A tribute to Cardinal Dolan

Father Thomas Morrette

In a few weeks, Timothy Cardinal Dolan will officially retire as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York. He’ll be succeeded by Bishop Ronald Hicks who becomes the 11th archbishop of that diocese. New Yorkers as well as Catholics throughout the country are thanking God for the ministry of Cardinal Dolan. His has been a tenure of many joys and accomplishments, of many changes and many challenges. Throughout, he has been “a joyful herald who personified the Good News” (National Catholic Register). With his big personality, ready embrace, steady optimism and solid faith, Cardinal Dolan has been an extraordinary man, priest and bishop. I hope all of us are thanking God at this time for this good shepherd and wishing him well in what is ahead of him.

Several people have asked what happens to him now. I do know that he plans to continue living in the heart of Manhattan after retirement. There, no doubt, he’ll continue to be active in his ministry as priest and archbishop emeritus. The later role will keep him in the very heart of the Church’s episcopal and pastoral ministry in New York and in the nation — representing the Church at civic and religious events, visiting the sick, advocating for the poor, preaching and teaching, as well as his ongoing involvement in the Vatican with official duties which he still maintains. He’ll be a very busy man, and I’m so grateful that his spirit, wisdom and guidance will remain a loud and stabilizing voice in our Church in the years to come.

I once had the opportunity to be a guest at a small dinner party with the cardinal and a few other priests from the Archdiocese in New York City. I ended up sitting at the table across from him and, as the dinner went on, he couldn’t have been more friendly and certainly very funny. He laughed uproariously at the jokes that were shared and at the many incongruities in our lives and the Church today. When he heard I was from Albany, he wanted to know all about my work, our parishes and plans for the future. He smiled as I related all the new programs that were afoot in our Diocese at the time. At the end of my proud recitation, he was silent for a moment and then quipped: “The Diocese of Albany was once part of New York, you know. We ran the place! I see it’s done a lot better since the separation!” Then, he laughed uproariously again! (The Diocese of Albany was established in 1847 and became independent of the Archdiocese of New York at that time.)

The cardinal loves the priesthood and has a long history in the formation of seminarians and priests. He taught for several years while rector of the American seminary in Rome. Informally, he leaves great lessons by his example — his persevering and joyful life and ministry that says:  Be faithful, share your joy of following Christ and the Gospel, be with your people in joys and sorrows, love the Church and your fellow priests, but above all, enjoy your vocation and laugh a lot!

Father Morrette is pastor at The Catholic Community of Our Lady of Victory in Troy, Our Lady of the Snow Mission in Grafton and Christ Sun of Justice Parish in Troy.