We are thrilled to share the news that 2007 St. Ambrose Academy graduate Dr. Bobby Marsland is now Deacon (Dr.) Bobby Marsland!

On November 23, he was ordained to the transitional diaconate at the Basilica of Sant’ Eugenio in Rome. After earning his PhD in Physics from MIT, Dcn. Marsland continued his discernment of the priesthood with Opus Dei. He’s since been living in Rome for the past several years, taking classes and preparing for this wonderful sacrament and looks forward to being ordained to the priesthood in May 2025, also in Rome.

Parents Rob and Diane Marsland made the trip to share in this blessed occasion! Diane shared that it was “beautiful and pretty emotional” and they enjoyed spending time with him and a priest classmate from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with whom Dcn. Marsland celebrated his first Mass as a deacon.

It was surreal for Diane to realize that her own son can now bless things, “so I bought a bunch of rosaries and he blessed us as well! It was fun walking around with him in Rome in his cassock – one person stopped him to get a blessing and at least two more just to ask questions – just fun to see!”

We encourage you to keep Dcn. Marsland in your prayers as he continues toward priesthood, that his witness and his vocation may be a source of God’s abundant and merciful grace for himself and all those he encounters.

Congratulations Dcn. Marsland and the whole Marsland family! St. Ambrose, pray for him!