Tag: Timothy Dolan

Archbishop Timothy Dolan is new USCCB President; other new officers elected

Abp Dolan at vespers

The new president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.
The office of president of the USCCB is a three year term of service.

The new vice president of the USCCB is Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville.
The new treasurer of the USCCB is Bishop Michael J. Bransfield.
The new chairman of the Office of Canonical Affairs and Church Governance is Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese of Military Services.
The new chairman of Catholic Education is Bishop Joseph P. McFadden of Harrisburg.
The new chairman of the Committee on Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs is Bishop Denis J. Madden auxiliary bishop of Baltimore.
The new chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis is Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay.
The new chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace is Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of Baltimore.
The new chairman of the Committee on Child and Youth Protection is Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of Steubenville.
The important point about the place of a conference of bishops in life of the Church is that they serve rather than replace the authority given to an individual bishop in exercising his office by teaching, serving (governing) and sanctifying the faithful of his diocese. But as Pope Benedict has said on any number of occasions, and which was also reiterated by Francis Cardinal George on Monday in his final presidential address, local churches are not national churches. Hence, priests are ordained bishops for the entire Church and not merely for thus-and-such diocese. Speaking to the Brazilian bishops on their recent ad limina visit (a visit to the Pope, various offices at the Holy See and for prayer at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul) Benedict said: “… the counselors and structures of the episcopal conference exist to serve the bishops, not to replace them.” 
For a full theological treatment on bishops’ conferences you ought to read Pope John Paul II’s 1998 Apostolic Letter, Apostolos Suos: On the Theological and Juridical Nature of Episcopal Conferences.

Archbishop Dolan & Br Ignatius Perkins honored at St Catherine of Siena Priory (NYC) healthcare Mass

See! A wise and faithful virgin standing there with a lamp alight, ready now to meet her Bridegroom, coming soon with pow’r and might. Cath’rine, filled with loving fervor served the Church both night and day: As she taught us, make us faithful to the suff’ring Christ our Way.

St Catherine statue.jpgThe other day I mentioned the 4th annual Mass and award for healthcare professionals who treat the sick and the dying with dignity at Saint Catherine of Siena Priory & Church (East 68th St, NYC) suggesting prayerful solidarity and physical presence, if possible. I had hoped to go myself, but too many things to do at the seminary in the final week of classes prevented me.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan and Brother Ignatius Perkins, OP, PhD, were honored at the event. The archbishop was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass and was joined by a variety of Dominicans, including Father Dominic Izzo, prior provincial of the Province of St Joseph, Father Brian Mulcahy, Izzo’s vicar provincial, and Father Jordan Kelly, curate, Director of Liturgy and hospital chaplain at St Catherine Church and Priory.

DIzzo & Br Ignatius St Catherine.jpg

Brother Ignatius was particularly honored by the Dominicans for his work in founding the  Dominican Friars Healthcare Ministry of New York; he is leaving his work as the Director of the DFHM to assume a position as the Dean of the Nursing School at Aquinas College, Nashville, TN. 

OP friars with TM Dolan St Catherine.jpg

Thanks to one of the Dominican friars, Father Carlos Quijano who took some photos and graciously sent them to me are now shared here.

May Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine and Blessed James Salamone richly bless both the archbishop and Brother Ignatius, especially as Brother transitions to a new ministry for the Order of Friars Preachers and the Church.
Watch an informative video clip, Taking Healthcare’s temp.
DIzzo & Tm Dolan St Catherine.jpg

Dolan in Syria and Lebanon: the deep sacred roots of the churches, places and people in the story of our redemption

CNEWA Syria 2010.jpegAs bishop, I am told, you are asked to sit on boards and be a voice for causes that you may not have too much interest in or knowledge of. While to the new Archbishop Dolan’s portfolio as the archbishop of New York, he is the chairman of the board of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) and is learning lots of new and beautiful things about the Church in other parts of the world. He made a recent trip to the Middle East with members of the governing board which opened his eyes to a new reality of what it is like to be an Eastern Christian. John Cardinal Foley, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem accompanied the CNEWA board. The archbishop learned the beautiful horizons of the East and the limits thereof.

Read Archbishop Dolan’s reflections on his visit to the Middle East last week. I found it interesting and insightful and I hope it does the same for you.
I am going to be shameless here. When I was at the Catholic Information Service at the Knights of Columbus I commissioned my friend, Father Steven Hawkes-Teeples, SJ, professor Theology at the Oriental Institute in Rome to write a booklet on basics of Eastern Christianity. The old booklet just didn’t serve the needs of our readers and something more up-to-date was needed, especially since Catholic Church has more than one expression of herself. The booklet, The Eastern Christians and Their Churches, is worth a thorough read.

