Archbishop announces clergy moves

Archbishop Cushley has announced the following clergy moves:

These moves will become canonically effective on Saturday 2 August 2025.

GALLERY: The St Margaret Pilgrimage

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the St Margaret Pilgrimage in Dunfermline on Sunday!

The highlight of the event was the colourful procession through the city centre with the relic of St Margaret.

In his homily, Archbishop Cushley said: "Thank you again for joining us to honour our great patron Saint Margaret.

"I’m grateful to Fr Syriac and the people of St Margaret’s parish, the musicians, helpers and volunteers, and everyone in Dunfermline for their warm welcome to the town."

Our next event is the Corpus Christi Procession in Kilsyth at 3:00pm on Sunday 22 June. Please join us to give public witness to the Eucharistic Christ!

Gallery

The Comrie & Inverkeithing Pipe Band lead the procession through Dunfermline City Centre.
Pilgrims who walked from Kelty outside St Margaret's Cave.
Members of the The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Members of the Knights of St Columba with Archbishop Leo.
Archbishop Leo with altar servers from St Margaret's Church.
Holy Mass at St Margaret's Church.
Archbishop Leo with a dad and his daughter after blessing her rosary beads.
Holy Mass at St Margaret's Church.
Members of the Order of Malta.
Ecumenical Prayer Sercice at Shrine of St Margaret at Dunfermline Abbey.
Archbishop Cushley chats with pilgrims and parishioners after Mass.

 

Parish bulletin update for this Sunday

Here is our round-up of forthcoming events for parish bulletins.

St Margaret's Pilgrimage - Sunday 8 June
Join Archbishop Leo, clergy, and people from across Scotland for the procession through Dunfermline town centre with the relic of St Margaret at 2:00pm, followed by Holy Mass at 3:00pm in St Margaret's Church. Full schedule in the news-events section at archedinburgh.org

Day for Life: Special Collection next Sunday
The Day for Life is when we celebrate the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death. It takes place on Sunday 15 June and a collection will be taken up at Mass for the work of the apostolate of life. This year’s theme is Hope Does Not Disappoint – Finding Meaning in Suffering and we are invited to pray for those who suffer and to remain with them, bearing witness to their unique and unrepeatable value.

Study Catholic Theology in Edinburgh
Interested in finding out more about the MA in Applied Catholic Theology at St Mary's University Scottish campus in Edinburgh? An online information event takes place at 6:00pm on Tuesday 17 June where you can hear from staff and current students. Register at bit.ly/stmarysuni or email stephen.dolan@stmarys.ac.uk

Corpus Christi Procession: Sunday 22 June
Archbishop Leo will lead the Archdiocesan Corpus Christi Procession from St Patrick’s Church in Kilsyth at 3:00pm on Sunday 22 June. First Holy Communicants in the Archdiocese are invited to take a special place in the procession wearing their formal clothes. Parking available at the Church. Contact St Patrick's to reserve disabled/minibus parking or to book a space on the free shuttle buses from Croy train station to the Church: priest.stpatrickskilsyth@staned.org.uk or 01236 822136.

Urgent: Oppose the Assisted Suicide Bill
The Assisted Suicide Bill is set for a final debate and vote at Westminster on Friday 13 June. Please pray for wisdom and compassion in our society and to contact your MP to express your opposition to the bill. Your personal stories and concerns matter. Find your MP at https://writetothem.com

Jubilee Year Picnic for families
The Archdiocesan Jubilee Year picnic takes place on Saturday 28 June, 11:00am – 4:00pm at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. There will be spiritual talks on the theme of Hope and talks and games for children. Includes Rosary at The Grotto and concludes with Holy Mass in St Margaret's Chapel. Childcare provided. Register at bit.ly/archpicnic

Parish communicators
The Archdiocese is hosting a webinar for those who are involved with parish communications (such as Facebook, newsletters). It takes place on Saturday 19 July at 10:00am-11:00am. The session will give tips and guidance on parish social media, newsletters and more. Register at bit.ly/parishcomms

Save the Date
The Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage Day is on Sunday 21 September 2025 at St Patricks in The Cowgate, Edinburgh. More details coming soon.

