Archdiocese Gets First Look at New Archbishop as Cardinal Dolan, Most Rev. Hicks Celebrate Mass
By: Steven Schwankert
The Archbishop-designate made his first public appearance at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in his new role
The staff of the Archdiocese of New York and the public had their first opportunity to meet Archbishop-designate, Most Rev. Ronald A. Hicks, as he concelebrated Mass with Cardinal Timothy Dolan Thursday afternoon at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
The new Archbishop officially received his appointment this morning, after Pope Leo XIV accepted Cardinal Dolan’s resignation, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in February.
The Illinois native had a full first day in New York. Following a private breakfast with the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops, he appeared on the “Conversation with Cardinal Dolan” show on Sirius XM’s The Catholic Channel and Catholic Faith Network. He then had a private lunch with priest staff at the chancery offices, before the annual archdiocesan employee Christmas Mass.
“This is always an occasion of joy when we come together with the central staff of the Archdiocese of New York in late Advent to thank Almighty God for the blessings He has given to our beloved archdiocesan family, and gives me a chance to thank you great people that have devoted yourselves to Jesus and his Church in service to the archdiocese,” Cardinal Dolan said in his opening remarks.
He then welcomed the day’s special guest. “Do you know Bishop Ronald Hicks? Bishop, are we ever happy to see you,” Cardinal Dolan said, to extended applause from the archdiocesan staff and members of the public attending the Mass.
At the end of Mass, the Archbishop-designate expressed his gratitude for a whirlwind first day in the archdiocese.
Archbishop-designate Hicks expressed his gratitude for his first, whirlwind day in the archdiocese.
“To everyone who is here, from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you. Thank you for such a gracious welcome. This has been an extraordinarily unforgettable day for me. I will never, ever forget it,” he said.
“I’ve always loved the energy of New York, and there’s a positive energy here. Today, after the press conference, I’ve been stopped on the street, entering different buildings, just pulled in by people who said to me, ‘Hey, welcome to New York. Congratulations.’ That’s the spirit of collaboration, of unity, of togetherness that I look forward to joining very soon,” the Archbishop-designate said.
Archbishop-designate Hicks will be installed at a Mass on February 6, 2026.
Concelebrating the Mass with Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop-designate Hicks were Permanent Observer Of The Holy See to the United Nations Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishops Edmund J. Whalen, vicar for clergy, John Bonnici, Gerardo Colacicco, and Joseph Espaillat attended the event, along with Monsignor Joseph P. LaMorte, vicar general, Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop James Massa, rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, and Father Enrique Salvo, rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Additional concelebrants included Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Monsignor Roger J. Landry, national Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, and Father Ignatius Schweitzer.
Special guests attending the Mass included Sister Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., superintendent of schools, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, and Rabbi Noam Marans of the American Jewish Committee.