The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Allan Ocdenaria who died peacefully in the early hours of this morning. He was 56.

Fr Allan served at Our Lady Star of the Sea, North Berwick and Our Lady of the Waves in Dunbar since 2023. He has ministered in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh since 2007, beginning at St Luke & St Anne's in Dalkeith, St Mary's Cathedral, St John the Baptist in Fauldhouse, and St Matthew’s, Rosewell-Bonnyrigg-Gorebridge.

Allan Fernando Banga Ocdenaria was born in the Philippines on 30 May 1969 and grew up there. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2000 and later became incardinated into our Archdiocese. He celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination last year. Fr Allan served faithfully, quietly and was known for his great kindness and devotion. He had been ill for some time and died at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.

Holy Mass for the repose of his soul will take place at Our Lady Star of the Sea on Wednesday 27 May at 7:00pm. Funeral details will be shared in due course.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Gospel
Mark 10:32-45
‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over.’

At that time: The disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him, and spit on him, and flog him, and kill him. And after three days he will rise.’
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?’ And they said to him, ‘We are able.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ And when the Ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗫𝗜𝗩: 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟰 – 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺

This reflection focuses on the practical consequences of digital transformation on personal and social life, identifying three key areas in which the safeguarding of the human dimension is at stake today: truth, work and freedom. The reflection shows how artificial intelligence and digital technologies do not merely affect tools, but progressively shape behaviours, relationships and the structures of social coexistence.

The first dimension addressed is that of truth, recognised as a common good essential to democratic life. In the digital ecosystem, the spread of manipulated information, altered images and polarising narratives risks blurring the boundaries between true and false. The text draws attention to the fact that truth does not arise from technical automatisms, but from trustworthy relationships and shared practices of responsibility, recalling that ‘the quality of public communication depends directly on social trust’. Truth is thus presented as a fragile reality, which must be safeguarded through critical education and the responsible use of technologies. The second area is that of work, described as a fundamental aspect of human dignity and the ordinary means of participating in social life. Automation and artificial intelligence offer real possibilities for transformation, but they also entail significant risks of instability and exclusion. The text warns against a model of development in which ‘workers are often forced to adapt to the speed of machines, rather than machines being designed to assist workers.’ When efficiency becomes the dominant criterion, work risks losing its human and relational value.

Finally, the text addresses the issue of freedom, which is threatened both by digital addictions and by new forms of social control based on the mass collection of data. Technologies can invisibly shape choices and behaviour, reducing the scope for truly free decision-making. For this reason, the text clearly states that ‘freedom, in the digital age, is not merely an internal matter: it is also a public issue’, requiring fair rules, shared responsibility and education.

Taken together, these three areas show that digital transformation is not neutral and requires a collective commitment to safeguarding the conditions for a truly human life, one capable of truth, decent work and genuine freedom.

Read the full document by visiting: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html

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