The Pontifical Beda College

Message from Canon Marcus Holden,

New Rector of the College.

Greetings from the Pontifical Beda College! I arrived in Rome on 27th August and I’m now in preparation to greet the returning staff and seminarians and welcome those new to the college over the coming weeks. 

We will be starting together a new academic year and a new phase in the life of the Beda College. When Pope John XXIII founded the present seminary site in 1960, he called on the college to have a special focus on St Paul. We’ll be living directly across from the Basilica of St Paul, where the apostle is buried. On arriving the first thing I did was to visit his tomb and to consecrate our seminary and all its members to his care and guidance. We are especially under his patronage and it is my prayer that he will show us how to be true missionary priests and the best way to become Christ’s apostles in the world today. 

The Beda College has a tremendous tradition and a unique charism of forming men with gifted life experience and maturity to serve the Church and proclaim the Gospel of salvation. Please pray for me, so that I may build on the great work done by my predecessors in the most effective and grace-filled ways. 

‘Christo spectante curramus!’

‘With Christ watching, let us run!’

Canon Marcus