A NEW Bishop of Galloway has been appointed by Pope Francis to lead the region’s Catholics.
He has assigned Father Frank Dougan of the Motherwell Diocese to take on the role of serving the 40,000 Catholics living with the Galloway Diocese, which includes Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire.
He will succeed Archbishop William Nolan who was Bishop of Galloway from 2014 to 2022 when he became Archbishop of Glasgow, since then it has been administered by Fr. William McFadden.
Responding to the news Diocesan Administrator Fr. William McFadden said: “On behalf of the community in the Diocese of Galloway, I am delighted to warmly welcome Fr Dougan as our new bishop. I can assure him of an enthusiastic welcome as he comes among us bringing his unique pastoral leadership and skills. I look forward to working with him, and in continuing the implementation in the diocese of the pastoral and prophetic vision offered by Pope Francis.”
The newly appointed bishop is the third parish preist of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in East Kilbride to have been appointed as Bishop of Galloway, following in the footsteps of Archbishop William Nolan and the late Bishop Maurice Taylor.
Reacting to his appointment, Father Frank said: “I am humbled and more than a little bit nervous that Pope Francis has asked me to take on this office. I feel confident however that I will not be alone in spreading the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will be joining with every single person in Galloway Diocese all of whom have a role to play, my role being just one of them.”
“With God’s grace and the deep faith of the Church in Galloway we can continue to build on the solid foundations left by those who have come before us, stretching back to St Ninian who first planted the seeds of the Christian faith in Scotland here in Galloway.”