St Margaret's Pilgrimage - Sunday 8 June
All are welcome at the annual St Margaret's Pilgrimage in Dunfermline on Sunday 8 June. Join Archbishop Leo, clergy and people from across Scotland for the procession through the town centre with the relic of St Margaret at 2:00pm, followed by Holy Mass at 3:00pm in St Margaret's Church. Full schedule in the news-events section at archedinburgh.org
New Dawn Conference - Saturday 14 June<
Experience the richness of the Catholic Faith at the New Dawn Day. It begins with Mass at 10:30am, followed by testimonies, workshops, healing prayers and more. Speakers are Fr James Anyaegbu and Gary Stephen. It takes place on Saturday 14 June 2025 at Ss Ninian & Triduana, 232 Marionville Road, Edinburgh, EH 7 6BE. Event organised by New Dawn Scotland.

Dignity Not Detention – Dungavel – Sun 15 June, 1pm
Join Justice & Peace Scotland to call for "Dignity Not Detention" and advocate for an end to the inhumane practice of unlimited immigration detention. The UK is the only country in Europe that does not have a statutory time limit on detention, meaning people can be held in prison-like conditions indefinitely with no idea when they will be released. Guest speaker: Archbishop William Nolan. It takes place at Dungavel House, Strathaven, ML10 6RF at 1:00pm on Sunday 15 June. Contact office@justice@peacescotland.org.uk for more info.

Corpus Christi Procession - Sunday 22 June
Archbishop Leo will lead the Archdiocesan Corpus Christi Procession from St Patrick’s Church in Kilsyth at 3:00pm on Sunday 22 June. This is a joyous occasion with the Blessed Sacrament being carried through the streets. First Holy Communicants in the Archdiocese are invited to take a special place in the procession wearing their formal clothes. Parking available at the Church. Contact St Patrick's to reserve disabled/minibus parking or to book a space on the free shuttle buses from Croy train station to the Church: priest.stpatrickskilsyth@staned.org.uk or 01236 822136.

Jubilee Year Picnic for families - Saturday 28 June
Join families from across the Archdiocese for a Jubilee Year picnic on Saturday 28 June, 11:00am – 4:00pm at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. There will be spiritual talks on the theme of Hope and talks and games for children. Includes Rosary at The Grotto and concludes with Holy Mass in St Margaret's Chapel. At 4:00pm there is the chance to walk to the Jubilee Cross at St Mary's Cathedral (optional). Childcare provided. Register at bit.ly/archpicnic

Bishop Frank to lead new comms office

Bishop Frank Dougan will lead a new national office for communications and evangelisation to better proclaim Christ.

The announcement ties in with World Communications Day, which is this Sunday (1 June).

It has been held each year since 1967 on the Sunday before Pentecost, marking the role of media and communication in spreading the Gospel. 

He said: "We plan to build on the work done by groups, parishes and dioceses and produce quality content across the various media platforms so that we can keep on spreading the Word.

"(Your) support will help us as the Church in Scotland to use all the means of communication to help bring others to Christ.

"I look forward to sharing with you the work of this Office which will develop over the coming months.

"You will see how it truly responds to the urgency of Christ’s Mission."

Social media

Bishop Frank Dougan, of Galloway Diocese, has been given the responsibility for communications by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.

He added that social media is a way in which we can engage with those who are seeking Christ.

"Not everyone will be lucky enough to have a face-to-face encounter that brings them to Christ," he added. "So, we must use all the means available to reach out to them.

"It is not good enough to wait for our brothers and sisters to come to us. We must do all we can to go to them."

His comments come in a pastoral letter that will be shared with Catholics at Mass this Sunday. There will also be a special collection for communications and evangelisation.

He added: "I am going to ask for your financial support. And that support will help us as the Church in Scotland to use all the means of communication to help bring others to Christ.

I look forward to sharing with you the work of this Office which will develop over the coming months.

In the meantime, please continue to pray for the spread of the Gospel, and please do support this weekend’s collection."

Follow the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh: Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube. Archbishop Cushley is on X. 

Meeting Pope Francis: 'a shining moment'

Archbishop Cushley organised a meeting between Pope Francis and the Very Revd Derek Browning in 2017. Here, the former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland reflects on the encounter...

In a moderatorial year, shining moments are many.

Amongst the brightest of my shining moments was an invitation to meet Pope Francis, kindly organised by my friend and neighbour, Archbishop Leo Cushley.

Meeting Francis, the first thing to notice was the sparkle in his eyes, then the warmth of his smile, and finally the firmness of his handshake, both hands.

I had prepared a formal statement touching on the 500th anniversary of the German Lutheran Reformation, and the plight of the refugees and economic migrants, and the importance of the Diaconate and its recognition, over a century ago in Scotland, of the role of women in the Church.

