Diocese of Motherwell
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 Dioecesis Matrisfontis) is an ecclesiastical diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

 of the Catholic Church in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

.

The diocese, which was erected on 25 May 1947 from the Archdiocese of Glasgow
Archdiocese of Glasgow
The Archdiocese of Glasgow was one of the thirteen dioceses of the Scottish church. It was the second largest diocese in the Kingdom of Scotland, including Clydesdale, Teviotdale, parts of Tweeddale, Liddesdale, Annandale, Nithsdale, Cunninghame, Kyle, and Strathgryfe, as well as Lennox Carrick...

, is led by the Bishop of Motherwell
Bishop of Motherwell
The Bishop of Motherwell is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell in the Province of Glasgow.The diocese covers an area of 1,178 km². The see is in the town of Motherwell where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid...

 currently the Right Reverend Joseph Devine
Joseph Devine
Joseph Devine is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell in Scotland.He was educated at St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch, St. Mary's College, and St. Peter's College, Cardross. He was ordained priest on 29 June 1960 at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome. He received his Ph.D...

.

In 2004 the Catholic population, proportionately the largest in Scotland and second largest in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

, was 165,100 from a total population of 633,000 (26.1%) served by 63 Parish Priests and 9 Assistant Priests as well as 8 deacons in 75 parishes. There are currently 12 Retired Priests from the Diocese. The area of the diocese is 1178 square kilometres (454.8 sq mi).

Past and present ordinaries

The following is a list of the Bishops of Motherwell:
  • Edward Wilson Douglas
    Edward Wilson Douglas
    Edward Wilson Douglas was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Bishop of Motherwell from 1948 to 1954.Born in Glasgow, Scotland on 21 August 1901, he was ordained to the priesthood on 1 May 1924. He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Motherwell by the Holy See on 7...

     (appointed 7 February 1948 – resigned 9 February 1954)
  • James Donald Scanlan
    James Donald Scanlan
    James Donald Scanlan was a Roman Catholic prelate who served firstly as the Bishop of Dunkeld, then Bishop of Motherwell, and ultimately Archbishop of Glasgow....

     (appointed 23 May 1955 – translated to the Archdiocese of Glasgow
    Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow
    The Archdiocese of Glasgow is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Glasgow first became an archbishopric in 1492, eventually securing the dioceses of Galloway, Argyll and the Isles as suffragans....

     29 January 1964)
  • Francis A. S. W. Thomson
    Francis Thomson (bishop)
    Francis Alexander Spalding Warden Thomson was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Bishop of Motherwell from 1964 to 1982.Born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 15 May 1917, he was ordained to the priesthood on 15 June 1946...

     (appointed 8 December 1964 – resigned 14 December 1982)
  • Joseph Devine
    Joseph Devine
    Joseph Devine is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell in Scotland.He was educated at St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch, St. Mary's College, and St. Peter's College, Cardross. He was ordained priest on 29 June 1960 at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome. He received his Ph.D...

    (current bishop, appointed 13 May 1983)

Parishes and Clergy

In 2011 many Priests Retired meaning changes in the Diocese. The Most notable retirement was of Canon Carey who had served as Parish Priest at the Cathedral for 30 Years. Father Thomas Millar became Parish Priest in June 2011. Father Francis McGachey replace Fr Millar as Parish Priest of St Francis Carfin and Carfin Grotto. There were two ordination to the Priesthood in the Diocese in 2011. Father Michael Kane in St John's Uddingston and Father Liam O'Connor in St Barbara's Muirhead.

External links

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