St Pius X priest Father Mark Cassidy swapping Douglas for Rome

A Dundee priest is leaving his church to take up a role at the Scots College in Rome.

Father Mark Cassidy, who has been priest at St Pius X Church in Douglas since October 2009, will begin his role as spiritual director of the training college in August.

The Pontifical Scots College was established in 1600 to provide a seminary school for Scottish Catholics, as then a Catholic education was outlawed.

Originally from Perth, Father Cassidy (48) spent eight years as a chaplain in the Royal Navy.

“I arrived at St Pius in October 2009 but have worked as a priest in Dundee since 1988,” he said.

“I will absolutely miss Dundee I was just starting to get settled.

“In fact, somebody just told me at the weekend that they were just getting used to me!”