Bishop James Black
 First Bishop of Paisley

Promesse Magis Quam Praeesse 
"To follow is greater than to lead"

Upon the establishment of the new diocese of Paisley, Monsignor James Black was appointed as its first bishop by Pope Pius XII on 28 February 1948 and was consecrated by Archbishop Donald Campbellin St Mirin's Cathedral on 14 April of the same year.
During his twenty-year episcopate Bishop Black created eleven parishes and oversaw the building of nine new churches. In this same era three religious congregations came to the diocese and the National Junior Seminary was founded at St Vincent's in Langbank in 1961.

He attended all the plenary sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) and began implementation of the conciliar and post-conciliar decrees.

The last few years of Bishop Black's episcopate were dogged by ill health and, in March 1968, after some months of confinement, he died in office at age 73 in Kilmacolm.

Bishop Stephen McGill
 Second Bishop of Paisley

Per Tuas Semitas 
"By Your Ways"

On the death of Bishop James Black in March 1968 Bishop McGill was translated by Pope Paul VI to the see of Paisley as his successor. There he remained until his retirement in March 1988.
In retirement Stephen McGill maintained his interest in priestly formation and was a prolific letter writer. He died peacefully in his ninety fourth year on 9 November 2005 at Nazareth House, Cardonald, Glasgow.

Bishop John Mone
 Third Bishop of Paisley

To Lead in Love

He was translated to the see of Paisley on 8 March 1988 to succeed Stephen McGill and was installed as its bishop at St Mirin's Cathedral in Paisley on 14 May 1988. Mone served as ordinary of the diocese until his retirement on 7 October 2004.

During his episcopate and in retirement he frequently criticised the Dungavel Detention Centre, a holding unit for asylum seekers. Bishop Mone died at the Holy Rosary Home in Greenock on 14 October 2016.

Bishop Philip Tartaglia
 Fourth Bishop of Paisley

Da Robur, Fer Auxilium
"Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow"

On 13 September 2005, Pope Benedict XVI nominated Tartaglia as Bishop of Paisley. On 20 November 2005 the Solemnity of Christ the King, he was consecrated in St Mirin's Cathedral by Archbishop Mario Conti. The co-consecrating bishops were Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke of St Louis, Missouri (United States) and Bishop John Mone, Emeritus Bishop of Paisley.
On 24 July 2012 the Holy See announced the appointment of Tartaglia as Archbishop of Glasgow to succeed Archbishop Mario Conti. He took possession of the diocese on 8 September 2012, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Bishop John Keenan
 Fifth Bishop of Paisley

Suscepit servum recordatus misericordiae
"He protects his servant remembering his mercy"

Bishop John Keenan was consecrated bishop in St Mirin's Cathedral, Paisley on 19 March 2014, the Feast of Saint Joseph by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow. The principal co-consecrating bishops were Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh and Bishop John Mone, Emeritus Bishop of Paisley.