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

25th May 2026

25 May 2026

First Encyclical of Pope Leo XIV: Magnifica Humanitas

The Bishops of Scotland warmly welcome Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, as a timely and insightful contribution to one of the defining questions of our age. As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes human life, this important document calls us to place the dignity of the human person at the heart of every technological advance.

We encourage the faithful, our schools and parish communities to read, study and pray with this landmark text.

To support this, the Office of Communications and Evangelisation will soon publish a parish study guide and other resources for small groups and parish use, helping communities to reflect more deeply on the opportunities and challenges of new technologies and their impact on human life.

Bishop John Keenan
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Full text of Pope Leo XIV’s Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas:
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html

News from the Commissions and Agencies

July 2026

04Jul

Tomorrow, Sunday 5 July, you are invited to gather for the celebration of Holy Mass, for the people of Venezuela, in St Leonard’...

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

Tomorrow, Sunday 5 July, you are invited to gather for the celebration of Holy Mass, for the people of Venezuela, in St Leonard’s Church, East Kilbride, at 12 noon.

Celebrated in Castellano (América Latina), the Mass will be a special opportunity to pray for all those affected by the recent earthquake and to stand in solidarity with those suffering its consequences.

As we come together in faith, let us entrust the people of Venezuela to the Lord’s care and continue to keep them in our prayers.

04Jul

Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 04 July 2026

04 Jul, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 04 July 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

04Jul

We offer our congratulations to Fr Matthew McCafferty, who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood for the Archdiocese of St Andre...

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

We offer our congratulations to Fr Matthew McCafferty, who was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh by Archbishop Leo Cushley yesterday, 3 July, at St Mary’s Church, Bathgate.

His ordination is a joyful occasion not only for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, but for the whole Church in Scotland, and a reminder that God continues to call men to dedicate their lives to serving His people.

Please keep Fr Matthew in your prayers as he begins his priestly ministry, and continue to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood throughout Scotland.

May God bless Fr Matthew abundantly as he begins this new chapter of his vocation. 🙏

04Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
Matthew 9:14-17
‘Can they mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?’

At that time: The disciples of John came to Jesus, saying, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.’

03Jul

𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿

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

𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿

The Bishops of Scotland have confirmed the completion of the sale of the former Pontifical Scots College building on the Via Cassia in Rome, marking the end of an important chapter in the history of the college.

Since 1964, the Via Cassia building has been home to generations of Scottish seminarians during their formation for priestly ministry.

Commenting on the building sale, Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said:

“Today we give thanks for the generations of priests who were formed at the College on the Via Cassia and who have faithfully served the people of Scotland. As one chapter closes, another begins. With confidence in the Lord’s providence, we look to the future and to the continuing mission of the College in forming priests who will proclaim the Gospel with faith, generosity and hope.”

The rector of the Pontifical Scots College, Fr Mark Cassidy, said:
“The sale of the Via Cassia building brings to an end a significant chapter in the life of the Church in Scotland. We now look forward to the next chapter in our 425-year history and to finding a new home for the seminary, where we can continue to form men ready for the Church’s mission.”

The bishops wish to record their sincere thanks to the College rector, Fr Mark, and the teams in Rome and Scotland who worked so diligently with him to bring the sale to completion.

03Jul

Tonight (Friday 3 July) at 7:00pm Matthew McCafferty will be ordained to the Priesthood

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

Tonight (Friday 3 July) at 7:00pm Matthew McCafferty will be ordained to the Priesthood.

The event will be livestreamed at bit.ly/mccaffertyordination and on the Facebook page of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

03Jul

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint Thomas | 03 July 2026

03 Jul, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Feast of Saint Thomas | 03 July 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

03Jul

There is very little about the apostle Thomas in the Gospels; one text calls him the "twin." Rarely during Jesus' lifetime does ...

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

There is very little about the apostle Thomas in the Gospels; one text calls him the "twin." Rarely during Jesus' lifetime does he stand out among his colleagues. There is the instance before the raising of Lazarus, when Jesus was still in Perea and Thomas exclaimed: "Let us also go and die with Him." Best-known is his expression of unbelief after the Savior's death, giving rise to the phrase "doubting Thomas." Nevertheless, the passage describing the incident, had as today's Gospel, must be numbered among the most touching in Sacred Scripture.

In the Breviary lessons Pope St. Gregory the Great makes the following reflections: "Thomas' unbelief has benefited our faith more than the belief of the other disciples; it is because he attained faith through physical touch that we are confirmed in the faith beyond all doubt. Indeed, the Lord permitted the apostle to doubt after the resurrection; but He did not abandon him in doubt. By his doubt and by his touching the sacred wounds the apostle became a witness to the truth of the resurrection. Thomas touched and cried out: My Lord and my God! And Jesus said to him: Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed. Now if Thomas saw and touched the Savior, why did Jesus say: Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed? Because he saw something other than what he believed. For no mortal man can see divinity. Thomas saw the Man Christ and acknowledged His divinity with the words: My Lord and my God. Faith therefore followed upon seeing."

Concerning later events in the apostle's life very meager information exists. The Martyrology has this: "At Calamina (near Madras in India) the martyrdom of the apostle Thomas—he announced the Gospel to the Parthians, and finally came to India. After he had converted numerous tribes to Christianity, he was pierced with lances at the king's command."
—Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

03Jul

Gospel

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

Gospel
John 20:24-29
‘My Lord and my God!’

Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord’. But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

02Jul

🌿 Join us for the Season of Creation Conference 2026

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

🌿 Join us for the Season of Creation Conference 2026

The Bishops’ Conference Care of Creation Office invites you to a day of inspiration, reflection and practical action as we celebrate the Season of Creation.

📅 Saturday, 5th September 2026
🕙 10am – 3pm
📍 Eyre Hall, Archdiocese of Glasgow Offices, Clyde Street, Glasgow, G1 4JY

We are delighted to welcome Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, as our keynote speaker.

The day will also include practical workshops exploring how parishes, schools and communities can engage young people and parish groups in caring for our common home.

Register today: bit.ly/SeasonofCreation26