Faculty and Staff
Fr. Oscar Sánchez, LC
Director
Fr. Oscar was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and joined the Legion of Christ in 1996, after almost ten years of active life in ECYD and Regnum Christi. Prior to starting his formation as a Legionary, he obtained a degree in Industrial Engineering and then served for one year as a Regnum Christi voluntary missionary in Monterrey, México. He was ordained a priest in 2007.
Throughout his years of ministry in North America and various European countries, he has developed an ample experience in many fields of apostolate: administration, teaching, founding and managing new schools, family counselling, evangelization missions, spiritual retreats, youth counselling and chaplaincy. Among his various missions, he worked in Dublin Oak from 1999 to 2002 and was a member of the General Management of all the Oak International academies from 2002 to 2005. He was the Territorial Administrator for the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi in Spain and other European countries from 2005 to2015. He recently finished his commission as Territorial Administrator in Chile.
Fr. Oscar is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian. He has extensive experience in working with Catholic and educational organizations in a service-oriented environment. He is skilled in pastoral guidance, administration and finances, strategic planning, public speaking, counselling, and has a broad experience in change management.
Mrs. Mary Arnal
Deputy Director
Mrs. Arnal has a vast experience as headmistress and manager of boarding schools in the UK, Sherborne International School Dorset, and St Mary’s School Shaftesbury, Dorset. She has established excellent partnerships abroad and worked on plans for the development of some of these schools.
Previously, she was Head at St Teresa’s Prep School in Surrey and prior to this she was Senior Housemistress at St John’s School Leatherhead where she was also an English and Psychology teacher for 10 years. She oversaw the academic and pastoral welfare of the Sixth Form Girls boarding house, including their successful admission to the university of their choice. She also taught English at Colegio Anglo-Americano Prescott in Arequipa, Peru.
An applied linguist with a Master’s degree from Edinburgh University, a senior teacher and university lecturer, Mrs. Arnal has taught in both the private and maintained sector; her specialist subjects are English Language, English Literature, Psychology, Philosophy and Spanish. Her teaching has also taken her abroad where she worked at the Mary Ward Catholic College’s in Spain. She has been proprietor of an International Summer school in Ireland, experienced in business and finance and holds a diploma in Marketing from the University of Ulster. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is a qualified examiner and inspector.
Married to a mathematical analyst, Don Antonio Arnal, she has two sons. A Catholic, she describes herself as British by birth, Irish by blood and Spanish in spirit!
- Religious Staff
- Housemasters
- Academic Staff
- Formation Staff
- Co-workers
- Administrative Staff
- Maintenance Staff
Fr. Joseph Fazio, LC – Chaplain
Fr. Joseph is from New York City, USA. After serving in the US Navy he joined the Legion in 1993. His formation began in Connecticut, continued in Rome and he gained pastoral experiences as well in Mexico, Argentina and Switzerland. Finally he was ordained in the Eternal City on the 24th of December of 2005 and thus began his priestly ministry in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Since then he has also carried out ministries in California, Louisiana and Indiana. He has been in Dublin since 2015 when he was assigned as Superior of the Legionary Community and Vice Director of Dublin Oak Academy.
Br. Gerardo Jiménez, LC – Instructor of formation
Br. Gerardo was born in Táchira, Venezuela. He joined the Legion of Christ in the city of Barquisimeto, in the state of Lara in 2002. He studied classical humanities in Salamanca Spain from 2007 to 2010. In 2012 he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Athaeneum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. From 2012 to 2016 he worked at the Irish Institute in Mexico City as a teacher, coach and formation instructor of middle school and high school students. From 2016 to 2018 he returned to Rome and finished a licence in philosophy with specialisation in anthropology. He has an associate’s degree in neuroscience and a diploma in theology of the body.
Br. Luis Eduardo Torres, LC – Instructor of formation
Br. Luis Eduardo was born in León Guanajuato, México, in 1995. He joined the Legion of Christ´s minor seminary in León in 2007, where he did his high school studies. In 2013, he joined the Novitiate in Monterrey, Nuevo León. There he received an associate degree in Classical Humanities. In 2016, he moved to Rome where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical University Regina Apostolorum. At the same time, he obtained a Diploma in Accompaniment from Francisco de Vitoria University. He has been trained and specialises for work in youth formation and counselling for adolescents in secondary levels of education.
