Cardinal Dolan marks 50 years as priest with Mass at St. Patrick’s
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, celebrated a major milestone Thursday: St. Patrick’s Day in New York City. It is the 50th anniversary of his ordination, which he celebrated with a special Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Flanked by several clergy from various denominations, Dolan, 76, thanked former colleagues and civic and community officials before praising Jesus Christ for his long career in the church.
“After 17 happy years, you are my family. You are my friends and I love you. And thank you. Thank you very much,” he said. “May my years as priest and bishop be valuable. If so, it is because of you. Without Jesus I could have done nothing; without you, none of the meager achievements you so kindly point out would ever have happened.”
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Cardinal Timothy Dolan at St. Paul’s Church in New York City on December 24, 2021. Celebrating Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
The Mass on Thursday had special significance because it coincided with the Feast of the Ascension, a major Christian festival that celebrates the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and takes place 40 days after Easter Sunday.
During the service, various clergy read from Scripture, including the Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book of the New Testament, and St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, which calls for unity in the church.
Dolan led the Archdiocese of New York from 2009 before resigning in December. He was replaced by Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois.
Dolan was ordained to the priesthood by the Archdiocese of Saint Louis on June 19, 1976, according to his biography on the New York archdiocese’s website. He served as associate pastor at Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights, Missouri, until he began his doctoral studies in American Church History at the Catholic University of America in 1979.
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Archbishop Emeritus of New York Timothy Dolan celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Thursday at St. Paul’s Church in New York City. He celebrated with a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (Fox News)
In May 2025, he attended the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Hicks, whom Pope Leo once called “Mini-Me,” spoke in Spanish before switching to English to praise Dolan. Both Hicks and Leo grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and served as missionaries in Latin America and are fluent in Spanish.
“As far as being Cardinal Dolan’s bishop, you might be wondering why I’m the one preaching right now,” Hicks said of Dolan. “Well, after 50 years of being a priest, I think you deserve a break.”
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Hicks recalled a meeting of the archdiocesan board this week where the president of the archdiocese board shared how he has been involved with the Catholic Church for many years. Although he was not a Catholic, his involvement led him to decide that “the Lord was calling him to become a Catholic.”
“So he turned to his close friend Cardinal Dolan and said: ‘Cardinal, it’s time. I want to become a Catholic. Do you know a priest you can recommend to me who can help me?'” Hicks recalled. “And Cardinal Dolan wasted no time in telling him: ‘You know, you’re lucky. I’m a priest. And I’m happy to help you.'”
“These words capture the essence of who and what Cardinal Dolan is,” Hicks added. “He is a priest who is happy to help. He is a priest who follows the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd.”
The bulk of the mass followed the Bible readings and songs.
Archbishop of New York Ronald A. Hicks unveiled the installation in New York City on February 6, 2026, following Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. He succeeds Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who had been in office since 2009. (Angelina Katsanis/Pool/Getty Images)
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In his final speech, Dolan thanked his parents, who got married in Missouri on May 14, 1949, as well as his brother Pat, who read during the ceremony. He then thanked everyone who participated.
“Being close to you here in New York is a gift I will cherish forever,” he said to end the service. “Now, it may be Ascension Eve, but to me it is Christmas Eve and I am a child looking at the many gifts under the tree. Thank you.”
