In the late 1960's and early 1970's, the western region of Scotland, particularly the Glasgow and Greenock areas, experienced an acute problem in their Catholic schools. Because of the shortage of Catholic teachers, many of the pupils could receive only part-time education. The Catholic bishops sought to address the problem by inviting religious orders to send teaching sisters to alleviate the situation. In 1971, at the invitation of Bishop McGill, four Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary from the English-Irish Province pioneered the mission in Scotland.
First RSHM Community in Greenock, Scotland, 1971
Sisters Kevin Joyse, Freda McGrath, Dolores Carroll, Barbara McCauley, Denise McCartan.
The sisters worked in four different schools in some very deprived areas. Within six years the situation improved as more religious congregations moved in and more teachers were available.
After the General Chapter of 1975, at which the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary affirmed a special option for the poor, a mission was opened in Castlemilk outside Glasgow where three sisters worked in the local parishes. Today the RSHM are still involved in parish ministry.