Gerard Robert Hand was born in Edinburgh in 1949. He was educated at HolyCross Academy Edinburgh and Drygrange Seminary. He was ordained in Edinburgh in 1973.

His first Parish was St Andrew's Livingston where he was to serve as assistant Priest from 1973 to 1977. Before becoming Professor at Drygrange Seminary he undertook further studies in Rome from 1977 to 1979. After this time he was to instruct students for the Priesthood at Drygrange from 1979 to 1986 and thereafter he became Professor at Gillis College in Edinburgh until he came to Kilsyth in February, 1991.

St Patrick's at this time had suffered the sudden death of the 2 previous parish priests in relatively quick sucession and therefor the organisation of the parish was in need of modernisation.

From a pastoral perspective Fr Hand established a Pastoral Council always assisted by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate conception whose convent was located in Kilsyth for most of Fr Hand's tenure. The fabric of the Parish had been allowed to fall into disrepair and he worked tirelessly to achieve a £1.25 million refurbishment of the church and grounds in 1999/2000. He was also involved with encouraging parishioners to develop and exercise more pastoral responsibility. He was closely involved with the Justice and Peace group, and with inter-church activities in Kilsyth. He and the parishioners were also planning for the provision of a new church hall at the time of his departure from St Patrick's in 2006.

Fr Hand was transferred to St Paul's Glenrothes where he assumed responsibility for St Mary Mother of God in Leslie and also the Chapel Royal at Falkland Palace. Fr Hand was elevated to Monsignor in 2010.