Diocese of Middlesbrough
Serving North & East Yorkshire
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2026
Join the 73rd Middlesbrough Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage and journey with others from across the diocese to one of the Church’s most treasured places of prayer and healing. This six-night pilgrimage offers daily Mass, the sacraments, time at the Grotto, and the shared experience of faith, service, and fellowship. Open to pilgrims of all ages and abilities, Lourdes is a place to pause, pray, and rediscover hope — together as a diocesan family.
If you have never been before, do not worry — everything is gently guided and well supported, and many people make their first pilgrimage each year. You simply come as you are, and travel the journey with others.
Articles
Latest news from around the diocese and beyond
Ringing in the changes at Thicket Monastery
On 6th January, an ancient bell was installed at the new monastery of the Carmelite nuns at Thicket Priory just outside York. Thicket has long been the home of Roman Catholic religious women; from the 12th Century, Cistercian nuns lived there until the Reformation…
A mercy mission that began with a homily
The Baghdad Appeal has been making the news recently with coverage in The Stockton and Darlington Times and The Northern Echo. In the following article, originally published The Catholic Herald and re-published here by kind permission, the man behind the mission John…
Breaking the Silence
Bringing to light the true causes of the war in Congo with Reverend Theodore Ngoy, Congolese Pastor, Lawyer, elected Member of Parliament for Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and former candidate for the Presidential Elections in Congo. Thurs…
Bridging divisions in the world
Dean Brackley, S.J., a Jesuit priest in Latin America, will present a lecture in York entitled Crosses and Resurrections in El Salvador – The Wider North-South Divide and Our Vocation to Solidarity at 7.30pm on Friday 13th February 2009. Dean Brackley’s visit is…
Busking for CAFOD
We’ve heard about the runners, cyclists and fashion shows as fundraising activities but students from York University’s Catholic Chaplaincy took to the streets of York City Centre throughout advent to raise funds for CAFOD by busking. They braved the…
Sickness, hunger, starvation and death
a bleak future for Zimbabweans A recent food security and livelihoods assessment carried out by Caritas Zimbabwe with support from aid agency CAFOD has shown that there is now very little to distinguish between the most vulnerable in society and everyone else in the…
About
Middlesbrough Diocese
We have been wonderfully blessed in this part of the world in many ways: in the beauty of our landscape; in the saints and martyrs who have given such powerful witness; and in the abbeys and religious foundations of our history. Today, that same grace is visible in our local communities, which in so many different ways give glory to God through their actions and their attitude to life. We need only look around us to glimpse something of the “thumbprint of God” upon our diocese.
Resources
On the go
Here are a few links to some of the amazing catholic resources that are available to anybody who has access to the internet.
Word on Fire
The Word on Fire online platform is constantly expanding its offerings.
Saint Augustine Institute
The Saint Augustine Institute provides study courses as well as a whole range of online materials for growing and deepening of our understanding of the faith.
EWTN
The Eternal Word Television Network. Many resources from ETWN.
Daily Mass Readings
The scripture passages of today’s Mass provided here on the diocesan site. A prayer to make a spiritual communion is also included for handy access.
Saint Anthony Communications
Some great content made available to watch for free covering a wide range of topics.
Cathechism of the Catholic Church
The whole of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is available on the Vatican website.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Patron of the Diocese of Middlesbrough
In this diocese we are blessed to be under the patronage of our heavenly mother as ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’. This icon shows her Divine Son in her arms and it is a constant reminder to us that we too are held secure in her arms even in times of trial. We ask her prayers for the whole world and in a particular way for our own diocese.
‘It was through the “fiat” the “yes” of the Virgin Mary that the Incarnation took place. Mary is very much our model…..Through her faith, she disposed herself to allow the Word of God to become flesh in her.’
Bishop Terry Drainey – Emeritus Bishop of Middlesbrough
‘Our Lady [of Perpetual Succour] heard my prayer and vouchsafed me a miraculous cure of……which has…..caused me much trouble and suffering, and has been a sad drawback to me in my work. The cure was instantaneous and complete.’
Bishop Richard Lacy – 1st Bishop of Middlesbrough
‘It is my prayer…..that devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, in this church and elsewhere, may continue…..showing to many the limitless mercy of God for us all, His little ones, and made manifest in Jesus Christ our Lord.’
Cardinal Vincent Nichols – Archbishop of Westminster
‘Make her known to the whole world!’
Pope Pius IX
Diocesan Diary Dates
Events happening throughout 2026
Rite of Election
3pm Sunday 22nd February (First Sunday in Lent)
Chrism Mass
Cathedral 12 noon, Tuesday 31st March
Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Sunday 24th May – Saturday 30th May
Annual Postgate Rally
Ugthorpe this year – Sunday 12th July. 3pm Mass
Assumption Pilgrimage
Sunday 16th August. 3pm Mass
Mass for Deceased Clergy
Cathedral, Monday 4th November. 12pm
Vocation
What is your calling?
If you wish to find out more about pursuing a potential vocation to the priesthood, the permanent deaconate or religious life, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our vocations director Canon Alan Sheridan:
Diocesan Curial Offices
50a The Avenue, Linthopre, Middlesborugh. TS5 6QT
Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Dalby Way, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TW
