Homily for Installation

Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
February 6, 2026

Señor, toma mi vida nueva
antes de que la espera
desgaste años en mí.
Estoy dispuesto a lo que quieras,
no importa lo que sea,
tu llámame a servir.

Estas son las letras de la canción, “Alma misionera”.

Es una de mis canciones favoritas en la iglesia porque todos nosotros estamos llamados a ser discípulos misioneros, con almas misioneras, en una iglesia misionera.

I love music.
I love all types of music.
And I almost always have a song playing in my head.

There are so many songs about New York. I am going to take a few lines from some of the most famous songs about New York and put them together in a short compilation of my first impressions of living and working in New York. You can try and guess the artist and the title of the songs.

And while Chicago will always be “My kind of Town” Here goes… my feelings about New York, based on the following songs, done with a little creative editing of some of the lyrics…

Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
I’m in a New York State of Mind.
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
Si te quieres divertir con encanto y con primor
sólo tienes que vivir un verano en Nueva York
I happen to like New York
I happen to love this town
So, start spreadin’ the news
I’m starting today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York!

Here are a few things you should know about me: I love Jesus. I love the Church. And I love people.

As Pope Leo has recently taught in his catechesis on Vatican II,

Jesus says, “I call you friends.”
Through that relationship, I strive to love my neighbor as myself.
I also love the Eucharist, the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, our source and summit. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek, meaning to give thanks.
So today, in the context of this Eucharist, my heart is truly filled with gratitude.

And as I begin as the 11th Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, I want to start with gratitude.

First and foremost, I thank God, the creator of life and giver of life-eternal, for His divine love.

To Cardinal Christophe Pierre, thank you for your many years of service and for giving me the advice to just be myself. Please extend my gratitude to Pope Leo and assure him of my obedience and collaboration.

To Cardinal Cupich, I have been working with you and learning from you for over eleven years. Thank you for your example and mentorship.

To Cardinal Dolan, thank you for your magnanimous leadership here for seventeen years. In particular, thank you for the gracious support you have shown me both publicly and privately. And by the way, we know that today is your birthday. Happy Birthday to you, and “ad multos annos.”

To all of my brother bishops, thank you for the ways that you strive for unity and for your servant leadership in the Church.

To my brother priests. I love being a priest. Thank you for your YES, and I look forward to getting to know this wonderful presbyterate here in the Archdiocese.

To everyone from Chicagoland and from the Diocese of Joliet, I carry you in my heart. Thank you for being disciples who make disciples.

To my mom and dad who are watching via livestream. You are the best! Thank you for always showing me what unconditional love looks like.

To all of my family and friends. You are one of the greatest gifts in my life. Thank you for your constant support. I love all of you.

To those of you from government, business, labor, service, education, first responders, the arts, and those representing the many New York faith traditions, thank you for being here today. I look forward to working with you in support of the common good.

To everyone here present and live-streaming, and to all the people of New York, and to everyone in the 3 boroughs and 7 counties of the Archdiocese, the clergy, the religious, the laity, and all the faithful…to everyone: thank you for your prayers, your enthusiasm, and your warm welcome to me.

Acabo de expresar mi gratitud a todos por todo. A todos ustedes, doy gracias a Dios por compartir nuestra fe en Jesucristo y caminar juntos como hermanos e hermanas.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus gives us the Great Commission. Go, and make disciples, baptize them in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And behold, God is with us always.

This is a call to be a missionary Church, not a country club. A club exists to serve its members. The Church, on the other hand, exists to go out and serve all people, on fire with faith, hope, and charity in the name of Jesus Christ. This is not a criticism, but an invitation to renew who we are and rediscover why the Church exists. To follow Jesus, who fed the hungry, healed those ill in body and spirit, rejected hatred and proclaimed love.

Pope Leo XIV has been clear and consistent about this. He reminds us that the Church is missionary not because of a program we run, but because of who we are. The Church exists to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Gospel to everyone, publicly and credibly, without fear, in every culture and circumstance. A Church that upholds human dignity in every way possible. A Church that follows the example of Jesus who reached out beyond his own community and held up the Samaritan as an example of goodness.

That is the kind of Church I believe we are called to be here in the Archdiocese of New York.

We are called to be a missionary Church that takes care of the poor and the vulnerable, upholds life from conception to natural death, cares for creation, builds bridges, listens synodally, protects children, promotes healing for survivors and for all those wounded by the Church, and shows respect for all, building unity across cultures and generations.

Brothers and sisters, I believe the world always has and always will need a missionary Church.

A Church that proclaims Jesus Christ clearly and without fear.
A Church that forms missionary disciples, not passive spectators.
A Church that goes out to the peripheries.

To the people of the Archdiocese of New York, wherever you live and wherever you serve: I desire to follow the heart of Christ and be a Good Shepherd.
I come to walk with you, to serve you, and to proclaim Jesus Christ to you.

Somos una Iglesia misionera, enviada por Cristo al corazón del mundo.

So as always, let us go out, strengthened by the Eucharist, sent by the Lord, and guided by the Holy Spirit.

The mission is before us.
The world is waiting with hope.
And behold, God is with us always.