The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the holy season of Lent.

Although it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass today and receive the imposition of ashes as a visible sign of repentance and our desire to turn back to the Lord.

Ash Wednesday is also a day of fast and abstinence. We are required to abstain from meat, and those aged 18–59 who are in good health are obliged to fast, taking one main meal and two snacks.

As we begin these forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, may this season be a time of renewal for us all.

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

Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
‘Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of practising your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
‘Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’

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.

Gospel
Mark 8:14-21
‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.’

At that time: The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’ And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ And he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’