“I’ve never met a female Deacon”, the Pope said. “If you wait a moment, I can make one appear through that door”, I replied, and later introduced one of my chaplains, Anne Mulligan DCS, to Pope Francis. He was clearly delighted, and so was she!

We sat in the formal audience room on opposite sides of a table and with a mixture of English, Italian, Spanish and Latin began to talk and listen.

We embraced, and laughed, and commented on the colour of each other’s socks (mine red and yellow; his black).

After a short time, he got up, came around the table, pulled a chair beside mine and sat closer. “Better”, he said.

It was a very simple action but spoke volumes of the man who spent his ministry, and his pontificate, getting alongside others, and allowing others to get alongside him.

Soon we got up to walk about the apartment, keeping careful not to go too near the windows which looked onto St Peter’s Square, in case crowds rushed forward expecting him to wave from the balcony, he said!

In the hour and a half of one-to-one conversation, we touched on many important matters. Before the later formal part of our meeting he asked if I would pray for him, and he would pray for me.

We embraced, and laughed, and commented on the colour of each other’s socks (mine red and yellow; his black).

The lasting memory is of his warmth, sincerity, compassion, sparkling humour, and faithfulness.

No bad way for this good man to be remembered.

Published in Life and Work. Reproduced by kind permission. Read the full article here.

THIS SUNDAY: St Margaret's Pilgrimage, Dunfermline

Join hundreds of people in Scotland's ancient capital of Dunfermline on Sunday 8 June for the annual St Margaret Pilgrimage.

The highlight of the event is the colourful procession of the saint's relics through Dunfemline city centre led by Archbishop Leo Cushley.

He said: "This Jubilee Year, themed Pilgrims of Hope, offers a unique opportunity to make a pilgrimage on our doorstep, walking in St Margaret's footsteps.

"Our beloved patroness exemplified faith, charity, and leadership, transforming Scotland through her holiness and compassion.

"I look forward to seeing you there and to celebrating the life and work of St Margaret, praying to her for our nation and for our Church."

The procession will begin at 2:00pm from the Louise Carnegie Gates at Pittencrieff Park, opposite the Seven Kings Pub.

The famous relic of St Margaret, which is on display at the Church, will be paraded in the procession.

Hundreds of pilgrims will walk alongside pupils, teachers, nuns, priests and major historic Catholic organisations such as the Knights of St Columba, the Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Schedule

12:00pm
Angelus at St Margaret's Cave, Chalmers Street Car Park, KY12 8DQ.

1:00pm
Outside Prayer Service at St Margaret’s Tomb at Dunfermline Abbey, St Margaret Street, KY12 7PE.

2:00pm
Procession with relic from Louise Carnegie Gates in Bridge Street KY12 8DA (opposite Seven Kings Pub) to St Margaret’s Memorial Church. Gather at 1:45pm.

3:00pm
Mass at St Margaret's Memorial Church in East Port, KY12 7JB, celebrated by Archbishop Cushley and priests of the Archdiocese.

Getting there

Bus: Dunfermline Bus station, Queen Anne Street, KY12 7BB, is in the centre of town and is a 5 minute walk from the starting point of the procession.

Train: Dunfermline City train Station, KY12 7HT is a 5-10 minute walk (uphill) from St Margaret's Church, and a 15 minute walk from the start of the procession

Parking

There is on street parking throughout the town centre (charged) and free parking outwith the main town centre.

Poster

Download a print poster for your parish here, or a JPG version to share online here.

Walk to Dunfermline

A group from the Holy Family Family Parish will walk from Kelty to Dunfermline and you are welcome to join them. The team, led by sisters of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word, will leave from St Joseph's Church in Cocklaw Street at 8:00am, expecting to arrive in Dunfermline at midday. Bring a packed lunch. To join them, please email Sr Ostrabrama at m.ostrabrama@servidoras.orgor call 07717 793486.

History

The roots of the summer pilgrimage date back to June 1250 when the relics of Saint Margaret were translated to a new shrine in Dunfermline Abbey following her canonisation by Pope Innocent IV.

A pilgrimage to Dunfermline soon emerged and continued until the late 16th Century. It was then resurrected in 1899 and continued again until 1974.

Archbishop Cushley revived it in 2015 and it has continued since then, except for a hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.

