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

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

January 2026

03Jan

Gospel of the day (John 1:29-34)

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

Gospel of the day (John 1:29-34)

At that time: John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’

02Jan

This Sunday is the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord and the Church’s annual Day of Prayer for Justice and Peace

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

This Sunday is the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord and the Church’s annual Day of Prayer for Justice and Peace.

Justice & Peace Scotland is a Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, supporting prayer and reflection on peace, human rights, and care for creation.

As the Church celebrates the Epiphany, the light of Christ is revealed anew to the world. At the beginning of the year, the Church turns again to prayer for peace, asking for hearts open to conversion and renewal.

02Jan

The wise men from the East were truth seekers

02 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

The wise men from the East were truth seekers. When they heard that the king of kings was coming into the world, they set out to find him.

Their reward was to meet the Child Jesus and experience his beautiful presence.

Their natural response was to bow down before Jesus with reverence and awe.

During these joyful days of Christmas and as we prepare to celebrate the Epiphany, may we be moved to search for Jesus. In the quiet of our hearts we can meet him in prayer.

In his beautiful presence, we can lay before him the gift of our love. This gift is even more precious to Jesus than the precious gifts the wise men presented to him.

Greg writes the Word of the Week as an encouragement and focus for you this week.

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02Jan

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen | 02 January 2026

02 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen | 02 January 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

02Jan

Today we honour Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, close friends and towering figures of the early Church

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

Today we honour Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, close friends and towering figures of the early Church. United by a deep love of Christ, they helped shape Christian theology at a time of intense division and confusion.

Saint Basil laid the foundations of Eastern monastic life, combining prayer with tireless service of the poor, while boldly defending the divinity of Christ against the Arian heresy. Saint Gregory, known as the Theologian, used his extraordinary gift for preaching to proclaim the mystery of the Holy Trinity with clarity and courage.

Together, they stood firm for the truth of the faith, even when misunderstood or opposed, leaving a legacy that continues to guide the Church today.

Saints Basil and Gregory, pray for us.

02Jan

Gospel of the day (John 1:19-28)

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

Gospel of the day (John 1:19-28)

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord”, as the prophet Isaiah said.’ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, ‘Then why are you baptising, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptise with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptising.

01Jan

Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for January 2026

01 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for January 2026

For prayer with the Word of God
Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

01Jan

Holy Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God | 01 January 2026

01 Jan, 2026 | Being Catholic | Being Catholic |

Holy Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God | 01 January 2026
This music is licensed under one license number: A-623356

01Jan

As the Christmas season continues, the Church invites us to reflect on Mary’s divine motherhood

01 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

As the Christmas season continues, the Church invites us to reflect on Mary’s divine motherhood. Far from taking the focus away from Christmas, Mary helps us understand more deeply the mystery of God becoming man.

At the Annunciation, Mary freely says yes to God’s plan, allowing the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity to take flesh. Elizabeth recognises this extraordinary moment when she calls Mary “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43).

St Paul echoes this truth when he writes that God sent his Son, “born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4), and reminds us that through Christ we become children of God. In this way, Mary’s motherhood extends to all who belong to her Son.

From the earliest centuries, the Church has honoured Mary with the title Mother of God (Theotokos), solemnly affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 and cherished in the Church’s faith to this day.

01Jan

Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:16-21)

01 Jan, 2026 | Bishops' Conference of Scotland | BCoS Facebook |

Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:16-21)

At that time: The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.