On Wednesday 15 April, Archbishop Timothy Dolan will be installed as the new Archbishop of New York. A native of Ballwin, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri, he was educated by Meath Mercy Sisters from St. Mary’s Convent, Drogheda. They had established a grade school in Ballwin in the early 1950s. He has, over the years, expressed on many occasions his deep appreciation for the education and formation he received from the Meath Mercy Sisters and has visited them in Drogheda on a number of occasions. He had planned to visit Drogheda again during this summer but those plans may have to be reviewed following his appointment to New York.

Bishop Michael Smith and Fr. Denis Nulty, P.P., St. Mary’s, Drogheda have accepted an invitation from Archbishop Dolan to be present at the installation in St Patrick's Cathedral, New York during Easter Week.

They will accompany Archbishop Dolan's former teacher, Sr. Bosco Daly, now resident in St. Mary’s Convent, Drogheda (a native of Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath) who has been asked by her former pupil to sit ‘in the front seat’ for the occasion. She has been asked to read the Scripture text at the Solemn Vespers being celebrated in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday evening, 14 April.

 

The first resident Bishop of New York was Fr. John Connolly, a native of Slane, Co. Meath. Fr. Connolly was a member of the Dominican Order and resident at their Irish house in Rome, San Clemente (close to the Colosseum) when he was appointed as Bishop of New York in October 1814. The first Bishop of New York died before he could take up his appointment. Bishop Connolly, when he arrived in New York in November 1815, found there were just four priests and three churches in the diocese. Before his death in February 1825, he had built another eight Churches as well as initiating several other developments.

 

Photos from Archbishop Dolan’s recent visit to Drogheda – one with Sr. Bosco and one with Fr. Denis Nulty and Fr. Martin Carley – are available here.

An televised interview between Archbishop Dolan and Sr Bosco is available here.

An interview from New York Daily News available here.

 

Rev Paul Connell & Rev Denis Nulty pictured in attendance at
Archbishop Dolan's Installation in St Patrick's Cathedral.

Archbishop Dolan receives his crozier from the Apostolic Nuncio.