Dolan Arrives in Ossining for Sunday Mass at Maryknoll
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the New York Archdiocese, who last week was named one of 22 prelates to be named a cardinal in Rome, attended a special 100th anniversary mass at the Maryknoll Sisters world headquarters in Ossining on Sunday.
The event kicked off Maryknoll’s celebration, and drew an overflow invitation-only crowd of more than 300 people, with additional rooms set up for people to watch the event on a big screen.
Although this was Dolan’s second public mass since news of the cardinalship broke (the first was outside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral), he had already been invited to speak in Ossining for the event.
Battling laryngitis, the 61-year-old Dolan recited prayers and offered remarks about the importance of Maryknoll, the first U.S.-based Catholic women’s congregation dedicated to foreign missions.
“We love you very much,” Dolan said to the Maryknoll Sisters. “It’s an honor to praise and admire you. Maryknoll is a living testimony to God’s promise. We need you more than ever. I am filled with so much joy and radiance by being here.”
Dolan talked about how he interacted with Maryknoll brothers and sisters growing up in St. Louis and how important the organization is in spreading the gospel of Jesus.
“Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever,” Dolan said.
Sue Palmer, the communications director for Maryknoll, said it was exciting to have Dolan leading mass.
“We are honored by his presence,” Palmer said. “A lot of hard work went into this event, but we are thrilled to have it. We are very pleased to hear his comments and enjoy hearing his words.”
Dolan will be the eighth archbishop of New York to be named a cardinal when he is elevated by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on Feb. 18.
Dolan, who will join Cardinal Edward Egan, whom Dolan replaced in 2009 in the College of Cardinals in Rome, will be one of the 125 cardinals who serve as papal advisers and will be able to assist in selecting the next pope if a vacancy occurs.
In addition to the visit of the soon-to-be cardinal, Maryknoll has planned a list of activities to celebrate its 100th anniversary including an Interfaith Harmony Prayer Day on Feb. 5 and hosting a “Music for the World” concert on March 4.
Sam Barron contributed to this story.
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