The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Pope Francis RIP

17th December 1936 – 21st April 2025

May he rest in peace

Message of Bishop Keenan President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

It was with deep sadness that we woke to the news that Pope Francis has died and we share in the sense of loss of millions of people across the world. It is a consolation to us that he went to the LORD on Easter Monday and the great Easter Day as a sort of first fruits of the salvation which the Risen Christ shares with His Church.

We thank GOD for the Pope’s service which was always human and humble in its informal style and with a message of GOD’s universal love and unconditional mercy that brought hope to so many.

A man of the poor who lived simply, Pope Francis was a voice for the voiceless and all those who find themselves on the margins in our world. A man of peace, he called the Church to listen to everyone, to move forward together as a family, to find a conciliatory approach to those of different beliefs and lifestyles, for an end to conflicts across the world and for the care of Creation as GOD’s precious gift to humanity.

He gave of himself to the end, offering up his final illness with serenity, his last acts being to visit Rome’s prison on Holy Thursday and to wish the crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s a Happy Easter.

We pray he will be enjoying the full fruits of the Resurrection, resting from his work, his good deeds going with him.

May he rest in peace.

Bishop John Keenan

Read the Pastoral Letter on Assisted Suicide - National Day of Prayer - April 2025

Pastoral Letter on Assisted Suicide - National Day of Prayer - April 2025 Click to open

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.

Click here to visit the Jubilee 2025 website

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

News from the Commissions and Agencies

Archive by category: Justice & Peace Scotland FacebookReturn

November 2024

11Nov

Photos from Justice and Peace Scotland's post

11 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

As the COP29 climate summit begins today in Baku, Azerbaijan, we share this prayer written by our friends CAFOD and ask our supporters to pray that world leaders and all delegates may prioritise people, planet and care for our common home during all discussions, decision-making and action over the coming days. 🙏🌍

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

06Nov

We are at a pivotal point in Scotland's climate journey

06 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

We are at a pivotal point in Scotland's climate journey. Legislation to revise Scotland's legal climate framework has now passed, and the Scottish elections are on the horizon.

We’ve joined over 70 organisations and called on the First Minister to act and commit increased fair funding to:

🚏 Enable people to walk, wheel and cycle safely, and get about quickly and easily on an affordable and reliable public transport network;

🏠Power our homes through cleaner forms of heating and ensure they are properly insulated, protecting households from the risk of fuel poverty and improving health.

👩‍🌾 Support farmers, crofters and fisheries to manage our land and seas in ways that protect and restore nature and reduce emissions, cutting food waste and promoting healthy and sustainable diets; and

♻️ Help people develop the skills needed for a new low carbon, circular economy, and deploy fast, fair and managed plans to fully transition away from reliance on polluting fossil fuels.

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

05Nov

Will you join Justice & Peace Scotland, SCIAF and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland's Office for the Care of Creation in Glasg...

05 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

Will you join Justice & Peace Scotland, SCIAF and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland's Office for the Care of Creation in Glasgow next Thursday to pray for the success of COP29? All information in the flyer below. 👇

“I ask everyone to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful.” Pope Francis, Laudate Deum 69.🌎💚

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

05Nov

This promises to be an insightful and interesting talk if you are in or around the Glasgow area and are free on Thursday evening...

05 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

This promises to be an insightful and interesting talk if you are in or around the Glasgow area and are free on Thursday evening!

This week we welcome the Newman Association's lecturer and distinguished guest. Professor Mary McAleese - 8th President of Ireland and Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin - will speak on "Human Rights and Church Law". Thursday 7th November at 7.30 in the Immaculate Conception Church hall. All welcome. (Please share this post for us)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

04Nov

At the Bishops’ Conference November meeting Bishop Keenan was elected president of the Conference Bishop McGee vice-president an...

04 Nov, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

At the Bishops’ Conference November meeting Bishop Keenan was elected president of the Conference Bishop McGee vice-president and Bishop McKenzie episcopal secretary. Many thanks to Bishop Gilbert who retired as president. 🙏

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

October 2024

28Oct

⛪MASS FOR COP29

28 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

⛪MASS FOR COP29

Join us to pray for the success of the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 11th - Nov 22nd. COP29 will see leaders and activists gathering from all over the world to address the climate crisis.

We will come together on Thursday 14th November in Glasgow to pray that they may make decisions and advance actions that prioritise people and planet and that safeguard our common home. 🌎💚

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

23Oct

❓How can we use the principles of CST to help us understand the way to build a just and flourishing society for all human beings...

23 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

❓How can we use the principles of CST to help us understand the way to build a just and flourishing society for all human beings?

Join us tomorrow evening at St Anthony's and St Mark's Rutherglen for our second seminar on CST: "A Requirement of Justice and Charity: Striving for the Common Good and the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching."

🗓️Thurs, 24th October
🕢7.30pm
📍St Anthony's Church, Mar Gardens, Rutherglen
👐All welcome!

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

22Oct

Dunkeld Diocese held their annual Mission Day in Our Lady of Victories Dundee on Saturday 19th October

22 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

Dunkeld Diocese held their annual Mission Day in Our Lady of Victories Dundee on Saturday 19th October. The annual event coincides with Mission Sunday and involves people across the diocese coming together to discuss a topic related to the areas of mission, justice and peace, or caritas and to consider how they can respond.

The theme for this year was "Persecuted Christians" and attendees were joined on the day by their new bishop, Bishop Andrew McKenzie, and Canon Kevin Golden, Fr Mike Freyne and Fr Tobias Okoro. Two of our Diocesan Commissioners at Justice & Peace Scotland, Sue and Nick, were involved on the day, too.

If you have a good news story about any justice and peace related work happening in your parish, school or diocese, we want to hear about it!
Drop us a message at Office@justiceandpeacescotland.org.uk and we will share your stories to help inspire others.

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

22Oct

We are in St Nicholas' Primary School in Broxburn about to deliver our workshop on the Journey of a Cotton T-shirt to their P6s

22 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

We are in St Nicholas' Primary School in Broxburn about to deliver our workshop on the Journey of a Cotton T-shirt to their P6s. 👕🔄

If you would like to book this input for Primary or Secondary, drop us an email at:
Office@justiceandpeacescotland.org.uk

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

18Oct

Romero and Ukraine - Resilience in the face of injustice

18 Oct, 2024 | Justice and Peace Scotland | Justice & Peace Scotland Facebook |

⏱️15 minute countdown until we are live for The Romero Lecture at the Edinburgh Jesuit Centre.

🕊️Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, will shortly speak on 'Romero and Ukraine: Reslience in the Face of Injustice'.

📺Tune in to our livestream on YouTube at 7pm to follow along:

Archbishop St. Oscar Romero, the outspoken advocate for justice and non-violence in his native El Salvador, has long inspired Christians around the whole wor...

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)