A national gathering. A moment of renewal. A day led by the Spirit.

Join others from across Scotland at Glasgow Caledonian University on Saturday, 6th June, for a powerful and hope-filled Festival of Synodality.

This is more than a conference. It is an opportunity to experience Conversation in the Spirit firsthand and discover a practical and prayerful way of discerning God’s will together for the future of the Church.

The day will celebrate the fruits already flourishing in the Scottish Church and feature inspiring witnesses to the Synod:
✨ Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Down and Connor
✨ Fr David McCallum SJ
✨ Sandra Chaoul

Expect prayer. Inspiration. Real conversation. Time to connect with others from parishes, schools, dioceses and faith organisations across the country.
Lunch is included on the day.

Whether involved in parish life, diocesan leadership, education, ministry or simply seeking to grow deeper in mission, this day is for you.

Tickets £65: http://bit.ly/synodality26

Fortunately, most of us don’t have to climb a hill to brush our teeth in the morning. But that’s exactly what Bishop Brian McGee did to raise awareness of communities around the world in need of clean water.

Bishop Brian is SCIAF’s Bishop President and cares deeply about poverty and injustice around the world.

Bishop Brian said: “What can be more unjust that not being able to access clean, safe water?

“This year our WEE BOX Appeal focusses on just that. In Scotland, we are blessed with some of the finest water in the world. We bathe in it, use it for cooking, and drink as much as we want, whenever we want. We take it for granted that it will always be there.

“Water is life. But for many, it’s dangerously scarce. In Ethiopia far too many women, girls and boys still have to walk for hours every day under the scorching sun. This means missed days at school, getting sick from dirty water, and in some places taking their lives in their hands just to reach water.

“Getting that big sink up the hill was a struggle. It weighed a tonne and it was blowing a hooley, but I just did it once. It’s nothing compared to the daily struggle many have to access clean water.

“Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty. And we need their help again to continue to do this.”

Lent is 40 days of reflection, fasting, and prayer leading up to Easter. Each year generous Scots up and down the country give up a favourite treat such as coffee, chocolate, wine or crisps during Lent and put the money they save into a SCIAF WEE BOX.

Supporters also hold fundraising events in their schools and parishes and take on personal challenges to raise money. They then donate whatever they raise at Easter to provide a hand-up to vulnerable communities worldwide, struggling to survive due to hunger, poverty, conflict and the climate emergency.

Bishop Brian added: “I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the transformational work that our amazing SCIAF supporters are funding in Ethiopia. It is genuinely changing lives. Bringing clean water closer to people’s homes helps kids get to school and improves the health of the whole family. It’s amazing the difference basic things like taps and wells can make for people's lives.

“We know that there are still so many more people suffering in Ethiopia and across the world from extreme poverty. With support like this, we can reach more families and more communities and give them a hand up out of the challenges they face.”

This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.

For more details on how to donate, please visit www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox. To donate £10, please text SCIAF to 70580. Texts will cost £10 plus your standard network charge.

To believe in Him and to be His disciples means allowing ourselves to be changed and to take on His same feelings

#MissiosWednesdayWisdom

@followers

This Lent, the Commission for Marriage, Family and Life invites families to enter the desert with Christ.

Across Scotland, families and couples are coming together to pray a nightly decade of the Rosary, supporting one another as we walk with Jesus throughout these forty days of prayer, fasting and renewal.

When you sign up, you will receive simple resources to help you create a dedicated place of prayer in your home, along with access to a digital community where Catholics can share intentions and encourage one another in daily prayer.

Those who take part will also be invited to a special Lenten retreat day featuring family adoration, inspiring talks and time for quiet contemplation.

Begin this Lenten journey together as a family.
Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/vwQ1ha28N7


This lent the commission for marriage family and life invite your families to enter the desert with Christ. Come and join families and couples across the country in praying a nightly decade of the rosary. We will support one another in our effort to walk with Jesus these 40 days.

When you sign up you will receive materials guiding you in setting up a designated place for prayer in your homes. You will also receive a link to join a digital community of Catholics sharing prayer intentions and supporting one another in the daily prayers.

Those who have joined the initiative will be invited to a Lent retreat day with family adoration, inspiring talks and time for contemplation.

Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/vwQ1ha28N7

The Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES), on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has issued a briefing for Members of the Scottish Parliament on proposed amendments to the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill.

SCES supports the Bill’s stated aim of ensuring compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and welcomes efforts to strengthen children’s rights in Scottish law. In particular, SCES supports proposed amendments which introduce clearer age-related guidance on maturity and decision-making, helping to determine when a young person can make an informed decision about Religious Education or Religious Observance.

However, SCES has raised serious concerns that a number of other amendments extend the Bill beyond its original purpose and could have unintended consequences for Scotland’s denominational schools. SCES warns that proposals to replace the long-standing legal term “Religious Instruction” with “Religious Education” could narrow interpretation towards a purely academic curriculum model, potentially limiting the ability of denominational schools to deliver faith-based education consistent with their protected religious ethos.

SCES has also expressed concern about proposals that would allow young people to withdraw independently from Religious Observance, without the same level of parental involvement currently required. While such changes are often justified by reference to Article 14 of the UNCRC, SCES notes that Article 14 must be read in full, as it also affirms the rights and duties of parents to guide children in matters of religion, in accordance with the child’s evolving capacities.

While welcoming the opportunity to contribute to statutory guidance, SCES has highlighted major concerns regarding proposed new reporting and information requirements. SCES believes these measures would impose disproportionate administrative burdens on schools and local authorities, duplicate existing inspection arrangements, and introduce unclear criteria requiring Religious Observance to be assessed as “objective, critical and pluralistic” and “inclusive”, without clear definitions or clarity on who would judge compliance.

SCES welcomes proposals intended to safeguard the existing legal protections of denominational schools, and stresses that Scotland’s denominational education system has long held a legitimate and protected place within the wider educational framework.

SCES urges Parliament to ensure that UNCRC compliance is achieved in a way that respects children’s rights, the role of parents and families, and the distinctive character and legal status of denominational schools in Scotland. SCES is grateful for the constructive communication with the Scottish Government throughout this process, and welcomes the opportunity to work collaboratively on the development of future statutory guidance.