Countywide : Auxiliary Bishop Is Ordained

Thunderous applause filled Holy Family Cathedral in Orange Tuesday as the Most Rev. Michael P. Driscoll was ordained auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, California’s second largest.

Two dozen bishops from a number of Western states, more than 250 priests and an apostolic delegate helped fill the cathedral to witness the ceremony.

As auxiliary bishop, Driscoll will assist the Most Rev. Norman F. McFarland, bishop of Orange, handling administrative work and relieving McFarland of some ceremonial duties such as confirmations. Driscoll was named to the post in December.

Driscoll, 50, succeeds the Most Rev. John T. Steinbock, the first to hold the post, who left in 1987 to head the Diocese of Santa Rosa in Northern California.

In an earlier interview with The Times, Driscoll said that he intends to continue the work of the diocese in reaching out to the poor, the homeless, disabled children and troubled youth in Orange County.

The central moment of the ceremony came when Bishop McFarland asked Driscoll if he was willing to assume authority over Orange County’s 453,937 Catholics.

“I am,” Driscoll replied.

At that moment, the bishops walked up to Driscoll, who was kneeling before the altar, and placed their hands on his head. McFarland slipped a ring on his finger as a seal of Driscoll’s fidelity. Then McFarland placed the miter on the head of the new auxiliary bishop.

“I look forward now to be with you as a bishop,” Driscoll told the congregation during his sermon. “Please pray for me and let us pray for one another. I am counting on your prayers.”

Outside the church, Driscoll’s brother, Tom, and sister, Kay Nadeau, escorted their mother, Bernardine.

“He always wanted to play church when we were kids,” Driscoll’s sister said. “Tom played the altar boy, and Michael played the priest.”

Ordained as a priest in 1965, Driscoll worked in parishes in Los Angeles before coming to the Diocese of Orange in 1976, where he served as chancellor and most recently vicar general.

Driscoll said he will continue to hold his appointed position as vicar general and vicar for charities.