By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 6 days ago
14 JANUARY 2020
The Bishops of Scotland have appointed Fr Gerard Maguiness to be the new General Secretary of the Bishops' Conference. Fr Maguiness is currently Parish Priest of St Ignatius’, Wishaw, in the Diocese of Motherwell. He succeeds Fr Jim Grant who was appointed in 2018.
Commenting on the appointment, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland said;
“I am delighted to welcome Fr Gerard to his new post and together with all the members of the conference, look forward to working with him in future. I extend our warmest thanks to Fr. Jim Grant for his service and to Bishop Toal for his willingness to support the conference and its work by lending one of his priests as General Secretary.”
Reacting to his appointment, Fr Maguiness said:
"I look forward to serving the Catholic Church in Scotland as General Secretary to the Bishops. I am grateful to Mgr Michael Conway and my parishioners from St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, Wishaw, for their support and prayers for this new challenge."
Bishop Joe Toal, Bishop of Motherwell said:
“I am grateful to Fr Grant for the time and dedication he gave to the role of General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. I have asked him to take up the post of Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier’s, Carfin, following the illness of Fr Francis McGachey, who stood down as Parish Priest of St Francis’ Xavier’s last year.”
Bishop Toal added;
“I am pleased that the Diocese of Motherwell can continue to contribute generously to the National Church by allowing Fr Gerard Maguiness to serve as General Secretary. I am sure he will bring his many talents to that role and I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide him as he accepts this new challenge.”
ENDS
Peter Kearney Director Catholic Media Office 5 St. Vincent Place Glasgow G1 2DH 0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org
Note to Editors:
Fr Maguine...
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 17th December 2019
17th December 2019
Bishop Hugh Gilbert – Bishop of Aberdeen and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
May I wish everyone a joyful Christmas and all good things for 2020! We don’t know the future, but we do know that God is with us – always, everywhere. And that changes everything.
What can we wish for others, for our family and friends, for ourselves? What about change? That might sound rude. But not if it’s meant well. Christmas – God with us – changes everything and something can shift in us through celebrating it. Something new can enter and change our standard selves.
At Christmas – at the Annunciation, to be precise – God changed. God became something he was not: a human being. He did this freely, out of love for us. He did not change who he always is, one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He did not change his ‘character’. He didn’t stop being God. But the Second Person of the Trinity took on a human nature, ‘added’ humanity to himself. He embraced it, married it. He was born of a mother, died on a cross, rose from the dead – all as a real human being. Now, humanity is part of God - the Son of God - forever. Unbelievable! Yet this is our faith.
At Christmas, God changed. He changed so as to change us. He took on us so that we can take on him. God lived a human life so we can – unbelievably – live a divine one.
What does this mean? Not throwing our weight around; God doesn’t do that. But with the help of the Holy Spirit and in the limits of our humanity, trying to reflect the goodness of God - freely, out of love. Trying to humble ourselves, like God. Trying to serve one another, as Jesus did. Trying to make a good gift of our own life, as the Father gifted his Son and his Son gifted himself. We can try to be ‘with’ one another, carrying each other’s burdens as Christ carried our cross. God could have forgotten us, as we had forgotten him. But he didn’t. In the Ch...
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 17th December 2019
17th January 2020
Bishops from across Europe and North America called on their governments to insist on the application of international law in Israel and Palestine, following their visit to the Holy Land this week.
The bishops of the Holy Land Coordination, including Scotland’s Bishop William Nolan of the Diocese of Galloway, who visit the region every year in support of the local Church to promote dialogue and peace, said they were inspired by the enduring resilience of the people they met in Gaza, East Jerusalem and Ramallah despite the worsening situation.
However, they echoed the local bishops’ lament of the international community’s failure to realise justice and peace in the land of Christ’s birth. While the political solution had ultimately to be shaped by the people of the Holy Land through dialogue, they said there was an urgent need for the governments in their own countries in Europe, Canada and the USA to play an essential part by:
Insisting on the application of international law;
Following the Holy See's lead in recognising the State of Palestine;
Addressing the security concerns of Israel and the right of all to live in safety;
Rejecting political or economic support for settlements
And resolutely opposing acts of violence or abuses of human rights by any side.
They concluded their final communique with prayer for the peace of Jerusalem.
ENDS
Peter Kearney
Director
Catholic Media Office
5 St. Vincent Place
Glasgow
G1 2DH
Tel: 0141 221 1168
Mob: 07968 122291
ISDN: 0141 204 4956
pk@scmo.org
www.scmo.org
Notes to Editors
Pictures of the Holy Land Coordination 2020 are available at: flickr.com/photos/catholicism
Holy Land Coordination 2020 - Final Communique
We must not ignore the voice of people in the Holy Land
Every year we come to encounter and hear the people of the Holy Land. We are inspired by their enduring resilience and faith in a worse...
By SCMO in News Releases, Blogging | 27th November 2019
27th November 2019
Ten Scottish church leaders have joined together in calling for a respectful tone in the ongoing political debate - that recognises the human value in all people.
As campaigning enters the final three weeks before the General Election on 12 December, the leaders have urged people to think of the many issues that unite rather than divide.
The statement says:
“As people of faith, we believe in the flourishing of local communities and the importance of acting to make sure this can become a reality. There are many issues which divide us but many more that can unite us – and the realisation of a fairer, more equal and more just society is one of them.”
It adds:
“We are all entitled to our own opinions and strong beliefs, and debates sometimes do get passionate and vigorous. But let us ensure that truthfulness and integrity are at the forefront of what we say and do.”
The Scottish church leaders represent the main Christian denominations in Scotland including the Church of Scotland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
ENDS
Peter Kearney
Director
Catholic Media Office
5 St. Vincent Place
Glasgow
G1 2DH
Tel: 0141 221 1168
Mob: 07968 122291
ISDN: 0141 204 4956
pk@scmo.org
www.scmo.org
Notes to Editors:
1. FULL TEXT OF STATEMENT AND SIGNATORIES
“As the UK General Election approaches on 12 December, we would like to remind people of the hope that we share as we approach this special time of year – of new life and a new world, and the inspiration this gives us to create a better society for us all – one in which we truly care about those around us.
“We would like to take this opportunity to encourage people to be prayerful as they vote and make decisions that will affect the future of our country.
“We would urge people to treat those who are standing for public office with respect and to use a tone in our debat...
