The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱'𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀

The latest Bishops' Conference meeting took place in Glasgow on 11th June, with a full agenda considering a wide range of matters relating to the life and mission of the Church in Scotland.

The bishops received feedback from the recent consultation on diocesan boundaries. Using the Conversation in the Spirit method, the bishops prayerfully reflected on the contents of the reports and discussed concrete proposals for the future.

Within the area of evangelisation and proclamation, the bishops received ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue reports and reflected on key themes emerging from the recent Communications Conference in Rome.

They also welcomed the soon to be released study guide to Magnifica Humanitas, prepared by Justice and Peace Scotland, which aims to help parish groups to engage more deeply with Pope Leo’s important reflections on artificial intelligence, human dignity and the future of society.

The bishops reviewed resources prepared for this year’s Day for Life, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to promoting the dignity of every human person from conception until natural death.

In the area of formation for ministry, the bishops considered proposals relating to an Applicants’ Year for those discerning priestly formation and received an update on plans concerning the future provision of seminary formation and the acquisition of a new college in Rome.

The bishops also received a report on venues currently under consideration for a national museum and archives project, recognising the importance of preserving and promoting Scotland’s rich Catholic heritage for future generations.

Other matters discussed included the ongoing development of an electronic Celebret system for clergy, arrangements for the retreat day of the bishops’ in-service week in Salamanca, updates from Catholic organisations and youth movements, and proposals to strengthen co-operation and communication across Catholic agencies and apostolates.

The bishops entrusted all of these matters to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and asked the faithful throughout Scotland to continue to pray for the Church’s mission of evangelisation, renewal and service.

Next Sunday, the Catholic Church in Scotland joins with the Church in England and Wales and Ireland in marking Day for Life.

This annual day of prayer and reflection invites us to celebrate the gift of human life and to recognise the dignity of every person from conception to natural death.

This year's theme is The Wonder of the Child in the Womb.

#DayForLife #DayForLife2026

Sunday Reflection with Bishop Toal, Sunday 14 June 2026

The Gospel call to leave everything and follow Christ was the rule of Saint Anthony of Padua’s life. Over and over again, God called him to something new in his plan. Every time Anthony responded with renewed zeal and self-sacrificing to serve his Lord Jesus more completely.

His journey as the servant of God began as a very young man when he decided to join the Augustinians in Lisbon, giving up a future of wealth and power to be a servant of God. Later when the bodies of the first Franciscan martyrs went through the Portuguese city where he was stationed, he was again filled with an intense longing to be one of those closest to Jesus himself: those who die for the Good News.

So, Saint Anthony of Padua entered the Franciscan Order and set out to preach to the Moors. But an illness prevented him from achieving that goal. He went to Italy and was stationed in a small hermitage where he spent most of his time praying, reading the Scriptures and doing menial tasks.

The call of God came again at an ordination where no one was prepared to speak. The humble and obedient Anthony hesitantly accepted the task. The years of searching for Jesus in prayer, of reading sacred Scripture and of serving him in poverty, chastity, and obedience had prepared Saint Anthony of Padua to allow the Spirit to use his talents. Anthony’s sermon was astounding to those who expected an unprepared speech and knew not the Spirit’s power to give people words.

Recognized as a great man of prayer and a great Scripture and theology scholar, Saint Anthony of Padua became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars. Soon he was called from that post to preach to the Albigensians in France, using his profound knowledge of Scripture and theology to convert and reassure those who had been misled by their denial of Christ’s divinity and of the sacraments.

After he led the friars in northern Italy for three years, he made his headquarters in the city of Padua. He resumed his preaching and began writing sermon notes to help other preachers. In the spring of 1231 Saint Anthony of Padua withdrew to a friary at Camposampiero where he had a sort of treehouse built as a hermitage. There he prayed and prepared for death.

On June 13, he became very ill and asked to be taken back to Padua, where he died after receiving the last sacraments. Saint Anthony of Padua was canonized less than a year later and named a Doctor of the Church in 1946.

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a feast that reminds us of Christ's boundless love for every person. The Sacred Heart is a powerful sign of the mercy, compassion and self-giving love revealed through Jesus, especially in His sacrifice on the Cross.

While devotion to the Sacred Heart can be traced back to the early Church Fathers, it grew significantly through the visions received by St Margaret Mary Alacoque in the seventeenth century. In 1856, Pope Pius IX extended the feast to the whole Church, and it remains one of the most cherished celebrations of the liturgical year.

Today is also the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. As we honour the Heart of Jesus, we pray in a special way for our priests, that they may be renewed in faith, holiness and love as they continue their ministry in service of God's people.

The Sacred Heart reminds us that God's love is not distant or abstract. It is personal, faithful and always open to us. May this feast inspire us to draw closer to Christ and to share His love with those around us.