Fr Richard Marsden, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough and a native of Hull, has been appointed as Vice Rector and Formation Tutor at the Venerable English College in Rome. He will take up the role in September.

This prestigious appointment places Fr Richard at the heart of priestly formation for the Church in England and Wales. The College has a long and distinguished history of preparing seminarians for ministry, and his role will involve helping to guide and support those discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

Fr Richard brings with him a wealth of pastoral and educational experience. Since 2022, he has served as Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Cottingham, alongside chaplaincy work at Castle Hill Hospital and St Mary’s College in Hull, where he was once a pupil. Prior to this, he served in parish ministry following his ordination in 2018 at St Mary’s Cathedral.

In response to his appointment, Fr Richard expressed both humility and enthusiasm, describing the role as a “great privilege” and looking forward to helping prepare “the next generation of priests to be zealous missionaries and faithful shepherds.”

The Rector of the College, Stephen Wang, welcomed the appointment and asked for prayers for Fr Richard and the whole College community. Gratitude was also expressed to Marcus Stock for supporting this important step.

Fr Richard’s journey to the priesthood began in Hull. After studying Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he worked in Catholic media and as a news reporter before entering formation for the priesthood in 2010. His studies took him to both Valladolid and Rome, where he developed a strong connection with the Venerable English College.

This appointment is a source of encouragement and pride for the local Catholic community, reflecting the ongoing contribution of clergy from our region to the wider mission of the Church.

Please keep Fr Richard and all those in formation for the priesthood in your prayers.