The former Bishop of Joliet arrived in New York this week. After a press conference and two homilies given over two days, in two languages, the new Archbishop of New York proclaimed how he will lead the archdiocese. 

“If you want to know how I will walk in this new stage, I’m going to trust in God, place myself in His hands, and unite my heart to the Heart of Jesus to do the will of the Father each day in prayer. I want to walk accompanied by good and faithful people, working together in the mission and ministries of the Church,” Archbishop-designate Hicks said, in Spanish, at the beginning of his Solemn Vespers homily on February 5, the evening before his Installation. 

Missionary discipleship and evangelization 

At his February 5 press conference, Archbishop Hicks was direct about his priorities: “At the center of everything is faith. And so all the issues, so many of them, are important, but one of my focuses is going to be on evangelization. How do we actually be disciples who make disciples?” 

In his Installation Mass homily, he expanded on this vision with an unambiguous call: “This is a call to be a missionary church, not a country club. A club exists to serve its members. The Church exists, on the other hand, to go out and serve all people, on fire with faith, with hope, and charity in the name of Jesus Christ.” 

Trust and surrender to God’s will 

The Vespers homily featured an extended meditation on trust, contrasting the statue of Atlas across Fifth Avenue from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, with a statue behind the altar that shows a young Jesus holding the world easily in one hand: “On one side of the street, Atlas shows us what happens when we try to carry everything alone. On this side, Christ invites us to place our trust in him.” 

Accompaniment and walking together 

Archbishop Hicks distinguished his approach from corporate leadership: “I don’t want to be seen as only the CEO or corporate president of a group. I’m called here to be a pastor. I’m called here to be a shepherd, and as shepherd, my desire is to be a good shepherd,” he said at the Thursday press conference. 

During his Installation homily, he made his posture clear: “To the people of the Archdiocese of New York, wherever you live and wherever you serve: I desire to follow the heart of Christ, to be a good shepherd. I come to walk with you, to serve you, and to proclaim Jesus Christ to you.” 

Archbishop Hicks closed his Installation Mass homily with a call that captured his primary themes: “So as always, let’s 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.” 

Whether speaking in English or Spanish, addressing clergy or the broader community, Archbishop Hicks presented himself not as a distant administrator but as a fellow disciple on mission.