The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

BISHOPS RESPOND TO SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT'S PALLIATIVE CARE CONSULTATION

Scotland’s Catholic Bishops: Scottish Government’s laudable draft strategy on palliative care stands in stark contrast to dangerous assisted suicide proposal

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has responded positively to Scottish Government proposals for a new strategy on palliative care.

In its submission to a recent consultation the bishops declared their support for the draft strategy, stating that the proposals “uphold the dignity of human life for those at the end of life, their families, and carers” and said that the “laudable” proposals “stand in stark contrast to the dangerous Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill” currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament.

The bishops said: “rather than being used to kill people, many of whom are vulnerable, public resources should be invested in helping people to live and to be more comfortable at the end of life.”

The bishops emphasised the crucial role of palliative care, declaring it to be “a precious and crucial instrument in the care of patients during terminal illness” and encouraged the government to ensure that a framework is in place to allow hospices to be appropriately funded to continue to deliver end-of-life care to all those who need it.

The bishops also stressed the importance of spiritual care and assistance for patients and their families at the end of life and called for such support to be a key element of a holistic approach to end-of-life care. Please see the full submission at the Catholic Parliamentary Office website

Click here to visit the Jubilee 2025 website

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen

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News from the Commissions and Agencies

September 2024

27Sep

📢 CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

27 Sep, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

📢 CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

What is the role for Christians in tackling poverty?

As part of Challenge Poverty Week we are inviting people with a Christian faith to come into the same room and get on the same page to discuss the Minimum Income Guarantee as a tool to combat poverty and consider the theological perspectives that compel us to work together with faith and compassion to ensure security for all.

🗓️ Saturday 12th October
🕙 10.15am - 3.45pm
📍The Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP
📝Register: tinyurl.com/34snab4a

Join us alongside the Church of Scotland, The Poverty Alliance , Christians Against Poverty and other Christian churches and representatives to explore how to combat poverty guided by the light of our faith.

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27Sep

Remembering history to defeat the hell of war - Vatican News

27 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-09/remembering-history-to-defeat-the-hell-of-war.html

Our Editorial Director, Andrea Tornielli, reflects on Pope Francis’ new powerful appeal to European leaders to build bridges of peace in Europe.

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27Sep

A post from Bishops' Conference of Scotland

27 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

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27Sep

As our seminarians—Kieran Burt, Christopher Igwe, Aidan Kelly, and Matthew O'Neill—return to seminary, let’s come together in pr...

27 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

As our seminarians—Kieran Burt, Christopher Igwe, Aidan Kelly, and Matthew O'Neill—return to seminary, let’s come together in prayer that they may have a fruitful year ahead.

We pray especially for Kieran Burt, from our own parish of St Joseph, Blantyre and for Christopher Igwe, from Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, East Kilbride, who are both preparing for their diaconate ordinations this coming year.

Please also continue to pray for more vocations to the priesthood in the Motherwell Diocese

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27Sep

We are very much looking forward to hosting this CST Workshop Series in St Anthony's and St Mark's Rutherglen

27 Sep, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

We are very much looking forward to hosting this CST Workshop Series in St Anthony's and St Mark's Rutherglen. All are welcome to learn more about "the Church's best kept secret".

🗓️ October 3rd, October 24th and November 21st
🕢 All talks will be held at 7.30pm
📍 St Anthony's, Mar Gardens, Rutherglen

Our parish is delighted to host this workshop series beginning soon. Catholic Social Teaching gives us practical Gospel-based principles which can be applied to all aspects of daily life and wider society.
Sessions will be led by Anne Marie Clements from Justice and Peace Scotland . All most welcome. #JusticeAndPeace #CatholicSocialTeaching

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27Sep

Highlights of Pope Francis' day in Luxembourg - Vatican News

27 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-09/highlights-of-pope-francis-day-in-luxembourg.html

On Thursday, 27th September, Pope Francis undertook a brief, day-long visit to Luxembourg. Vatican News' video team was on the ground, and captured ...

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27Sep

Pope Francis arrives in Belgium - Vatican News

27 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-09/pope-francis-belgium-apostolic-visit-arrival.html

Pope Francis is in Belgium at the start of a three-day apostolic visit dense with events and encounters.

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26Sep

PRIMARY SCHOOLS | Missio Scotland

26 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Missionary Children’s Mass – first Friday of October 📆

Last year the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland decided that the first Friday of October should be Missionary Children’s Day.

A Missionary Children/Holy Childhood Day is celebrated in most countries where the Church is established. The Bishops suggested that it could be incorporated into a first Friday Mass in those parishes where schools celebrate the first Friday.

Through the efforts of school children across Scotland, Missio has funded projects to help children across the world. By praying, fundraising and working together, we have helped Catholic children become missionaries themselves and ambassadors for Children Helping Children.

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26Sep

Religious from across Scotland gathered at Carfin Grotto for the Conference of Religious Scotland AGM on Tuesday

26 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Religious from across Scotland gathered at Carfin Grotto for the Conference of Religious Scotland AGM on Tuesday.

Holy Mass was celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Papal Nuncio to the UK, who is pictured with Bishop Frank Dougan (left, Galloway Diocese) and Bishop Andrew McKenzie (Dunkeld Diocese).

More photos at Motherwell Diocese.

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25Sep

Pope entrusts visit to Luxembourg and Belgium to Our Lady - Vatican News

25 Sep, 2024 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Pope Francis visited the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome on Wednesday to entrust his Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium to Our Lady.

The Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium begins on Thursday. 🇱🇺 🇧🇪

Pope Francis makes his customary visit to the ancient icon of 'Maria Salus Populi Romani' ahead of his Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium.

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