New head of Spanish seminary

THE spiritual director of Ushaw College in Durham has been appointed rector of the English seminary in Valladolid.
Fr Paul Smith, who describes parish ministry as his first love, will take over as rector of the English College in the northern Spanish town in September. He replaces Mgr Ronald Hishon, who has returned to parish work in the diocese of Portsmouth after completing a five year term as rector.
Fr Smith, who is 44 and a priest of the Salford diocese, was ordained in 1971 after six years study at the college he will now return to as rector. His first appointment was to the Holy Family parish in Oldham, where he remained for 12 years. He then worked at St Joseph's in Reddish, Stockport, for two years.
In 1985 he went to the Angelicum University, Rome, to pursue studies in spirituality and seminary formation. and in 1987 was awarded a licentiate in theology.
Fr Smith said this week that his love of the parochial ministry helped him to "see what should be the motivation and focus of seminary formation".