Make a Day of it

Why not spend the day in Dunfermline and take advantage of what the historic city has to offer? You can enjoy a wander around Abbot House and its gardens, visit Andrews Carnegie's Birthplace Museum and enjoy the beauty of Pittencrieff Park (known locally as 'The Glen'). There are many cafes, pubs and restaurants in the city centre. Alternatively you can come for any part of the programme. Whatever you decide, we look forward to welcoming you! See dunfermline.com

Queries

You can contact the helpful team at St Margaret's Church in Dunfermline with any questions about the event: priest.stmargaretdunfermline@staned.org.uk. Alternatively, email matthew.meade@staned.org.uk

 

Couples celebrate Marriage at Cathedral

Archbishop Cushley blessed married and engaged couples at Holy Mass last night in a celebration of Marriage.

The annual event at in St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, sees couples gather to renew their commitment, receive the blessing and socialise with people from across the Archdiocese.

After Mass, Archbishop Cushley invited the oldest couple and the youngest couple to cut the celebration cake.

Katherine Frangos and Jarek Kuhn, from Leith, have been married for nine months, while Margaret and Bill Mawdsley, from Corstorphine, have been married for 70 years!

Archbishop Cushley told couples: "This is one of the happiest celebrations that the Archdiocese hosts each year so thank you for joining us."

The event was organised by Fr Benedict Iwatt VE and the Archdiocesan Commission for Marriage & Families . The commission's next event is a Jubilee Year Picnic for Families at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB on Saturday 28 June 2025 at 11:00. Register here.

 

Fr Ninian's Mass at Everest base camp

An Edinburgh-based priest has celebrated Holy Mass at Everest base camp as part of a pilgrimage for peace.

Fr Ninian Doohan, of St Patrick's Church in The Cowgate, had an eight day trek to reach the iconic location, which is 17,598ft above sea level (for comparison, Ben Nevis is 4,413 ft).

He said: "This is day eight of trekking by foot, and my cassock has seen better days having been worn continuously from Edinburgh.

"(It's) certainly the first Holy Mass offered here in the nascent Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. Heaven has once again come down to Earth at its highest point.

"The Mass was the Missa Pro Pace, offered for the intention of Peace in the World.

"With limited information of the outside world in this Himalayan region we were still able to read a little of Pope Leo XIV’s first Regina Coeli address as he appealed to the leaders of the world: Never again war!"

Fr Ninian arrived in Nepal on 2 May to assist a community project at St Ignatius' Church in the Nepalese capital.

The project is part of a Jesuit Mission and a broader network of activities supporting mobile clinics, special schools, and the general material welfare of the people.

The pilgrimage was inspired following the baptism of Gele Bishokarma by Fr Ninian at St Patrick’s Church in 2023.

He said: "I promised him that I’d meet him on his own native soil, and I’d like to help the Church there in any way I can with a small mission, at least to just see our Catholic Faith lived out in the highest point on Earth."

Gele, who runs a trekking company, accompanied Fr Ninian on the journey. Fr Ninian is now back in Kathmandu after a four day trek back down the mountains and a helicopter journey back to the Nepalese capital.

He said: "Please pray that the Holy Spirit guides further the initiative to have a Catholic church in the region for the use of both locals and visitors alike.

"We left a strategically placed Miraculous Medal (of the Immaculate Conception) at Namche, the Sherper Capital, hoping Maternal help will be forthcoming."

Follow Fr Ninian's journey on Facebook and Instagram. To donate to the community project at St Ignatius' Church in Nepal click here. 

Catholic represents King Charles at General Assembly

Lady Elish Angiolini has become the first practicing Catholic to represent His Majesty King Charles at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

She told the General Assembly that she is "profoundly honoured" to have been chosen as Lord High Commissioner at the annual gathering which opened in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Lady Elish's appointment was only made possible after both Houses of Parliament in London changed a law dating back to 1689 that barred Catholics from holding the role.

Addressing the General Assembly, she said people born and brought up in Scotland will be well aware of the "profound significance of the appointment of a Catholic to this role".

"I still believe that prejudice and sectarianism can be overcome by that fundamental recognition in us that we are all Jock Tamson's bairns and by the recognition of each other as the creation of God, requiring the love, forgiveness and support we would all seek for ourselves in all of our imperfection."

Friendship

Lady Elish highlighted the historic St Margaret's declaration of friendship between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland.

It was signed by Dr Iain Greenshields, Archbishop Leo Cushley and Princess Anne at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline in 2022.

