Cardinal Timothy Dolan visited the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral to honor and remember one of his predecessors, and to show how far the Church in the United States has come in 150 years. 

John McCloskey, the second Archbishop of New York, was named the first American and first non-European cardinal by Pope Pius IX. McCloskey did not travel to Rome for his investiture, instead receiving his new title at a Grand Mass at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral on April 27, 1875.

The Saturday, June 14 evening vigil Mass sought to recreate the music of the Cardinal McCloskey Mass, with the performance of “Te Deum” and other pieces from the 1875 event by the Basilica Schola Cantorum and Chamber Orchestra, with Jared Lamenzo as its conductor and organist.

In opening remarks, Father Enrique Salvo, rector of both St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, set the scene for the Mass. “Welcome to this very special day here at the cathedral, where we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first American cardinal. So, 150 years ago, in this very cathedral, Cardinal McCloskey was made a cardinal. And just to think about the fact that now, 150 years later, we have the first American pope. So it’s such a special celebration,” he said.

Cardinal Dolan, a historian of the American Church, gave a good-humored biography of his predecessor McCloskey’s life and work.

“John McCloskey was born in Brooklyn in 1810 – we’ll overlook that fact. He was born in Brooklyn, and his parents had come from Ireland just two years before. After receiving a solid education, he discerned a vocation to the priesthood. He probably knows this story, and he was sent to seminaries around – we didn’t have our own here in the diocese back then. He was formed at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, which is still a seminary. It’s right near Camp David, right by the shrine where St. Elizabeth Ann Seton used to frequent.”

McCloskey was mentored early by John Dubois, who later became Bishop of New York, and John Hughes, the first Archbishop of New York, whom McCloskey would succeed upon his death in 1864. When Old St. Patrick’s was damaged by fire in 1866, McCloskey oversaw its reconstruction and rededication.

Cardinal Dolan brought the hundreds in attendance back to the present day after calling attention to the many who had worshipped in that same space.

“So here we are. We’ve walked down memory lane, grateful and proud of this magnificent house of God. And here we are, grateful as well for the continuing grace from the saints that we know blessed the archdiocese. You think of the saints and holy men and women in this sacred space – blessed Pierre Toussaint, God willing, one day. Saint Dorothy Day, please God. one day. And Saint Frances Cabrini. And you think of what good company we’re in – the communion of saints we call it, a spiritual family that extends beyond space and time.”

“Te Deum” was performed toward the end of Mass. The piece dates to the fifth century AD. The version performed “was composed by Gustavus Schmitz and was dedicated to Cardinal McCloskey,” according to Basilica Schola Cantorum conductor Lamenzo’s program notes.

“One of the most important things about the old cathedral is that we must appreciate its history. There’s so much of the history of New York here in this place and so, of course, we have to always be noticing all the important dates and the important events,” Father Salvo told The Good Newsroom after the Mass. “We planned this a year before we knew we would have the first American pope, that just happened to be 150 years after the first American cardinal.”

Cardinal Dolan served as the Mass’ principal celebrant. Concelebrating with him were Father Salvo, Monsignor Donald Sakano, Monsignor Robert Murphy, Father Daniel Ray, LC, and Father Zachariah Presutti, SJ.

The Mass was attended by members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem (Eastern Lieutenancy of the United States), the Order of Malta, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the St. Vincent Ferrer Society of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, and the Knights of Columbus.