The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

COMING UP ACROSS SCOTLAND

▪️𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Saturday, 5 September 2026, 10.00am–3.00pm
Eyre Hall, Archdiocese of Glasgow Offices, Clyde Street, Glasgow, G1 4JY

The Bishops’ Conference Care of Creation Office invites you to a day of inspiration, reflection, and practical action. Dr Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, will deliver the keynote address, alongside workshops exploring how parishes, schools, and communities can care for our common home.

Register: https://bit.ly/SeasonofCreation26

▪️ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼
Sunday, 6 September 2026, Holy Mass at 3.00pm
Carfin Grotto, Carfin

Catholics from across Scotland are invited to gather at Scotland’s National Marian Shrine for the annual National Pilgrimage. This year’s celebration will mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. Archbishop William Nolan will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

▪️𝗦𝗣𝗨𝗖 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗴𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Saturday, 19 September 2026, 10.00am–4.30pm
Destiny Church, 1120 Pollokshaws Road, Shawlands, Glasgow, G41 3QP

Join SPUC for a day of inspiring talks and practical guidance on standing up for unborn children and defending human life. The conference offers an opportunity to connect with others, share ideas, and become better equipped to support the pro-life cause.

Tickets cost £30 and include meals and access to all talks, workshops and seminars.

Book your place: https://spuc.org.uk/event/glasgow-one-day-conference-2026/

▪️𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲
Sunday 20 September 2026, 12.30pm–5.30pm
St Patrick’s Church, Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1NA

The annual Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage brings people together to pray for her Beatification. Margaret is entombed within the Sacred Heart Chapel at St Patrick’s Church.

The day will include refreshments, a Holy Hour and Benediction, a reflection from Canon Jock Dalrymple, and Holy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Leo Cushley.

Find out more about Venerable Margaret Sinclair: https://www.margaretsinclair.scot/

▪️ 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮
Thursday, 24 September 2026, 7.00pm
Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, Motherwell

The Diocese of Motherwell will welcome Archbishop Rino Fisichella to Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral for the celebration of Holy Mass. All are warmly invited to attend this special diocesan celebration.

▪️𝗣𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲?
Saturday 3 October 2026, 10.30am–4.00pm
The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB

This event will explore the reality of poverty in Scotland through talks from speakers working on the frontline. Participants will hear what is already being done, discuss how parishes and communities can respond and consider practical ways to do more. It will also offer an opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and inspire further action.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poverty-in-scotland-can-we-do-more-tickets-1998209395091?aff=oddtdtcreator

▪️𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀
Thursday 22 October 2026 at 7:00pm
Immaculate Conception Church Hall, 2049 Maryhill Road, Glasgow G20 0AA

SCIAF’s annual Romero Lecture, delivered by peace mediator Oliver McTernan, followed by questions, discussion and refreshments. Admission is free.

Register: https://sciaf.beaconforms.com/form/32f88aa5

▪️𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Saturday 24 October 2026
St Augustine’s Parish Centre, 12 Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge, ML5 1DQ

Catholic families from across Scotland are invited to a special day organised by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Marriage, Family and Life Office. The conference will include talks for adults, catechesis for children and young people, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and a ceilidh to conclude the day.

Book your place: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/4EAU3ueKgU

▪️𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲
Saturday 31 October 2026, arrivals from 9.30am
Conforti Institute, Calder Avenue, Coatbridge, ML5 4JS

Join the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Committee for Interreligious Dialogue for a one-day conference exploring the Church’s commitment to interreligious dialogue and how this can be lived out within our parishes and communities. The day will include talks, discussion, practical guidance, and opportunities for reflection.

The conference is free to attend, and a light lunch will be provided.

Register: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Ai8qdDPULb

On Sunday, faithful from across the Diocese and beyond gathered in Whithorn for the National Pilgrimage to Whithorn, celebrating St Ninian, the first missionary to bring Christianity to Scotland.

While Mass on the beach was not possible due to the severe weather, Bishop Frank had made the journey and collected a stone from the beach which was placed on the altar: a reminder of our closeness to the place where Ninian prayed.

Mass was celebrated by Bishop Frank, with Archbishops Leo Cushley and William Nolan, and priests from the Diocese and further afield who concelebrated. While the weather outside was wet, it didn't dampen the spirits of the pilgrims who enjoyed the Mass. In his homily, Bishop Frank preached on the importance of true discipleship and conforming our lives to Christ, citing Ninian as an example.

Alongside the several parish and cluster buses, many pilgrims also travelled independently. Young people from across the Diocese also enjoyed taking part in the Mass, having joined the pilgrimage as part of their Youth Pilgrimage.

We extend our particular thanks to the 91st Ayrshire Scouts who were in Whithorn from Friday evening to prepare the glen path and the beach for the Mass. While Mass on the beach was not possible, they had still prepared the site completely: clearing the glen path and setting up the altar and canopy. While pilgrims were unable to see their work, we thank them for their time and commitment: a ministry they have fulfilled now for several decades.

Gospel
Luke 4:31-37
‘I know who you are — the Holy One of God.’

At that time: Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!’ And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Pope Leo’s prayer intention for September 2026

For the Care of Water
Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.

Gospel
Luke 4:16-30
‘He has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor.
No prophet is acceptable in his home town.’

At that time: Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
And all spoke well of him and marvelled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ And he said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “ ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your home town as well.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his home town. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.’
When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up, and drove him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.

Sunday Reflection with Bishop Toal: 30 August 2026