Bishop’s Letter - 2026 Diocesan Consultation

Leeds, Middlesborough & Hallam Consultation 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you will be aware, the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed me Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and of the Diocese of Hallam, in addition to my ministry as the Bishop of Leeds.

In entrusting me with this responsibility, the Holy Father has also invited the faithful of the dioceses of Middlesbrough, Hallam and Leeds to undertake an important task: to explore the possibility of how our three dioceses can work together in close collaboration with a view to a possible future union as one diocesan family, so that we may be better placed to carry forward the mission of the Church in our region.

As well as the consultation meetings taking place across our dioceses, there is also an opportunity for all of the clergy, religious and lay faithful in all three dioceses to contribute to this consultation, either individually or as a parish group, by completing the online questionnaire.

I encourage the faithful within our dioceses to devote time and prayerful reflection upon these questions before offering a response, so that the Holy Spirit may guide us through this important process of consultation and discernment.

To assist in this, prayer resources and a presentation have been made available below to help ensure that this period of reflection is fruitful.

I kindly ask that responses be submitted through the online questionnaire no later than Friday, 22nd May 2026.

The link to the questionnaire can be found here: https://forms.office.com/e/fDJRiRxJ25

Please click below to access:

• Consultation Presentation

• Format for Prayers

• Consultation Participant Notes

Thank you for the time and prayer you can offer to this important task, which has been entrusted to us by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

With every blessing and the assurance of my prayers, I remain,

Yours in the Lord Jesus Christ,

+Marcus

Bishop of Leeds, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Middlesbrough Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Hallam