Inspiring Individuals

SCIAF was started in 1965 by the Catholic Bishops of Scotland with the help of three inspiring people: John McKee Monsignor John Rooney Bishop Michael Foylan

John McKee was former Head Teacher of Holyrood Secondary, Glasgow. He was a passionate man who wanted to see an end to world hunger.

Monsignor Rooney was Parish Priest of St Columbkille's, Rutherglen. He too was desperate to do something to help the world’s poor and they decided that the Catholic Church in Scotland needed an international aid organisation of its own to respond to this challenge.

SCIAF was born and Bishop Michael Foylan was appointed as the first President/Treasurer of SCIAF. Together with John McKee and Monsignor Rooney, they worked hard to make SCIAF an organisation that is dedicated to helping the poorest people in the world.

Sister Rebecca is founder and director of Special Families, a project in Nicaragua that has supported and provided help to over 1200 families since This work continues today helping the poorest and most vulnerable.

Pauline Jaricot died 150 years ago. Yet her inspiring life in setting up the Association for the Propagation of the Faith (APF) continues to grow. 150 years ago, on 9 January 1862, Pauline Jaricot died in poverty, yet, as a result of her generosity, honesty and hard work, she had founded what would become the world’s largest mission support organisation, with offices in 120 countries.

It was Pauline Jaricot’s dream to be a missionary and her dream certainly came true! Mission Matters Scotland is one of those 120 offices worldwide that follow Pauline’s vision of serving the poor and encouraging all Christians to follow Jesus’ example.

Cardinal Peter Turkson is President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The Second Vatican Council had proposed the creation of a body of the universal Church whose role would be “to stimulate the Catholic Community to foster progress in needy regions and social justice on the international scene”. It is Cardinal Peter Turkson’s job to guide and inspire others so that this vision progresses.

Aspire not to have more, but to be more. Archbishop Oscar Romero