DoPEducation

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Following a request from the Holy See, the Bishops of Scotland have been invited to reflect on how the structures of the Church in our country can best serve her mission in the years ahead, specifically whether the present situation of eight dioceses is suitable. We are all aware of the challenges before us — fewer clergy, changing patterns of practice, and increasing pressures on our diocesan resources, among other things. Yet our mission remains unchanged: to proclaim the Gospel and to lead our people to Christ. Two possible pathways are being proposed for careful discernment: developing deeper cooperation and the sharing of resources across dioceses within our present structures, or the merging of some dioceses. In order to best inform ourselves and the Holy See, each bishop will engage with his diocese over the coming months for the first part of this process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pray, reflect, and contribute. Following-on from the presentation of a discussion paper, responses from each diocese will contribute to the initial findings which will be given to the Holy See in the Autumn. This is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a pastoral and missionary response to our changing landscape. This process will ensure our Church in Scotland will continue to grow ever more missionary, more Christ-centred, and more collaborative in the service of God’s people. Entrusting this work to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Our Lady, we move forward together with confidence and renewed hope.

Parish Bulletin w/e 21-22 March 2026.

@st_josephps Congratulations! We will continue to keep the P4 children in our prayers. 🙏

Congratulations to our Primary 4 who made their First Confession. Their singing was wonderful and they were so reverent throughout. Thank you to Ms Christie for preparing them so well. 🙏

Our bulletin this week contains the schedule for Holy Week and the Sacred Paschal Triduum:

@StMarysPS14 @GaidhligWPS @WhinhillPS Congratulations! 👏👏👏

Our amazing Euro Quiz team finished First this week in the Inverclyde competition! Delighted for them and so proud! We can’t wait for the final now⭐️🥇 Thank you to @GaidhligWPS and @WhinhillPS for organising and hosting this event as always!

@StJohnsPG @ArdgowanHospice @StJohns_Nursery A wonderful example of generosity.

@CraigmarlochINV Congratulations!

Craigmarloch are 'Invincible' League Champions! Our league season culminated in success earlier today, when our football saw off competition from other ASN Schools across the West of Scotland. (1/3 thread 🧵)

Listen to the longing in the Beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and let yourself enter into it, carrying with you all of the concerns on your heart as we pray together. #PrayAsYouGo #HolyLonging #Lent #Prayer #Reflection

Education, pastoral care and community support are lifelines for young Christians growing up amid ongoing pressures. You can keep these vital projects running and help them to thrive! orlo.uk/P3ea7 #HelpChristianChildren #GiveHope #ACNUK

𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀’ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has published an Election Briefing Pack ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. This comprehensive resource aims to guide Catholics in Scotland to engage thoughtfully and prayerfully in the democratic process, reflecting on their responsibilities as citizens and disciples of Jesus Christ. ​ The briefing highlights key principles of Catholic Social Teaching, including human dignity, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity, and addresses critical moral issues such as the protection of life, care for the poor, accessible healthcare, environmental stewardship, and the defence of religious freedom. It also provides suggested questions for candidates, encouraging voters to engage with political representatives on topics such as poverty, family, education, and peacebuilding. ​ The pack includes a pastoral letter from Scotland’s Catholic bishops, urging voters to approach the election with faith-formed consciences and a commitment to justice, compassion, and unity. ​The bishops emphasise the importance of electing a Parliament with integrity and which prioritises the dignity of the most vulnerable in society. ​ Additionally, the pack offers practical resources, including a guide to hosting hustings and a link to find local candidates. A special prayer for the election is included, inviting Catholics to seek God’s guidance in their voting decisions. ​ For more information and resources, visit rcpolitics.org/scottish-parli…

@ndhs1 Well done!

⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💫 Head Girl Erin scores for Scotland! 💫🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽️ Erin seals the victory against Greece earlier today - just an average Wednesday for our Wonder Woman 🤩🤩🤩 Congratulations, Erin! We are so proud of you ❤️ #loveandambition #beliefperseverancerespect

The Sunday Gospel for week 5 of Lent reflects on the special friendship we find with Jesus. Discover more in our free CotW: inc global art, hymn links, Gospel reflection and pupil led prayers. Find on our #MissionTogether website @CathEdService @ATCRE_EW @EducareMUK @CISCSchools

Saint Joseph was a simple manual worker, descended from the royal house of David, yet chosen by God to be the spouse of the Mother of God. Scripture says little about him, but it gives him a powerful title. He was a just man. This tells us he faithfully protected and guarded the greatest treasures on earth, Jesus and Mary. One of the most painful moments of his life was discovering that Mary was with child. Yet in that trial his greatness was revealed. Trusting God completely, he became the quiet and trustworthy witness to the mystery of Christ’s birth. After this, he steps gently into the background of the Gospel story. Tradition holds that he died before Jesus began his public ministry. His death is often described as the most beautiful, in the presence of Jesus and Mary. For centuries he remained hidden and little spoken of, but devotion to him grew especially from the fifteenth century onwards. Today the Church honours him on 19 March and again on 1 May as patron of workers. He is also the patron of fathers, carpenters, social justice and of the dying. In Joseph we see holiness lived in quiet faithfulness, humility and trust.

@ArchdiocGlasgow RIP Fr Currie 🙏

It is with sorrow that the death is announced of Fr Pat Currie, former Parish Priest of St Joseph’s, Milngavie. Father Pat died this afternoon in the care of St Margaret’s Hospice. Please pray for him and his family. Requiescat in pace

@stbenedictsren Well done! #servingthecommongood

Two of our Caritas pupils attended 12 noon Mass at St Margaret’s on Sunday and supported the coffee morning afterwards. The SVDP collection raised £200 for our partnership with St Patrick’s School, Malawi. Thank you to the SVDP for your support.

Gospel of the Day (John 5,17-30) Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me." vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the…

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 MSPs can be confident that they have taken the correct and responsible course of action. Their vote serves to protect some of Scotland’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of being pressured into a premature death. Every human life possesses inherent value. Genuine compassion is not expressed through ending a life, but through accompanying those who suffer and ensuring they receive the medical, emotional, and spiritual support that recognises their dignity. No life is without worth. As a society, our responsibility is not to address suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to surround each person with care, respect, and dignity until their natural end. Today’s decision moves Scotland further in that direction, and MSPs should be commended for this. However, we must continue to make progress. Our next priority must be to strengthen palliative care by ensuring that it is properly funded and accessible to all who require it. I would like to express my gratitude to all MSPs for their serious engagement with this issue and for the thoughtful and considered attention they have given to the bill. I am especially grateful to those who upheld the principle of human dignity and advocated on behalf of the vulnerable. Your principled commitment has not gone unnoticed. Bishop John Keenan President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland

Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. #Disarmament #Peace #Dialogue #PrayTogether #PrayerIntention #PopesPrayerNetwork

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those within the Catholic community who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, including the many thousands who contacted their MSPs. You have spoken up for the weak and vulnerable and parliamentarians have listened." Anthony Horan, Director, Catholic Parliamentary Office rcpolitics.org/a-stand-for-th…