About 100 guests joined Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Catholic Charities of New York Executive Director Monsignor Kevin Sullivan for a breakfast before the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, June 17.

“This is one of the most iconic institutions in New York, and what we like to say at Catholic Charities is that it’s a wonderful pairing because in the world of helping people, providing services, Catholic Charities is a premier institution. We’re very proud to partner with the New York Stock Exchange,” Monsignor Sullivan told The Good Newsroom in an interview prior to the event.

Now entering its second century, Catholic Charities of New York helps solve the problems of New Yorkers in need, non-Catholics and Catholics alike, with services to address food pantries, affordable housing, legal aid, and mental health issues.

The breakfast featured a keynote presentation by Jan Hatzius, chief economist for Goldman Sachs, during which Hatzius provided an update on the current economic outlook.

“One thing Monsignor Sullivan always speaks about is partnership. Partnership, partnership. We can’t do it by ourselves. So, we work very closely with many, many people,” said Cardinal Dolan. Along with representatives of other denominations and faiths, Catholic Charities works with government agencies at the city, state, and federal level. “They complement us all the time because they say ‘we want to give tax money back into programs that work with thrift, frugality, and effectiveness,’ and Catholic Charities is one of the best,” Cardinal Dolan said. He also noted the ties between Catholic Charities and the business and finance communities, as evidenced by the attendance at Monday’s event.

Lynn Martin, president of the NYSE Group, presented Cardinal Dolan with a souvenir medallion to commemorate the occasion of his ringing the opening bell. Martin noted that she received 17 years of Catholic education and serves on the Archdiocese of New York’s Inner-City Scholarship Fund’s board of trustees.

Cardinal Dolan, Monsignor Sullivan, Martin, and a small group of guests made their way to the podium to ring the opening bell, beginning normal trading at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. Other guests gathered below the podium in front of the CNBC broadcast booth to celebrate the beginning of the trading day.