The Church, too, must be a family, bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity, supporting each other and sharing with each other the individual gifts given by God.
Pope John Paul II,
Heaton Park, Manchester, 31st May 1982

The Diocese

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Life in the Diocese of Salford

The Bishop and people of the diocese of Salford have a keen sense of mission to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ to their brothers and sisters.

At present, there are 159 parishes and a small number of chapels of ease in the diocese. The diocese is served by a clergy of 238 secular priests (of whom 61 are retired), and 68 religious priests.

Terence John Brain (b.19th December 1938) is the tenth and current Bishop of Salford.

The diocese has an illustrious history with a succession of bishops leading the way in the promotion of Catholic education and the setting-up of other institutions.

Diocesan life is varied and vibrant - there are many faithful priests, religious and laypeople who serve Salford in countless ways. The heart of the Church’s life is the Eucharist, and many places within the diocese offer regular times of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Bishop is a firm supporter of this practice.

Around the diocese work is done in hospitals, prisons, schools and colleges, universities. There is a Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes every year and other pilgrimages too.

Young people play a large part in the life of the diocese, and are encouraged to take part in pilgrimages, youth clubs, prayer services and other events. World Youth Day and the Pilgrimage to Lourdes have in recent years become a key feature of life in the diocese for young people.

Vocations to the priesthood are actively promoted in the diocese; there are currently seven men training to be priests.

There is also an acute emphasis on the need to promote catechesis and family life. Various offices around the diocese are active in this regard.

The Centre for Fertility Awareness is a place where couples can learn about natural means of family planning. The centre enables couples to understand how their bodies work and appreciate the value of their sexuality to the extent that they co-operate freely with each other in the active promotion of life.

There are various charitable works in the diocese, and the recent setting-up of CARITAS Diocese of Salford is aimed at consolidating and promoting the work of such centres, so that the diocese will continue to be a beacon in the promotion of the Gospel for years to come.