic since 2017.
I serve in different capacities within the Archdiocese: Defender of the Bond, Promoter of Justice and Judicial Vicar, to name a few.
I do not have much spare time in my day but I like a good book and enjoy good wine and good food.
Mike Brooks
Parish Deacon, Finance Chairperson, member of PPC and Outreach Committee
I was born in Johannesburg, attended St John's College and thereafter the University of Cape Town where I completed under and post-graduate degrees in accounting. I am a registered Chartered Accountant and have a Masters in Finance from Manchester Business School.
Having been blessed with incredible parents, I have been equally blessed in marriage. I am married to Diana and have two wonderful children, Matthew and Emma. We have lived in Cape Town for 22 years and have been a member of the Constantia parish for most of that time.
I have been involved in Investment Banking all my professional life and currently am a founding partner in a group that owns and manages private equity, structured finance and investment initiatives. My main focus is on renewable energy and infrastructure investment.
I was ordained a Deacon in 2018.
Nic Stipinovich
Youth, Family, Marriage
I grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, studied at UCT, and worked in Joburg and London before settling in Cape Town in 2015. My wife Taryn and I have three little boys aged 7, 5 and 3.
I have been part of the Constantia Parish for 3 years now but have only really become actively involved in the parish through the Alpha programme in 2019.
I look forward to continuing the growth in faith and sense of community that Alpha initiated, and getting to know my fellow parishioners better over the coming years.
Jean Chadwick
Ministry
Born and bred Capetonion, a cradle Catholic, being one of seven children, with a Catholic school upbringing, matriculating at Star of the Sea Convent St James. I have two grown daughters and two beautiful grandsons. My business career is in Short Term Insurance Broking. My Catholic roots have allowed me to explore and question throughout my life, bringing me home to the beauty, goodness and truth found in the fullness of Faith within the Catholic Church.
Alison Killick
Child Safeguarding
Information coming soon!
Vivien Cones
Parish Secretary
Coming Soon!
Tony Cole
Roster Administrator - EMHC
I am married to Jacqueline Cole. We are both Catholics, I since babyhood and Jacqueline since 2000. We’ve been married since 1978, but were not blessed with children.
We joined the Constantia Parish on moving into Tokai Estate in Jan 17. I also investigated the Holy Redeemer Parish, but felt that there was more opportunity to contribute to the Constantia Parish than the Holy Redeemer Parish.
Previously we belonged to the Stellenbosch Parish when we lived in Franschhoek. There I also usually attended the Sat evening Mass in St Marks Church, where I was usually either the reader or EMHC, often both and sometimes server, reader and EMHC. I have no reservation about fulfilling more than one ministry at the same Mass when needed, as I regard it as an honour and a privilege to be of service in whatever way contributes to the fulfilment of the Mass. We met Fr Robert at St Marks when he used to stand in on occasions for Fr Jan van Belkum.
Jacqueline is retired from running her own interior design company. I am a retired naval officer, but am still involved in maritime security training and conducting security assessments of merchant ships and port facilities.
Allan Corbello
Altar Servers
I was born and raised in Rondebosch my parents had 7 children,we all attended St.Micheals in Rondebosch where I was trained to be an Altar Server (Boy ) .
I attended St. Columbus Catholic School and married Ruth in 1972,we had 2 children Gary and Sherri-lyn and have 2 children Zephyr and Luna.I have always active in the church,at the last Parish I was the M.C. trained all the Altar Servers,belonged to the S.V.P.,Minister of the Eucharist and also had to handle that portfolio.I served on the Parish Council for a number of years. At one stage I also sang in the choir.
Andrew Bentley
Choir
Information coming soon!
Sonja Davids
Head Sacristan & Catechism
Information Coming Soon!
Kim Ewing
PPC Secretary
First and foremost I am a faithful follower of Christ and mother of two beautiful teenagers. A Capetonian born and bred. I enjoy being a reader at Mass and recently completed my second Alpha. The most recent one as a facilitator. I am currently running a weekly Alpha faith sharing group. I work for a Physio practice at Constantiaberg Mediclinic and run Airbnb listings as my day job. I am also a fitness and health fanatic who loves the outdoors and God’s beautiful creations.
Luke Holderness
Discipleship
Born in Cape Town and raised in Simon's Town in a Catholic family, I went to school in Fish Hoek, matriculating in 1993. After a brief stint as an officer in the South African Navy, my career turned to the IT industry and I am now a cloud computing architect. I currently live in Tokai with my wife Melanie and two daughters, Erin and Charlotte.
Deborah Jordan
Parish Secretary
Information coming soon!
Sr. Heidi
Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary
Information coming soon!
Irene Ochem
Community & Fellowship
Born and raised in Nigeria, and married to Dr Alexander Ochem with two children, I hold Nigerian but also Italian nationality, a country where we got married and spent the greater part of our family and work life before relocating back to Africa in 2008.
I am the founder and chief executive officer of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), a pan-African women’s economic empowerment organisation and business network that promotes and supports female innovation, technology and entrepreneurship across Africa. I am an entrepreneur and an award-winning international development specialist with more than two decades of international management experience in Europe and Africa, working for UN agencies.
I have done a pioneering and extensive work in creating and building Africa’s largest female entrepreneurship platform, making impact and helping to build young women as successful business owners all across the continent. Over the years, I have travelled extensively and speak in international fora with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and women’s economic empowerment.
