By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 08th March 2024
Ordination of new Bishop of Galloway
8 March 2024
The Episcopal Ordination Mass of Fr Frank Dougan as the ninth Bishop of Galloway will take place on Saturday 9th March at the parish of St Peter in Chains, Ardrossan at 11,00am.
Fr. Dougan was appointed on 22 December 2023, by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway. He succeeds Archbishop William Nolan who was Bishop of Galloway from 2014 to 2022 when he became Archbishop of Glasgow.
The bishops ordaining Fr. Frank on 9th March are Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archbishop William Nolan, and Bishop Joseph Toal. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía the Apostolic Nuncio will be present both at the ordination and at the Mass of Reception in St Margaret's Cathedral in Ayr on Sunday 10th March at 15.00 when Fr. Frank will take possession of his cathedral.
The ordination will be livestreamed on YouTube (@RCGalloway) and Facebook (/GallowayDiocese). The stream will begin at 10.30 am, with the Mass beginning at 11.00 am. To watch the livestream online, click here or use the embedded player.
Bishop Dougan will formally be received into St Margaret's Cathedral on Sunday 10th March. The Mass of Reception will be livestreamed on YouTube (@RCGalloway) and Facebook (/GallowayDiocese). The stream will begin at 2.30 pm, with the Mass beginning at 3.00 pm.
ENDS
Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org
Note to Editors:
Photographs will be available from Paul McSherry on 07770 393960
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By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 02nd February 2024
Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Dunkeld
2 February 2024
At 12 noon today (2 February 2024) in Rome (11am GMT) it was announced, that Pope Francis had nominated Fr. Martin Chambers as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld. He will succeed Bishop Stephen Robson who was Bishop of Dunkeld from 2013 to 2022 when he retired on health grounds, since when it has been administered by Fr. Kevin Golden.
Reacting to his appointment, Fr. Martin said;“One of the catchphrases of Pope Francis is that, as Christians, we are called to be ‘Missionary Disciples’. The Pope reminds us that, yes, we are all called to take our part in the mission of spreading the Good News in our families and within our local community. However, the Pope reminds us that, first of all, we must sit as disciples at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him and letting Him guide our steps.”
“As I set out on this new Mission as Bishop of Dunkeld, I pledge to sit in prayer as a Disciple at the feet of Jesus, listening to his voice calling me forward in faith. Together, with Christ’s strength and inspiration, we will all be able to continue to build the Kingdom in the Diocese of Dunkeld.”
Fr. Martin added;
“I am also conscious that many years ago, I was accepted into seminary by Bishop Joseph McGee. He was the Bishop of Galloway who had started off as a priest of Dunkeld Diocese. In a strange way, I am returning a compliment in faith for, having started as a priest of Galloway, I am now becoming Bishop of Dunkeld.”
Responding to the news Diocesan Administrator Fr. Kevin Golden said:
“The whole community of the Diocese of Dunkeld will rejoice with me today at the appointment of Father Martin Chambers as our new Bishop. We assure him of a warm welcome as he comes among us and offer him our prayers and a steadfast commitment to working with him as he shepherds our Diocese into the future, inspired by the vision of our Holy Father Pope Francis. We renew our appreciatio...
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 26th January 2024
58th World Day of Social Communications
In his message for the 58th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis has urged humanity to cultivate wisdom of the heart in the age of artificial intelligence. AI is “radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society,” says the Pope in his Communications Day message, adding that “these changes affect everyone.” Commenting on the dangers of referring to “machine learning” as “intelligence” the Pope explains that it is not enough to be able to store data, like machines do, but that this data must be made sense of, and “human beings alone” are capable of this. The Pope notes that the technology of simulation behind AI algorithms can be useful in certain specific fields.
The full text of the Pope’s message is shown below.
Communications Sunday will be on 12 May 2024
Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org
Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart:
Towards a Fully Human Communication
Dear brothers and sisters!
The development of systems of artificial intelligence, to which I devoted my recent Message for the World Day of Peace, is radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society. These changes affect everyone, not merely professionals in those fields. The rapid spread of astonishing innovations, whose workings and potential are beyond the ability of most of us to understand and appreciate, has proven both exciting and disorienting. This leads inevitably to deeper questions about the nature of human beings, our distinctiveness and the future of the specieshomo sapiensin the age of artificial intelligence. How can we remain fully human and guide this cultural transformation to serve a good purpose?
Starting with the heart
Before all else, we need to set aside cat...
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 26th January 2024
Scotland’s Bishops welcome release of Nicaraguan clergy
Friday 26 January 2024
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has issued a statement, following the release of Bishop Rolando Alvares and 19 others by the Government of Nicaragua.
“Following the condemnation of Scotland’s Bishops in February 2023 of the unjust sentencing of Bishop Rolando Alvares to 26 years imprisonment in Nicaragua together with other clergy, we welcome the news that Bishop Alvares, together with 2 other bishops, 15 priests and 2 seminarians have been released.
Although the clergy concerned have been released, it is a matter of great sadness that they have been exiled from Nicaragua by the regime of President Daniel Ortega. We welcome the diplomatic efforts of the Holy See, which has allowed them to travel to the Vatican.
Scotland’s Bishops join with Pope Francis in praying that “that the path of dialogue will always be sought to overcome difficulties” and that the persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua will end.”
Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org
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