Mr. Mark Doran
Housemaster, Ulster House
Mr. Doran was born in Dublin, not too far away from the Academy. He joined the Academy in 1998, initially as a soccer coach. This role soon evolved into Head Dean and Sports coordinator. Mr. Doran is a keen runner and is our cross country running instructor and P.E. teacher. He is a UEFA B licence soccer coach and is currently the Wexford FC U.15 team manager. This is a National league elite team that play in the Airtricity National League of Ireland. Working as a Dean and a sports instructor gives Mr. Doran great experience when it comes to helping in the formation of the students.
Mr. Ryan Clear
Housemaster, Connacht House
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Ryan Clear moved to Orlando, in the USA, when he was 10 years old. He lived in Italy for several years where he studied and worked as an English teacher. In October 2017, Ryan moved to Dublin to start working at Dublin Oak Academy as a dean, and in July of 2018, he moved into the role of Head of Section 2. Although he is new to the academy, he has been involved with the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi since 2008. Ryan speaks fluent Italian and Spanish, and holds a degree in Classical Humanities and Philosophy.
Br. Sebastián Sánchez, LC
Housemaster, Munster House
Br. Sebastián was born in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. He joined the Legion of Christ in that city in 2010. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. At the same time, he obtained a Diploma in Accompaniment from Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid. In 2013 he studied at the Legion of Christ College of Humanities in Cheshire, Connecticut, where he obtained an Associate degree in Arts and Humanities. He has been trained and specialises for work in youth formation and counselling for adolescents in secondary levels of education.
Fr. Wolfgang Dichgans, LC
Housemaster, Leinster House
Deacon Wolfgang is from Lake of Constance, Germany. He joined the novitiate in Germany and completed his studies of classical humanities in Salamanca, Spain. He obtained a Bachelor’s in Philosophy in New York and Rome. He obtained a postgraduate diploma in Psychology for teachers and a postgraduate diploma in Didactics. In 2019 he graduated summa cum laude in theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome. On the 6th of July he was ordained a deacon and he will be ordained a Priest in Rome in May 2020. He has been working in the formation of youth for over 10 years.
Mr. Robert Pattison
Principal
Registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland, Mr. Pattison has over 20 years’ experience teaching in Ireland and abroad, including the Middle East and Russia.
Alison Blake
Science, Geography and EFL teacher
James O’Grady
Classical Studies Teacher
Patrick Kinsella
Game Design and CS50 Teacher
John McShane
Head soccer coach and EFL teacher.
Michael McGrath
History and English Literature Teacher
Brian O’Dubhghail
Music Teacher
Sahoko Blake
Arts Teacher
Tomoko Pattison
Maths Teacher
Enzo D’Agostini
English Teacher
Paul Flynn
Arts Teacher
Esther Byrne – Dean
Originally from Belgium, Esther has a Bachelor’s in Business and a Postgraduate degree in Education. She taught English for 5 years in Belgium, and currently teaches French privately in the Dublin area. She worked for Woodlands Academy for 3 years as a Dean of Discipline and recently joined the Dublin Oak Academy formation team.
Pablo Carrión – Dean
Mr Carrion was born in Sevilla, Spain, in 1989, where he studied in Catholic Schools, like “CIA de María” and “San Antonio María Claret”. After graduating from high school, he studied Physical Education and Primary Education in the University of Sevilla, and also became a UEFA coach. He has been working with children in kindergartens, schools and high school for 10 years, among which, “Highlands School Sevilla”, a Regnum Christi School, as teacher and football coach. A lover of sports, Mr Carrion has worked as a semi-professional football coach in Spain, for teams such “Pablo de Olavide” University. In his spare time, he also enjoys volunteering in Catholic organizations.
Pedro Chicala – Dean
[Personal info to be updated soon.]
