Today, Bishop Frank, Bishop of Galloway, celebrates 25 years since his ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. To mark the occasion, last night he was joined by his brother priests and faithful from across the Diocese for Mass in St Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr, with Fr Stephen Reilly from the Diocese of Motherwell, a long time friend of Bishop Frank, preaching the homily.
At the end of Mass, Bishop Frank was presented with a quaich by the Revd David R Gemmell, the local Church of Scotland minister, marking their strong friendship and shared ministry.
A short biography of Bishop Frank:
Bishop Frank was born on 8th December 1972 and baptised in St Aidan’s, Wishaw. After attending St Aidan’s Primary, St Mary’s College, Blairs and St Aidan’s High School, Wishaw, he studied at the Scots College in Rome and at Glasgow University. He is a graduate in Law (LLB) and holds a Licentiate in Canon Law. He received priestly ordination on 27th June 2001 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Motherwell.
Bishop Frank served as assistant priest at Our Lady and St Anne’s, Hamilton and as parish priest St Mark’s, Rutherglen, St Anthony’s, Rutherglen, St Anthony’s and St Mark’s and Our Lady of Lourdes. He was Vice-rector of the Scots College, Rome from 2006 to 2012, assistant Judicial Vicar, Scottish Inter-diocesan Tribunal and Judicial vicar for the Diocese of Motherwell from 2017.
On 22nd December 2023, Pope Francis nominated Bishop Frank Dougan as the new Bishop of Galloway. He was ordained Bishop on Saturday 9th March 2024 at St-Peter-in-Chains, Ardrossan, and was received into his Cathedral Church of St Margaret in Ayr the following day. His episcopal motto is: “Quench not the wavering flame”.
