Here is a  summary of the Plenary Meeting of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, which met at the Conforti Centre in Coatbridge 3-5 November 2025.

- One of the focal points of the meeting was the launch of the new office for Communications and Evangelisation that will be led by Bishop Dougan with assistance from Fr Michael Kane and Elaine Furmage of Being Catholic. The goal of the new office is to incorporate Being Catholic as an arm of the Bishops’ Conference and to tell the good news stories of the Church in Scotland.

- Rectors from both the Pontifical Scots College Rome and the Royal Scots College in Salamanca gave their annual reports. Seminary formation was also discussed - students now complete both a pastoral year and a diaconate year mainly in Scotland in addition to academic studies in Salamanca and Rome.

- Bishop Gilbert, recently re-elected as chair of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, ICEL, outlined the new translation for the Rite of Infant Baptism.< - The Scottish Catholic Education Service, SCES, reported on the numerous events both at national and local level that have taken place in schools especially the pilgrimage of newly qualified teachers to Rome and their encounter with Pope Leo. The input of SCES for the review of the national curriculum was highlighted. - Anthony Horan of the Catholic Parliamentary Office focused his report on the proposed anti-life legislation that attacks both the sick and elderly in assisted suicide, and the unborn with the radical proposal to decriminalise abortion.

- The signed St Ninian Declaration of Friendship with the Scottish Episcopal Church was presented by Archbishop Cushley

- The BCOS Inter-religious officer spoke about a recent effort to engage with High schools especially St Roch’s and Holyrood High schools, both of which have pupils from many cultural backgrounds and faiths.

- Aid to the Church in Need visited the Conference, represented by William More who spoke about the conference held in Glasgow last February showcasing Catholic agencies and Catholic identity in Scotland today. He also asked the Bishops to support Red Wednesday later this month.< - Care of Creation reported on a very successful Season of Creation Conference in September, the Care of Creation Schools competition, this year won by St Columba’s Cupar, and the Mass to be celebrated on Mon 10th Nov for the success of COP30 in Belem, Brazil. - The Conference welcomed Lady Rae and Paul Donaldson of the SCSSA who engaged the Bishops with the review of last year’s national safeguarding audit and also looked forward to the National Safeguarding Conference to be held at Strathclyde University on the 8 November.

- Also welcomed to the meeting was Lorraine Currie, Director of SCIAF who expressed great satisfaction with the campaigns and events that have celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of our overseas aid agency.

Other matters discussed were:

Stella Maris (chaplaincy to seafarers), marriage annulment processes; The request by lay faithful to promote the cause of Joe Wilson, a teenager who died tragically in Motherwell Diocese, an update on the worj undertaken by Justice & Peace Scotland

Bishop Keenan, Bishop President of the Conference, thanked all participants at the plenary and commended them for their work on behalf of the Catholic Church in Scotland.