Dean

Very Rev. Canon Gerard Robinson M.B.A., M.Th., M.A., M.A.Lit. – Cathedral Dean

Canon Gerard Robinson is a native of Middlesbrough, who left the town to pursue a career in teaching, eventually becoming a lecturer in Business and Management in Cambridge. He studied for the priesthood at the Beda College in Rome and has Masters degrees in Business Administration, Theology and Liturgy. He is Diocesan Master of Ceremonies, and chairs the Bishop’s Council for Liturgy, and is currently Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral.

Canon Gerard is also Diocesan Episcopal Vicar for Spirituality and Worship.

Rev. Fr Leonard

Rev. Fr Leonard Ugo Jioke (B.TH, Dip Philosophy, BA, BSc) is currently working in Middlesbrough as an assistant priest to Canon Gerard Robinson here at St Mary’s RC Cathedral.

Rev. Fr Leonard Ugo Jioke is a native of Ebia Unuhu Abakaliki of the Ebony State of Nigeria. He studied Biochemistry in Enugu State University of science and technology Enugu where he received a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry. He later studied for the Catholic Priesthood at St Joseph Major Seminary Ikot- Ekpene and Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri both in Nigeria which are affiliate institutes of Pontifical Urban University Rome, where he received a diploma in Philosophy and a BA (Hons) Degree in Theology.

After his Ordination to the Priesthood he worked as the Principal of Lucy Memorial Secondary school Amairi and also at St Dominic’s College, both in Nigeria. He was an assistant Priest at both the Holy Family Parish and St Dominic’s Parish in Aba Diocese of Nigeria.

 

 

Deacons

There are two deacons based at St. Mary’s Cathedral. They are Rev. Len Collings and Rev. Ken Senior.

Rev. Len Collings
When Len and Elizabeth first arrived in Middlesbrough in 1994 they could not believe their luck when they found that just around the corner from their new home was Middlesbrough’s own Cathedral and the welcome they received from Canon Pat Harney and the parishioners was so warm that they soon felt at home.

Even then they could hardly have imagined the roles they were to play. Ten years on Len is one of the two permanent deacons at the Cathedral and Elizabeth is one of the parish catechists. As well as regularly assisting at Mass, and carrying out other duties in line with his Diaconate Ministry, Len acts as Chaplain to our Ministers of Word and Communion.

In addition to this Len works full time at St. Mary’s College Middlesbrough where he is College Chaplain as well as a teacher of Religious Studies. Additionally in his role as Co-ordinator for Catholic Lifelong Learning he looks after the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies for the Diocese. Elizabeth works for Superdrug and often finds staff and customers confiding in her thereby providing a valuable ministry in the workplace. In what spare time they have Len and Elizabeth can often been seen at concerts, having seen the likes of Cher, Neil Diamond, Meat Loaf, Jamie Cullum and Simon and Garfunkel.

Rev. Ken Senior
(Details to follow)