Lucía Guinart – Dean
Lucía is from Valencia, Spain; his professional training includes a Diploma in ‘Teaching Early Childhood Education’, a Masters Degree in ‘Neuroeducation and Optimisation of Abilities’. She also trained in ‘Ecclesiastical Declaration of Academic Competence” (DECA)’, and has a ‘Spanish as a Foreign Language’ Certificate. Lucía has also done complementary training in ‘Sexual-Affective Education Monitor (TeenSTAR)’, ‘Educational competences and attention to diversity: Programme, development and evaluation’, seminars in ‘Educational Psychology, Neuroscience and Education’ and ‘Emotional Intelligence’, and other fields.
Lucía has had an ample and rich professional experience as Volunteer Leisure Time Monitor in a Scout Group, Extra-curricular and English teacher, Sexual-Affective Education Monitor (TeenSTAR), Primary and Secondary Teacher, Volunteer part-time Spanish Teacher, Psychoeducational Expert, Infant Education Teacher, in Valencia, Glasgow, and Dublin.
Hugh Douglas – Dean
Mr. Douglas is from Bray, Wicklow. He started working in Dublin Oak Academy in 2014 as a Physical Education teacher, and in 2018, he began working as Dean of Discipline. Mr. Douglas began his studies in 2012. Firstly, he gained a Higher Certificate in Sports and Recreation Management and then moved on to obtain a diploma in Sport Development. He recently graduated from Technological University Dublin in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sports Science and Health. Mr. Douglas is also a qualified gym instructor and personal trainer. Since 2011, he has played in the League of Ireland soccer league, the highest level of soccer in the Republic of Ireland. He is currently completing his UEFA B soccer licence. Working as Physical Education teacher, Sports Coach, and Dean of Discipline in Dublin Oak Academy gives Mr. Douglas the opportunity to pass on his experiences to the students. He takes great pride in helping and assisting with the formation of students in every aspect of life in Dublin Oak Academy. He also works in Woodlands Academy, the sister school of Dublin Oak Academy, as a Soccer Coach.
Andrés Marcos
Jorge Pérez
Johannes Wiehe
Alison Hanley
I have been working as the Financial Accountant for Dublin Oak Academy since July 2008. I have a B.A in Accounting & Finance and I have been a member of the Association of Charted Certified Accountants since 2003. I also have a Higher Diploma in Education. I am married and have 3 sons. I enjoy playing the piano and roller skating with my children.
Jessica Masterson
I joined the Dublin Oak team in October of 2006 as a Part-time evening receptionist. 6 years on my role has changed to full time Receptionist, Personal Accounts and looking after the running of our Oak Shop. I have qualifications in Secretarial duties. I am married and have 2 teenage children, a girl and a boy, whom I love spending all my free time with. As a family we enjoy trips to the cinema, bowling and taking day trips to the many beautiful counties of Ireland.
Rozanne Bell
Secretary, [Personal info to be updated soon.]
Megan O’Brien
Receptionist, [Personal info to be updated soon.]
Karen Scales
Nurse, [Personal info to be updated soon.]
Deirdre Staveley
Nurse, [Personal info to be updated soon.]
Liam Connolly
Maintenance and Cleaning
Liam maintains the club area/games room/science lab. Liam commenced working in Dublin Oak in 2005.
Mark Scarff
Maintenance and Bus Driver
Mark commenced working for Dublin Oak as the bus/coach driver in 2002, later moving into the Maintenance Dept but still working as a driver part time.
Szilvia Kovacs
Cleaning
Szilvia has worked at Dublin Oak Academy for several years and is current looks after the laundry.
Vilma Rutkauskiene
Laundry
Vilma, originally worked in Woodlands Academy part-time in the laundry. She then moved to a full-time cleaning position in Dublin Oak Academy and since 2010 has been responsible for the laundry in Dublin Oak Academy.
John Newbanks
Cleaning
Johnny commenced employment at the Novitiate in Leopardstown in 1988 as a cleaner and moved to Dublin Oak on the completion of the new dormitory building on the school grounds.
Judy O’Neill
Judy is responsible for the cleaning duties in the main school.
Gerry Keogh
Gerry has worked at Dublin Oak Academy for many years and looks after the grounds around the school.