A FORMER Port Glasgow DJ who has completed his training for the priesthood features in a new BBC documentary about seminarians' experiences in Rome.

Ryan Black, 28, is one of five young men whose stories are told in Priest School, which will screen on Sunday evening.

It takes a rare look at the inner workings of the oldest Scottish Institution abroad, Il Pontificio College Scozzese - The Scots College in Rome - over the course of a year.

Ryan, from Glenbrae Road in Devol, said: "The documentary shines a little bit of light on what life is like and dispels a bit of the mystery."

Ryan, who returned home on March 6 as Italy went into complete lockdown, due to coronavirus said: "The team visited the Scots College three or four times over a year and a half and filmed tons of footage.

"They went everywhere with us - morning prayer and major feast days and on the back of a six-seater minibus going to university."

The film crew documents follows the stories of Ryan and other young Scotsmen who have embarked on a journey towards becoming priests.

With no seminaries remaining in Scotland, all roads lead to Rome for those who want to follow a vocation to the priesthood

It is the first time that the ecclesiastical doors of this Catholic institution, established more than 400 years ago, has opened its doors to television cameras.

Ryan, who was a radio presenter and DJ with Your Radio for five years and presented on Radio Vatican for two years, says that because of his background he is keen for the church to use social media to get its message across and to reach out to more people.

Ryan said: "Years ago when priests were training they might only have been back home once or twice.

"Whereas we are very lucky and come home, for Christmas, Easter and the summer."

His family have also been over to visit him in Rome almost every year.

Ryan, a former pupil of St Stephen's High School, says his seven years in Rome has flown past.

He said: "It has been transformative and the time has gone incredibly quickly.

"Members of my family can't believe that I have come to the end of my journey."

Ryan says when he arrived in Rome in 2013, he said he thought he had all the answers and he was ready to be a priest.

He said: "I look back at the numpty I was then and I thought I had all the answers and now I realise that you are never properly ready.

Ryan was due to be ordained in his parish church of St Francis' of Assisi on June 24 and then it was brought forward to April.

It has now been put back to August 15 due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ryan is one of the few who make it to the end of the journey - there is a drop-out rate of 70 per cent as the young men come to terms with vows of obedience and celibacy.

Ryan says he has had overwhelming support from his parents, family, parish and community.

He said: "I have been so fortunate living in Port Glasgow. I have received so much support from people in my family, in my church, the parish of St Francis and the wider community over the last seven years."

The programme will be shown on BBC Scotland on Sunday at 10.15pm.