New Vice Rector for Pontifical Scots College

Fr Nick Welsh

Fr Nick Welsh, 36, has been chosen as new Vice Rector for the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland. He is expected to begin the role in September.

Fr Nick is currently parish priest at Our Lady and St Andrew, covering Galashiels, Melrose and Selkirk, and Vicar Episcopal for Education for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

Commenting on the appointment, Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh said: "The Bishops thank Fr Nick for accepting this role and acknowledge the big change in having to leave his parish to move to Rome. I am confident he will do an excellent job in forming our seminarians. It's both challenging and rewarding and, when he returns, our diocese will greatly benefit from his experience."

Fr Nick attended the college as a seminarian between 2007-14 and has a licence in Theology. Reacting to his appointment,he said: "To go back to Rome is certainly an exciting thing for me. I love being a priest and it is life-giving to be around people who want to be priests. I look forward to contributing to the formation of the seminarians and helping them become good priests. But I will also leave the Borders with a heavy heart and wish to thank all parishioners there."

College Rector Fr Daniel Fitzpatrick said: "We look forward to welcoming Fr Nick who will have a key role in the day-to-day running of the seminary and accompanying students as part of their formation. He succeeds Fr Stuart Parkes who gave us three years of service and enjoyed contributing to the life of the college. We wish him all the best on his return to the diocese of Motherwell."