I hold bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Trieste (Italy), and an MBA in international management from University of London (UK). I also have postgraduate qualifications in project management, gender and trade.
I speak four languages and participate widely in international meetings on women and gender.
Life with Alex and our two children has been good, fun and “global”.
Brian Pickup
Buildings / Maintenance
I was born in Cape Town, and attended Wynberg Boys School. I started my own motor business in 1975. Completed the Two Oceans Marathon and Cape Town Cycle Race. I am Married to Jane and have 5 daughters who all attended St Michaels Catholic Church and also have 9 grandchildren. Am a keen gardener, enjoy Wildlife Parks, participate in Mountain Biking, Running and Tennis. I am responsible for Maintenance and Improvements to our Church.
Gabi Steenkamp
Welcoming
I was born in Johannesburg to German parents as the eldest of seven children. My entire schooling was at Holy Cross Convent in Victory Park, Johannesburg. I am a dietitian by trade, and had my own private practise for 25 years in various cities and towns in South Africa, moving as my husband’s work demanded. I have authored 12 nutrition related recipe and nutrition books and done many lectures and workshops related to the books. Eight years before moving to Cape Town at the end of 2014, I closed down my dietetic practise and started a nutrition and food labelling consultancy for the food industry. I love the work that I now do in the food industry, having a positive impact on the nutrition and ethics of food products. I have been blessed with two grounded, loving, kind and successful daughters, one living in Doha, Qatar and the other here in Cape Town where I have unlimited access to my two grandsons who bring me much joy. I have been a parishioner, reader and choir member at Constantia Catholic Church since moving to Cape Town.
Karen Parkin
Chairperson, Webmaster, Communications
I was born and brought up in Johannesburg and Middleburg (Mpumalanga). I matriculated at Brescia House convent and graduated from Wits with B.Ec Science. I started my career with IBM in the early days of computing (long before PC's, the internet, cell phones and Facebook!). I met my husband, Godfrey, while at university and we married in 1981, and spent a year travelling around the world.
Shortly after returning home, my husband was transferred to Switzerland and what started as a 3 year assignment turned into 12 years in Switzerland, 5 years in the UK and 8 years in Washington DC. During this time I had the pleasure of having some interesting jobs and projects in the chemical, broadcasting, new media/internet and hospitality industries.
While in the US, we stayed in a little town called Clifton, VA which fell under the Archdiocese of Arlington. I assisted with the Rooted in Faith fundraising initiative in our parish, was active in the Legion of Mary and volunteered as a counsellor in a pregnancy crisis clinic which was situated right next door to an abortion clinic.
After 25 years abroad, we are delighted to be 'home' and closer to family. My husband and I started a digital strategy consultancy and training company which has taken the lion's share of our time and energy. I've been in the Constantia parish since 2008 and have been involved in the Mater Domini home. More recently its been a privilege and pleasure to develop the Constantia website and serve as its webmaster. I am also a Eucharistic Minister and Sacristan - both of which I consider to be great honours. My husband and I don't have children - but we do have a very dear, somewhat elderly and idiosyncratic but well travelled cat (born in the UK, brought up in the USA, and now blissfully retired to Cape Town!).
Shirley Roos
Worship
I joined Constantia Parish in 2005 after 17 years in Hout Bay where we were very involved as a family while our two daughters were growing up. Attending Ecclesia seasons, going on a Pilgrimage, joining a Rosary prayer group and doing the Alpha program, has led me to the realisation that the only way to grow in a relationship with God is to open up when Jesus knocks and seek him more through prayer, scripture and interacting with like-minded people. I would like to see Constantia Parish as a 'home from home', where all parishioners use our collective gifts, building a caring, bonded community dedicated to deepening our relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
By day I am a freelance Advertising Accounts Manager for a Media company. I am a soon to be granny and spend my down time with my two beautiful daughters and their husband's. I love being outdoors running and swimming enjoying the natural surroundings we have been blessed with.
Nic Stipinovich
Youth, Family, Marriage
I grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, studied at UCT, and worked in Joburg and London before settling in Cape Town fours ago. My wife Taryn and I have three little boys aged 7,5 and 3.
I have been part of the Constantia parish for 3 years now but have only really become actively involved in the parish through the Alpha programme this year. I look forward to continuing the growth in faith and sense of community that Alpha initiated, and getting to know my fellow parishioners better over the coming years.
Ann Steyn
Roster Administrator - Readers
I have been a member of this parish since 1977. During that time I served as a member of the PPC for 2 terms. For 3 years I taught at the Night School founded by the late Joan Williamson and held in the Parish Hall. In the early days when parishioners cleaned the Church I cleaned the Parish Hall weekly, which was at that time carpeted, later graduating to the Sacristy.
For many years I belonged to the Ladies Group and have been a regular Reader. I am a member of the Care group and the Outreach Team. As a cancer survivor I work nationally and globally on training volunteers to support cancer patients. I sits on the board of the Union for International Cancer Control in Geneva and Reach to Recovery International.
With my children, and now my grandchildren, leading independent lives I look forward to having more time to deepen the knowledge of my faith. I am a convert having been received into the church at Brompton Oratory when I was studying overseas. I am delighted that Cardinal John Newman has recently been canonised!
