The Right Reverend Monsignor Terence Patrick Drainey, a priest of the Salford Diocese and formerly President of Ushaw Seminary, Durham was today ordained and installed as seventh Bishop of Middlesbrough by Archbishop Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough. He succeeds Bishop John Crowley who resigned on health grounds in May 2007.
The Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, was joined by 27 Archbishops and Bishops from English Dioceses as well as representatives from Scotland and Ireland. Bishop Robert Ladds, representing the Archbishop of York, led the ecumenical guests together with Bishop John Bell, Bishop of Knaresborough, Bishop Tom Wright of Durham (a personal friend of Bishop Drainey), and representatives of the Methodists, Salvation Army, Baptists, United Reformed Church and Society of Friends.
The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, led the Civic Guests who included members of the House of Lords, House of Commons, local Mayors and the Chair of North Yorkshire County Council. Bishop Drainey’s sister, brother in law and other family members were also present.
The ordination service opened with a welcome to the new Bishop from The Right Reverend Monsignor Canon Gerard Dasey who has been in charge of the Diocese since Bishop Crowley’s resignation. Monsignor Drainey was presented to Archbishop Kelly for ordination by Father John Lumley (Middlesbrough) and Father Bob Lasia (Salford). The mandate from Pope Benedict for his appointment was then read by Very Reverend Canon Alan Sheridan, the Diocesan Chancellor.
After the ordination of the new Bishop, he was invested with the symbols of his office – ring, mitre and pastoral staff. The ring was presented to the Archbishop by Sister Mary of Carmel (Prioress of Thicket Priory, York), the Mitre by Sister Moira Cashmore of the Faithful Companions of Jesus in Middlesbrough (who had worked with the Bishop when he was an assistant priest in Salford), and the Crozier by Bishop John Crowley. For this most important event, the Diocese of York had loaned Middlesbrough the ‘Braganza’ Crozier which dates back to the 1600’s when it was presented to Bishop James Smith, the Catholic Vicar Apostolic for the North. It eventually found a home in York Minster and is loaned by them for use by Yorkshire Catholic Bishops on important occasions.
The new Bishop was then led by Archbishop Kelly to his chair (Cathedra) and installed as Bishop.
Just prior to the end of the ordination Mass, the Papal Nuncio spoke to the Congregation, and a letter was read from Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor who was overseas on Church business and so could not be present. Bishop Drainey then addressed the priests, religious and people of the Diocese. In accordance with tradition, he was then led through his Cathedral by the two Bishops (Brain and Roche) who had assisted in his ordination giving his blessing to all present.