The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆

The Bishops of Scotland have appointed Fr Pat Keegans as the new Spiritual Director of the Royal Scots College in Salamanca.

A priest of the Diocese of Galloway, Fr Keegans ministered in numerous parishes over his priestly life. He is also a former student of the Royal Scots College in Valladolid and has maintained close links with the Scottish seminary and with other former students over many years through the Ambrosian Society and his visits to Valladolid and Salamanca.

Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said:
“I warmly welcome Fr Pat’s appointment and thank him for his generous response to this call. His experience, wisdom and priestly witness will be a great gift to our seminarians. I also thank Fr Stuart Chalmers for his devoted service to the college during his tenure as Spiritual Director.”

Fr John Carroll, College Rector, said:
“I am delighted that Fr Pat is joining the College community. I have known him for many years and know he will be an understanding, compassionate and prayerful guide for our seminarians. I look forward to welcoming him to Salamanca.”

Fr Pat, commenting on his appointment, said:
“Being asked to be the Spiritual Director at the Royal Scots College in Salamanca is a privilege and honour. I can hardly believe it. I am thrilled and very happy indeed."

Holy Mass of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul | 28 June 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

All are welcome to come together in prayer at Holy Mass for the people of Venezuela on Sunday 5 July at 12 noon in St Leonard's Church, East Kilbride.

The Mass will be celebrated in Castellano (America Latina) and offers an opportunity to gather in prayer and solidarity with all those affected by the recent earthquake.

Please keep the people of Venezuela and all those impacted by this tragedy in your prayers.

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”.

Gospel
Matthew 8:5-17
‘Many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’

At that time: When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralysed at home, suffering terribly.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my servant, “Do this”, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he marvelled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment.
And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.’