Father Robert W. Marshall, Jr., has been the pastor of the Catholic Church of the Ascension since June 30, 2004.  A native Memphian, Fr. Robert is a graduate of St. Michael School and Christian Brothers High School.  He was inducted into the CBHS Hall of Fame in 2008.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (summa cum laude) from Christian Brothers College (now University) in 1980, and completed his Juris Doctorate in 1983 at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis).  Fr. Marshall practiced law for twelve years in both St. Louis, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee . 

Discerning a call to priesthood, he entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1995.  He completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Bon Secours-St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina in the Summer of 1998. Fr. Marshall received his Master of Divinity degree (summa cum laude) from Notre Dame and was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 2000, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D.  Fr. Robert celebrated his first Mass on the Solemnity of Pentecost, June 11, 2000, at St. Anne Church (Highland), Memphis, Tennessee.

His first assignment was as associate pastor of the Church of the Incarnation, Collierville, Tennessee. While at Incarnation, he began celebrating Mass in Spanish.  From 2002-2004, he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Humboldt and St. Matthew Mission in Milan.

Fr. Marshall also serves as a diocesan Master of Ceremonies, and is a member of the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors, the Priests’ Personnel Board, the Vocations Committee, and the 2007-2008 Bishop’s Appeal Steering Committee (after having served as Chairman of the 2005 and 2006 Bishop’s Appeals).