Dougan’s delight at decision by the Pope
An East Kilbride priest has been appointed the new Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway.
Just days before Christmas, on Friday December 22, it was announced that Pope Francis had nominated Fr Frank Dougan, of Our Lady of Lourdes.
He succeeds Archbishop William Nolan who was in the position from 2014 to 2022 when he became Archbishop of Glasgow, since then it has been administered by Fr William McFadden.
Reacting to his appointment, 51-year-old Fr Dougan 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.”
Fr Dougan revealed that he has a long-standing connection to the Galloway area.
He added: “My mother was from Ayr, and I spent many childhood summers here, so you could say there is a little bit of coming home for me! But most importantly, we must proclaim a church where everyone can feel at home and welcomed.”
Fr Dougan, who leaves the role of parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in East Kilbride, was ordained in June 2001 and has also served at churches in Hamilton and Rutherglen.
He was assistant priest at Our Lady and St Anne’s, Hamilton, from 2001 to 2006, and was in Rutherglen for almost a decade as parish priest at both St Anthony’s and St Mark’s churches.
It’s the third time the parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes has been appointed Bishop of Galloway.
Bishop Joseph Toal, the Bishop of Motherwell said; “I am very happy to hear that Fr Dougan has been chosen by the Holy Father as the new Bishop of Galloway. My thoughts and prayers are very much with him at this time.
“It is very good that Motherwell Diocese is again able to provide a Bishop for a Scottish Diocese, and it is quite something that another Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride, will become Bishop of Galloway.
“We will miss Fr Frank in Motherwell as his ministry extended beyond the parish to Our Lady and St Bride’s Secondary School and Hairmyres Hospital, along with his canon law responsibilities in the diocese and with the inter-diocesan tribunal.
“I am sure the wide pastoral experience gained here will be of great benefit in his episcopal ministry.”
Fr Dougan has also been Assistant Judicial Vicar, at the Scottish Interdiocesan Tribunal from 2017 until present.
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 for the church today.”