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

November 2026

11Nov

Photos from Bishops' Conference of Scotland's post

11 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

The Catholic Bishops of Scotland have written to Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, offering their deepest sympathy, prayers and solidarity following recent events in Kraków.

Please join us in praying for all those affected, their families and the people of Poland at this time of sorrow.

Read the bishops’ letter below.

Your Excellency, dear Brother,

Meeting this week in Coatbridge for our Autumn Plenary assembly, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland have received with profound shock and heavy hearts the devastating news of the mass shooting in Kraków’s city centre this past weekend.

On behalf of the Catholic Church and the faithful in Scotland, we write to offer our deepest fraternal sympathy, prayers and solidarity to you, the Polish hierarchy, and the entire nation at this time of national sorrow.

We are particularly heartbroken by the loss of innocent lives in Kraków's Main Market Square and the preceding tragedy in the suspect’s family home. We pray that the Lord of all consolation will receive the souls of the deceased into His eternal peace and grant strength to their grieving families. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many injured, including the police officers who courageously risked their lives to apprehend the attacker; we pray for their full and swift recovery.

The bonds between the peoples of Scotland and Poland are deep, historical and enduring. Today, our own parishes across Scotland are immeasurably enriched by a vibrant Polish community, making this tragedy feel close to home. Please be assured that we are united in prayer and that in today's celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we remembered the victims and prayed for peace in your homeland.

May the Prince of Peace pour out His healing grace upon the city of Kraków, and may Our Lady, Queen of Poland, comfort all who mourn.

With every assurance of our brotherly care and highest esteem in the Risen Lord,

Yours fraternally in Christ,

+𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘆
Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh

+𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺 𝗡𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻
Archbishop of Glasgow

+𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝗮𝗹
Bishop of Motherwell

+𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗦𝗕
Bishop of Aberdeen

+𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻
Bishop of Paisley

+𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗲𝗲
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles

+𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻
Bishop of Galloway

+𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗶𝗲
Bishop of Dunkeld

+𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗸𝗶
Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy

+𝗠𝗮𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗦𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗹
Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy

11Nov

Tomorrow, Archbishop William Nolan will celebrate Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, as we pray for the success of COP31 in...

11 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Tomorrow, Archbishop William Nolan will celebrate Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, as we pray for the success of COP31 in Turkey and for the care of our common home.

The Mass begins at 1.00pm and is being organised by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Care of Creation Office.

Refreshments will follow, together with a live video update from CAFOD at COP31.

If you are able to join us, you will be very welcome.

11Nov

Young Faith Alive in the Diocese of Paisley!

11 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Young Faith Alive in the Diocese of Paisley! 🙏

It was wonderful to see young people coming together in the Diocese of Paisley for another Acutis Evening, sharing an evening of faith, friendship and prayer.

The evening included catechesis, dinner and time spent before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, with an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Fr Jonathan Whitworth joined the young people as guest speaker and was also available for Confession.

A beautiful example of young people growing in their relationship with Christ and discovering the joy of living their Catholic faith.

📸 Diocese of Paisley

11Nov

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours | 11 November 2026

11 Nov, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours | 11 November 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

11Nov

Today the Church celebrates Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop, one of the most popular saints of the early Church

11 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Today the Church celebrates Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop, one of the most popular saints of the early Church.

Born around 316 to pagan parents, Martin was required to serve in the Roman army as a young man. While still a catechumen, tradition tells that he encountered a poorly clothed beggar and cut his military cloak in two, giving half to the man. That night, Martin dreamed of Christ wearing the cloak he had given away.

After his baptism, Martin eventually left military service and became a disciple of Saint Hilary of Poitiers. Drawn to a life of prayer, he founded a monastic community near Poitiers and later became Bishop of Tours, despite his reluctance to accept the office.

As bishop, Martin continued to live simply and travelled extensively to preach the Gospel. He also opposed the use of violence against those considered heretics, pleading for mercy even when doing so brought him criticism.

Martin died in 397. Unlike many of the most widely venerated saints before him, he was not a martyr, and his popularity helped establish a wider tradition of honouring saints for lives of exceptional holiness and Christian witness.

His famous act of sharing his cloak remains a powerful reminder that in serving those in need, we encounter Christ himself.

🙏 Saint Martin of Tours, pray for us.

11Nov

Gospel

11 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel
Luke 17:11-19
‘No one was found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner.’

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When he saw them he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’

10Nov

Could God be calling you to the priesthood?

10 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Could God be calling you to the priesthood?

We recently asked Fr John Carroll, Rector of the Royal Scots College in Salamanca, what he loves about being a priest.

Priests for Scotland will hold a “Come and See” weekend on 5–6 December 2026 for men discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood. If you’d like to find out more, contact your diocesan vocations director.

10Nov

Photos from Missio Scotland's post

10 Nov, 2026 | Missio Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

As the Bishops' Conference of Scotland's chosen charity for Scotland's Catholic primary schools, it's always a joy not only to visit the school communities themselves but also to see how proud they are of their engagement with the #PopesCharity, like Mount Carmel PS in Kilmarnock are here! 🙏✝💙

#MissionaryChildren #childrenhelpingchildren

@followers RC Kilmarnock Parents & Friends of Mount Carmel

10Nov

Archbishop's statement on the Draft Conversion Practices Bill - Catholic Bishops' Conference

10 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | Being Catholic |

Archbishop John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool and Chair of the Department for Social Justice at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has issued a statement expressing serious concerns about the proposed Conversion Practices Bill.

While reaffirming the Catholic Church’s opposition to all forms of abuse, Archbishop Sherrington warns that the proposed legislation could threaten freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the ability of the Church to provide pastoral care.

He calls on politicians to reconsider the Bill and instead focus on enforcing existing protections against abuse and coercion.

Read the full statement here:

The Most Reverend John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool and chair of the Department for Social Justice for the Bishops’ Conference, has issued a statement on the Draft Conversion Practices Bill that has been shared with Parliament to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny: “I would like to express...

10Nov

Archbishop's statement on the Draft Conversion Practices Bill - Catholic Bishops' Conference

10 Nov, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |