Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor Brian McGee as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, Scotland. The diocese has been vacant since April 2014, when Bishop Joseph Toal became the Bishop of Motherwell. Monsignor McGee has been serving as Vicar General of the Diocese of Paisley and Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, Port Glasgow.
Born in Greenock, in the Diocese of Paisley, in 1965, McGee would be ordained a priest of the clergy of Paisely in 1989. He has served as a pastor as well as the Scots College’s spiritual director. He was diocesan director of the RCIA program as well as Episcopal Vicar for marriage and the family.
According to the diocesan website, reacting to his appointment, Bishop-Elect McGee said: “It was very humbling, and indeed frightening, to be informed by the papal nuncio that Pope Francis had nominated me to be the new bishop of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles. However, after reflection and prayer I now face this mission with quiet but definite confidence.” While noting he is aware of his limitations, he stressed his even greater awareness that God's grace, with our cooperation, overcomes our shortcomings.
“Experience,” he said, “has taught me that positively answering God’s invitations is always to our own advantage.”
The Diocese of Argyll and the Isles comprises 31,080 square miles in Scotland. It has a total population of 77,400, of which 10,179, are Catholic. They are served by about 25 priests, 1 permanent deacon, and 32 religious.
