Recently in Archdiocese of New York Category

Great news for the Archdiocese of New York: Old St Patrick's Cathedral (since 1809) has been a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.

3 seminarians from St Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie, Yonkers, NY) are going to be interviewed by Lino Rulli on his daily radio show "The Catholic Guy" on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio --The Catholic Channel. Lino's show is broadcast on Sirius 159 or XM 117, daily 4-7 eastern. 

The Most Reverend Gerald Thomas Walsh, president/rector of Saint's Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie, info here and here) and NY auxiliary bishop, celebrated Mass for the seminarians and for the Ancient Order of Hibernians in American (AOH). Growing up in a mixed household, Polish and Irish, I've heard of the AOH but nothing more. His Lordship gave us a brief précis on the importance of the AOH and its continuing concern today here in the New York Archdiocese. In many and varied ways the AOH in the Archdiocese supports and defends the Catholic faith and the work of the seminary, for which we are grateful

 

In a much broader organization, Division 16 (Westchester County) of the AOH was formed on September 13, 1891 following upon New York City's organization on May 4, 1836. The AOH consists of Catholic men and women of Irish descent in order to protect the Catholic Church and priests from a mounting wave of religious bigotry, discrimination and mob violence. Historically, the AOH was formed in Ireland in the 1600's to protect the lives of priests who kept the Catholic faith alive but faced certain death.

 

In April 1844 the NYC AOH valiantly defended old Saint Patrick's Cathedral from being burned down.

 

The Westchester County AOH division supports many local charitable organizations such as Hospice Care (VNA) of Westchester/Putnam Counties and Rosary Hill Cancer Center in Hawthrone, NY. This organization provides free end-of-life care for the poor for free and is operated by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Rosary Hill takes no government money whatsoever; all expenses are paid for by donations.

 

The MacSwiney Chalice used at Mass

 

The chalice used for today's Mass was The MacSwiney Chalice. Its provenance is 17^th century Ireland of the Penal Laws era. It was designed for easy concealment in 1640. The inscription on the base of the chalice reads: "Pray for the soul of Mister Daniel Swyne, priest of the diocese of Lismore, who made me in the year 1640."

 

The chalice was kept in the MacSwiney family for 268 years, and seems to have been used by various priests of that family which was by the 19^th century resident in New York.

 

Having been regilt and then reconsecrated by Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan, it was used by him at the consecration of Saint Brigid's Church (1898), Manhattan, NY. The pastor being the Reverend Father Francis McSweeny, a relation to the original owner of the chalice.

 

In 1908 the chalice was presented to Saint Joseph's Seminary by the Reverend Father Edwin MacSweeny.

"Up Close" with Diana Williams' of ABC 7 in NYC interviewed Archbishop Tim Dolan on his first year as chief shepherd of the NY Archdiocese, the second largest in the USA. All of his joy on being a priest and a bishop comes through in the interview. Thanks be to God because we need Archbishop Dolan's pastoral leadership and theological connection with Pope Benedict XVI. Watch the three-part interview: Parts 1, 2, and 3.

In a NY1 Exclusive interview with NY's Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan the other day, the Archbishop spoke about many things including NY politics, culture and he distinguishes between being welcome to attend events and being honored at publicly sponsored Catholic events. A topic many Catholics are familiar with in recent years, especially at university graduation time. This is question is also on the plate since the St Patrick's Day Parade is fast approaching at which the gay and lesbian activists normally cause a stir because of perceived anti-Catholic bias toward their lifestyle and then in fall there's the Al Smith dinner where Catholics and politicos rub shoulders at a high profile dinner. People want to know what and how the Church is going to handle such situations; the Catholics need solid guidance and reasons for belief and hope. The Archbishop is clear that when it comes to faith and the public order people we need (want!) good leadership who live lives with honesty and that the public have an expectation that civil and religious leadership be questioned about their lives. Good governance depends on coherent life. Politically people are asking these questions in light of the recent troubles of NY governor David Paterson, a Catholic and yet pro-abortion, not to mention pro-liberal on all topics.

Tomorrow is the 5th anniversary of death of the great priest and founder of Communion & Liberation, Monsignor Luigi Giussani. More on that later. However, the NY community of Communion & Liberation gathered at Saint Patrick's Cathedral for the Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by the Archbishop, Timothy M. Dolan. Among those in the sanctuary were Bishop William McCormack (retired auxiliary bishop of NY celebrating 51 years a priest today) and Bishop Gerald Walsh (NY auxiliary bishop and rector of Saint Joseph's Seminary), Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete, Carmelite Father Eugene and Father Daniel O'Reilly with the seminarians from Dunwoodie and the collegians from St John Neumann Seminary Residence.

In today's Catholic New York it was announced that as of January 1, Father Dennis McManus will be Archbishop Dolan's theological advisor and promoter of initiatives among Catholics, Jews and Muslims. He will also be teaching at Saint Joseph's Seminary.

Father McManus is a priest of the Archdiocese of Mobile (ordained in 2004). He's been a visiting professor at Georgetown University.

His academic credentials and work experience in the US and abroad are superb. Read the CNY story.