Cardinal Dolan returned to the stage at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in Manhattan Monday evening to launch a new speaker series, “Thoughts, I Have a Few,” reflecting on his 50 years as a priest and 25 years as a bishop. 

For the first installment, the cardinal invited his successor, Archbishop Hicks, for an evening of conversation that blended humor, personal stories, and reflections on the Archdiocese of New York. 

“The first one was a no-brainer because I said, ‘Well, let’s introduce my successor,'” Cardinal Dolan said after the event. “I hope you’d agree that went pretty well.” 

The discussion gave attendees a chance to see the friendship that has developed between the two church leaders since Archbishop Hicks arrived in New York. 

An evening of warmth and humor 

“It was a special night,” Archbishop Hicks told The Good Newsroom. “It was a very natural, warm, at times funny dialogue between the two of us.” 

Throughout the evening, the two men shared stories about their vocations, family life, the Midwest, and experiences in ministry. At one point, Archbishop Hicks reflected on his parents’ influence, describing his mother as the “mama bird” who wanted to keep her children safe and his father as the one who encouraged them to “spread your wings” and pursue their calling. 

The conversation also highlighted some of the qualities Cardinal Dolan believed would be important in the next Archbishop of New York. Recalling the process of preparing for his successor, he joked that one of his recommendations was that the next archbishop should have a working knowledge of Spanish. 

“I tried my best,” Cardinal Dolan said with a laugh. “People were kind to say, ‘Hey,’ but it was like America’s Funniest Videos.” 

A bond of respect and affection 

Beyond the humor, the evening revealed the deep respect the two men share. Archbishop Hicks said Cardinal Dolan has been “nothing but supportive” both publicly and privately since his arrival in New York. 

For his part, Cardinal Dolan spoke movingly about watching the transition unfold. 

“You dream, when you have a position like I cherished for 17 years as archbishop, ‘I wonder who’s going to follow me?'” he said. “And you pray it’ll be somebody for whom you already have an affection and an admiration and an appreciation. That’s a gift you dream of. And I got it.” 

The evening was the first of four planned conversations in the “Thoughts, I Have a Few” series at the Sheen Center, offering Cardinal Dolan an opportunity to reflect on the people, experiences, and moments that have shaped his decades of priestly and episcopal ministry.