Lady Lady Elish Angiolini is welcomed to the General Assembly by Rt Rev Rosemary Frew.

"As so many of you know well, the declaration was the culmination of years of ecumenical relationship building between the two churches and recognises each other as brothers and sisters in Christ," she added.

Archbishop Leo Cushley spoke at the General Assembly on Monday and said: "I would like to say how pleased my fellow Catholics and I are that His Majesty the King has chosen to send a Catholic as the Lord High Commissioner this year.

"With the blessing of my brother bishops I wrote to the King to express our gratitude to him for this gracious gesture.

"By doing so it would appear that he has chosen to build upon the momentum created by the signing of the St Margaret Declaration in 2022, and Catholics in Scotland welcome that very warmly indeed." Watch his address on YouTube.

Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, said: "Your appointment was an inspired one, a real living out of the 2022 St Margaret Declaration of friendship and respect between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland, brothers and sisters in Christ, citizens and partners in announcing the kingdom of God in our land.

"We pray for every blessing on you and your household for the week ahead."

 

Bill to legalise assisted suicide passes first vote

A bill to legalise doctor-assisted suicide has passed an initial vote at The Scottish Parliament.

The first-stage vote passed by 70 votes to 56 and needs two more phases of parliamentary scrutiny before it could become law.

Bishop Keenan, President of the Bishops' Conference said: "I am deeply disappointed that our Parliament has taken the first step to permit the state to provide vulnerable people with the means to end their lives prematurely.
"Many MSPs, however, expressed significant reservations about the terms of Liam McArthur's Bill.
"I hope and pray that MSPs will take time to reflect very carefully on these concerns and reject the Bill before it is passed into law."
Paul Atkin, Pro-Life Officer for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, said: "I know many disabled people and their carers who are terrified of this Bill so it is disappointing that a majority of MSPs didn’t listen to their concerns.
"However only eight MSPs need to change their minds to prevent this dangerous legislation and many said they voted for it only to let the debate continue.
"Democracy is a numbers game, particularly with an election due next year, so I’d encourage Catholics to thank those MSPs who voted against the Bill and to share concerns with those who still support assisted suicide.
"The easiest way is to use https://writetothem.com

Archdiocesan MSPs who voted FOR assisted suicide

Jamie Hepburn - Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
Shirley-Anne Somerville - Dunfermline
Paul McLennan - East Lothian
Angus Robertson - Edinburgh Central
Ben Macpherson - Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Gordon MacDonald - Edinburgh Pentlands
Daniel Johnson - Edinburgh Southern
Alex Cole-Hamilton - Edinburgh Western
Rachael Hamilton - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Michelle Thomson - Falkirk East
David Torrance - Kirkcaldy
Fiona Hyslop-  Linlithgow
Jenny Gilruth - Mid Fife and Glenrothes
Colin Beattie - Midlothian North and Musselburgh
Christine Grahame - Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
Evelyn Tweed - Stirling
Rona Mackay - Strathkelvin and Bearsden
Gillian Mackay - Central Scotland
Monica Lennon - Central Scotland
Lorna Slater - Lothian
Miles Briggs - Lothian
Alexander Stewart - Mid Scotland and Fife
Mark Ruskell - Mid Scotland and Fife
Willie Rennie - North East Fife
Brian Whittle - South Scotland
Carol Mochan - South Scotland
Colin Smyth - South Scotland
Emma Harper - South Scotland
Martin Whitfield - South Scotland
Sharon Dowey - South Scotland

Archdiocesan MSPs who voted AGAINST assisted suicide

Angela Constance - Almond Valley
Keith Brown - Clackmannanshire and Dunblane
Annabelle Ewing - Cowdenbeath
Ash Regan - Edinburgh Eastern
Michael Matheson - Falkirk West
Graham Simpson - Central Scotland
Mark Griffin - Central Scotland
Meghan Gallacher - Central Scotland
Richard Leonard - Central Scotland
Stephen Kerr - Central Scotland
Foysol Choudhury - Lothian
Jeremy Balfour - Lothian
Sarah Boyack - Lothian
Sue Webber - Lothian
Alex Rowley - Mid Scotland and Fife
Claire Baker - Mid Scotland and Fife
Elizabeth Smith Mid Scotland and Fife
Murdo Fraser - Mid Scotland and Fife
Roz McCall - Mid Scotland and Fife
Craig Hoy - South Scotland