Bishop Dougan

Biography

Bishop Frank was born on 8th December 1972 and baptised in St Aidan’s, Wishaw. After attending St Aidan’s Primary, St Mary’s College, Blairs and St Aidan’s High School, Wishaw, he studied at the Scots College in Rome and at Glasgow University. He is a graduate in Law (LLB) and holds a Licentiate in Canon Law. He received priestly ordination on 27th June 2001 and was incardinated in the Diocese of Motherwell.

Bishop Frank served as assistant priest at Our Lady and St Anne’s, Hamilton and as parish priest St Mark’s, Rutherglen, St Anthony’s, Rutherglen, St Anthony’s and St Mark’s and Our Lady of Lourdes. He was Vice-rector of the Scots College, Rome from 2006 to 2012, assistant Judicial Vicar, Scottish Inter-diocesan Tribunal and Judicial vicar for the Diocese of Motherwell from 2017.

On 22nd December 2023, Pope Francis nominated Bishop Frank Dougan as the new Bishop of Galloway. He was ordained Bishop on Saturday 9th March 2024 at St-Peter-in-Chains, Ardrossan, and was received into his Cathedral Church of St Margaret in Ayr the following day. His episcopal motto is: “Quench not the wavering flame”.

Latest Publications

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  Pastoral Letter – June 2026: “The Harvest is Plentiful, but the Labourers are Few”
  Bishop Frank has published the following Pastoral Letter reflecting on the ongoing process of review and restructuring to safeguard the welfare…
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  Responses to Consultation on Diocesan Boundaries
  In recent months, faithful across the Diocese have taken part in the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland Consultation on Diocesan Boundaries. The…
• 
  Bishop’s Diary for June
  The following appointments and public liturgies are noted for June. Date Time Appointment 2nd Parish Priests’ Business Day (St John’s, Cumnock)…
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  Pastoral Letter – Communications Sunday 2026
  The seventh Sunday of Easter is Communications Sunday. The Sunday on which we reflect on the work of the Church in…