Chrism Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral

sanctuary, St Patrick's Cathedral.jpgThe Sacrifice of the Mass with the Rite of Blessing of Oils at St Patrick’s Cathedral was celebrated by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan and concelebrate by the four active NY auxiliary bishops. This year we were blessed to have with us Bishop-elect Jude Ayodeji Arogundade, 48, (of Ondo, Nigeria). Bishop-elect Jude  has been the parish administrator of an Elmsford, NY parish until his recent appointment to Nigeria, for which he leaves for in the middle of April; his ordination to the episcopacy is May 6. Cardinal Edward M. Egan presided in choir robes (his 78th birthday is April 2). About 400 secular and religious order priests concelebrated the Mass and renewed their commitment to priestly service.

Dolan squarely set the theology tonight’s sacred rites in the context of the loving obedience of Christ on the cross leading to the resurrection, reminding us that we are saved by the wounds of Christ.
In speaking of the holy oils and the priesthood, the Archbishop said the holy oils are the sacramental icons for the entire Church of the Sacraments and that the priesthood is about calling, consecration and consolation. It was significant that the sacred Chrism consecrated tonight will be used to consecrated the hands of the 10 deacons to be ordained priests on May 15.
Once again Archbishop Dolan focussed our attention on the trials of the Church today and called us to stand with the Church amidst her struggle. Likewise, the renewal of the request for a prayerful solidarity with the Pope was well received.

Eugene & Fr Holt Chrism Mass 2010.jpg

Seminary tradition has it that the third year theology class distributes the newly blessed oils.
Br Giuseppi distributing oil.jpg

Old St Patrick’s Cathedral named a basilica by Benedict XVI

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

Old St Patrick’s is the first church in the Archdiocese of New York to have the honor of being so connected with the Holy Father.

Congrats to Archbishop Dolan, Monsignor Donald Sakano!

You may recall recently that I mentioned that the Bridgeport Diocese had one of their churches raised to a minor basilica.
Take a look at the document on what it takes to be a minor basilica, Domus Ecclesiae or “On Granting of the Title of Minor Basilica.”
This is terrific news on the Solemnity of Saint Patrick!
Blessed be God in His angels and in saints!

Dolan reviews the year with Diana Williams

“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.

Archbishop Dolan notes a need for coherence in faith & public order

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.

Archbishop Dolan prays for Giussani, thanks Communion & Liberation, gives us the logic of Lent

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.

A few times in the course of the Mass and following, Dolan expressed his gratitude for the presence and witness of Communion and Liberation in the Archdiocese of NY. Today’s Mass joins many others around the USA and in others parts of the world praying for Giussani and for the good of the movement. See where Mass is being offered here.

Jesus is tempted.jpg

In his homily, Archbishop Dolan reminded us of the deadly sins that cut us off from God, the Church community, others and ourselves. The gospel for today (Lk 4) is a stark reminder is that the Lord was tempted, but didn’t capitulate to the temptations demonstrating a supreme trust in His Father. This he did by speaking of the Logic of Lent: the pilgrimage during the season of Lent is a movement away from sin and sinful tendencies inching toward life with the Trinity, the living God. In order for us to live holiness of life we need to live as those Christ matters, as though the truth the Church teaches does, in fact, set us free. We are made for communion, interpersonal relationships first with God and then with each other; selfishness and pride divides us. Ultimately, we have to take seriously the Scriptural warrants for life with God: purity of heart, humility of personality. The Christian life is not “my will be done,” but it’s the other way around, “Thy will be done, God.’
How do we decapitate sin? How do we live more intently this time of faith in Christ?
The 3 ancient Christian practices:
1. Prayer: the posture is the recollection that without God nothing is possible
2. Penance: self-denial to curb the human drive to disordered pleasures
3. Charity: mercy and self-gift as acts of love to live in a dignified way as God wants us to live.
When we do our part in self-emptying ourselves of sinful tendencies, God does His part in giving us what we need: true and lasting happiness.
The proffered the hope that Msgr. Luigi Giussani would be made a Doctor of the Church. I hope the Archbishop’s words were heard in heaven!
A 12th century anthem was sung at the Preparation of the Altar at Mass, “Ave Regina Caelorum,” musically arranged by Gregor Aichinger. Typically this hymn is sung after Compline from the feast of the Presentation of the Lord until Holy Thursday. A version of the text in English follows:
Hail, Queen of Heaven!
Hail, Mistress of Angels!
Hail, root, hail portal,
From which the Light for the world has Risen.
Rejoice, glorious Virgin,
Beautiful above all others.
Farewell, most gracious,
And pray for us to Christ.
A fitting reminder of the beauty of Mary, Mother of God and her role as intercessor for us before her son, Jesus. May she also intercede for Msgr. Luigi Giussani and for Communion and Liberation.