On Friday 25th January 2008 before a packed congregation at St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough The Right Reverend Monsignor Terence Patrick Drainey, was ordained and installed as seventh Bishop of Middlesbrough by Archbishop Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool. He succeeds Bishop John Crowley who resigned on health grounds in May 2007.
The Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz representing the Holy Father, 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 representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 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 began with the ringing of the Cathedral bells, a trumpet fanfare and a great procession of clergy mainly from the Middlesbrough and Salford Dioceses. The Right Reverend Monsignor Canon Gerard Dasey, Administrator of the Middlesbrough Diocese since Bishop Crowley stepped down, opened with a welcome to the Bishop-elect who was then presented to Archbishop Kelly for ordination by Father John Lumley of Middlesbrough and Father Bob Lasia of Salford. The mandate from Pope Benedict for his appointment, in which the Holy Father made special note Monsignor Drainey’s missionary and educational work, 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. The ring was presented to the Archbishop by Sister Mary of Carmel, Prioress of Thicket Priory, York. The mitre was presented 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. These presentations recalled the roles played by both the Carmelite Sisters and the Faithful Companions of Jesus in the ordination of Bishop Lacy 129 years earlier. Finally and very movingly, the crozier was presented to Bishop Terence by his predecessor 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, to thunderous applause from the congregation, 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, giving thanks to all who had helped and supported him especially his now-deceased parents, his sister and brother-in-law, the priests and people of Salford, Kisumu, Valladolid and Hexham and Newcastle as well as the Ushaw community. He spoke of his desire to meet and listen to the people of the Diocese and of his hope, his ‘Joyful Hope’, “as we wait for the coming of Him who is our Saviour, Jesus Christ”.
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.