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.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

6th November 2026

06 November 2026

Scottish Bishops Promote ‘Show Mercy’ Theme for Prisoners’ Week 2026

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland is encouraging parishes across the country to support Prisoners’ Week Scotland, taking place from 15 - 22 November, under the theme Show Mercy.

The annual initiative invites communities to reflect on the experiences of prisoners, their families, victims of crime and those working within Scotland’s prisons.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of recognising the dignity of every person, including those serving prison sentences.

Deacon Kenny McGeachie, lead Catholic chaplain for the Scottish Prison Service, said:

“This year’s Prisoners’ Week invites us to think more deeply about what it means to show mercy, particularly towards those who are already paying the price for their actions. I would encourage everyone to take part in Prisoners’ Week and reflect on how even a small act of kindness can affirm a person’s human dignity.”

One practical example is the Prisoners’ Week Dignity Fund, supported by the Society of St Vincent de Paul and other groups. The fund helps prisoners who lack financial resources or family support to obtain essential items, including suitable clothing for family funerals and basic necessities.

The Bishops’ Conference is encouraging parishes to make use of the Prisoners’ Week information packs distributed to parishes throughout Scotland, helping communities mark the week through prayer, reflection and practical support.

The public launch of Prisoners’ Week Scotland will take place on Sunday 15 November at Freedom City Church, Cumbernauld, with charity and support-service stalls from 3pm.

The event is open to everyone, and members of the public are warmly encouraged to attend.

Further information is available at www.prisonersweek.org.uk.

...ENDS

Notes to editor

Prisoners’ Week Scotland 2026 takes place from 15–22 November, with the theme Show Mercy. The public launch event will be held on Sunday 15 November at Freedom City Church, Cumbernauld, with charity and support-service stalls from 3pm. Everyone is welcome.
For further information, visit www.prisonersweek.org.uk
For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office. Email: [email protected]

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

22nd October 2026

22 October 2026

Statement from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has announced that he is stepping back from his daily duties until further notice, following medical advice.

Bishop Keenan has been undergoing medical investigations and will require further tests and examinations over the coming weeks.

During this time, Vicar General Monsignor Joe Burke will oversee the day-to-day running of the Diocese of Paisley.

Bishop Keenan hopes to provide a further update once these investigations are concluded and is grateful for your prayers at this time.

...ENDS

Notes for editors

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCoS) is the assembly of the Catholic bishops of Scotland, working together on national pastoral, social and legislative matters on behalf of the Church. www.bcos.org.uk
For further information, contact Fr Michael Kane, Director of the Communications and Evangelisation Office. Email: [email protected]

Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

News from the Commissions and Agencies

July 2026

26Jul

Holy Mass of the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time | 26 July 2026

26 Jul, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time | 26 July 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

26Jul

This content isn't available right now

26 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today we celebrate the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Grandparents and older people are a precious gift to our families, our parishes and our communities. Their faith, wisdom and witness continue to inspire each new generation.

Join us this afternoon for Holy Mass, celebrated by Bishop John Keenan, at 3.00pm in Carfin Grotto as we celebrate this special day together.

Everyone is warmly welcome.
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26Jul

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke trace Jesus’ family line through his legal ancestry, showing that he is the fulfilment of God’s ...

26 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke trace Jesus’ family line through his legal ancestry, showing that he is the fulfilment of God’s promises. Yet we know very little about Mary’s own parents. Apart from the fact that they existed, there are no historical details about them. Even the names Joachim and Anne come from an early Christian writing composed more than a century after Jesus’ death, rather than from Scripture itself.

Even so, we can glimpse the holiness of Mary’s family through the person she became. Whether we consider the later traditions about her childhood or simply reflect on what the Bible tells us about her, Mary stands out as the fruit of generations of faithful people who lived lives of prayer and were deeply rooted in the faith of Israel.

Mary’s courage, her life of prayer, her obedience to God’s will, her faith in times of uncertainty, and her loving care for others all point to a close, faithful family. It was a family that treasured its traditions while preparing the next generation to serve God.

