A new leader of one of the two seminaries in Rome run by the Church in England and Wales has been announced.
Canon Philip Gillespie, a priest of the Archdiocese of Liverpool currently serving on the Isle of Man, is to become Rector of the Pontifical Beda College, traditionally for men with late vocations.
He is to succeed long-time rector of the college and Newman scholar, Mgr Roderick Strange, who is returning to England after 17 years to take up a post as visiting professor at St Mary’s University, Twickenham in London.
The Beda was first established in the 19th century by Pope Pius IX primarily to train former clergymen from other Christian denominations and those who discerned a vocation later in life.
Traditionally the priestly formation lasted four years, shorter than the traditional seven, in recognition of the previous experience of the students.
Today, however, the Beda offers formation to a number of seminarians from English-speaking countries across the world.
In 1956 the Holy See provided the college with a new property, now its current site, opposite the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.
The appointment of Fr Gillespie, a former vice rector of Ushaw College, Durham, was made by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy at the request of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
On news of the appointment, Mgr Strange said: “The responsibility for helping Beda men from more than 20 countries discern their vocation and preparing more than 170 of them for ministerial priesthood over the past 17 years has been an unimaginable privilege for me.”
Fr Gillespie said: “I have to confess that I was very surprised by the news of this appointment and while I am truly sorry to be leaving the Isle of Man, I am immensely grateful for the privilege of being able to share with the students at the Beda my love of the ministerial priesthood and, in conjunction with the other staff of the college, assisting in their discernment and preparation.”
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