In this way, Joachim and Anne represent the countless ordinary men and women who quietly lived out their faith, fulfilled their responsibilities, and created the conditions in which the Messiah could come into the world. Though history remembers little about them, their hidden faithfulness played a vital part in God’s plan.

26Jul

Gospel

26 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 13:44-46
‘He sells all that he has and buys that field.’

At that time: Jesus said to the crowd: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’

25Jul

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint James | 25 July 2026

25 Jul, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint James | 25 July 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

25Jul

Saint James the Greater was one of the first disciples called by Jesus and belonged to the inner circle of the Apostles

25 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Saint James the Greater was one of the first disciples called by Jesus and belonged to the inner circle of the Apostles. He was the brother of Saint John the Evangelist and the son of Zebedee. While working as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee alongside his father and brother, James heard Christ’s call and immediately left everything behind to follow Him.

Together with Peter and John, James enjoyed a unique closeness to Jesus. He was present at some of the most significant moments of the Lord’s ministry, including the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration, and Jesus’ prayer and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The Gospels reveal James as a man of great enthusiasm and strong character. Along with his brother John, he sought a place of honour in Christ’s kingdom, demonstrating both ambition and a limited understanding of the nature of discipleship. Jesus used this moment to teach that true greatness is found not in power or status, but in humble service and self-sacrifice.

James and John were also given the nickname *“Sons of Thunder,”* reflecting their passionate and sometimes impulsive nature. On one occasion, when a Samaritan village refused to welcome Jesus, they suggested calling down fire from heaven upon it. Christ gently rebuked them, teaching them the way of mercy and patience.

Over time, James grew in faith and understanding, learning what it truly meant to follow Christ. Jesus had foretold that he would share in His suffering, and this prophecy was fulfilled when James became the first of the Apostles to give his life for the Gospel.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, King Herod Agrippa ordered James to be executed by the sword around the year 44 AD. His martyrdom made him the first of the Twelve Apostles to die for his faith in Christ.

Known as *James the Greater* to distinguish him from James the Lesser, Saint James is honoured as a courageous witness to the Gospel. He is also closely associated with the great pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where tradition holds that his relics are enshrined, drawing pilgrims from around the world for centuries.

25Jul

Gospel

25 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 20:20-28
‘You will drink my cup.’

At that time: The mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Say that these two sons of mine are to sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom.’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’ And when the Ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

24Jul

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

24 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

🇻🇦"IT IS NOT ATOMIC WEAPONS THAT GENERATE PEACE, BUT DISARMAMENT." - Pope Leo XIV

As global tensions rise and governments invest ever more heavily in weapons, Pope Leo XIV has issued a renewed call for nuclear disarmament in his book 'Disarmed and Disarming: Peace Is a Gift', released yesterday.

On Saturday 1st August, we invite you to join Christians from across Scotland at Faslane for our annual No to Nuclear Weapons Christian Peace Witness Vigil.

We'll gather alongside fellow Christian communities in prayer, reflection and peaceful public witness to affirm the Holy Father's message that genuine and lasting peace is built not on nuclear deterrence but on diplomacy, dialogue and disarmament.

🗓️Saturday 1st August
🕚 11.00am–12.30pm
📍 North Gate, HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane)

🚌 FREE coach travel is available from Edinburgh and Glasgow (booking essential).
Pick up info:
🔹 Edinburgh: Waterloo Place (beside Waverley Station), departing 8.15am.
🔹 Glasgow: Gordon Street (outside Central Station), departing 9.30am.

📧To reserve your seat, email: [email protected]
Please include:
🔹Your name
🔹Pick-up point (Edinburgh or Glasgow)
🔹Number of seats required

🚆To make your own way to Faslane, take the train to Helensburgh Central and then the hourly 316 bus.

🕊Pope Leo also tells us in the preface to his book that "peace seeks witnesses." Will you be one of them with us next weekend?

Please share this invitation with your parish, friends and local community as we seek to gather as many people as possible to answer the Holy Father’s call.

24Jul

Holy Mass of Friday of the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time | 24 July 2026

24 Jul, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of Friday of the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time | 24 July 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

24Jul

Gospel

24 Jul, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Matthew 13:18-23
‘The one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit.’

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’