Two priests who knew Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks from his earliest days of formation spoke highly of the Bishop of Joliet and the choice of him as the Archdiocese of New York’s next leader. 

“He is an extremely likable person, very bright, very capable,” said retired Bishop of Tucson Gerald Kicanas, in a telephone interview with The Good Newsroom. “Even when he was a student, he was quite involved in the high school, kind of intense on service.” 

Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop-designate Hicks as the 11th Archbishop of New York after accepting the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan on December 18. Cardinal Dolan reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 earlier this year. 

Archbishop-designate Hicks, 58, was born in Harvey, Illinois, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1994. He served as auxiliary bishop of Chicago before being appointed Bishop of Joliet in 2020.  

Bishop Kicanas first met the future archbishop when Hicks was a high school student at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, when he was the principal of that Catholic high school administered by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Quigley 

Bishop Kicanas later became Archbishop-designate Hicks’ formation director at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, giving him a unique perspective on his development. “He’s what might be called a ‘lifer,'” the bishop said. “He was in seminary from high school through major seminary.” 

When they reconnected at Mundelein, Bishop Kicanas found “a very mature man who had now very strongly committed himself to wanting to be a priest, and was held by his peers and by the faculty in the highest regard.” He had the privilege of recommending Hicks for ordination. 

“He’s really a very fatherly man,” Bishop Kicanas said, noting Hicks’ five years of service at Siervo en Hermanos in El Salvador. “I think the kids there would have looked upon him as their father. And I think that’s what he will bring to the archdiocese, he will be a loving father and, I’m sure, a wise teacher and a holy guide for the people.” 

A pastor’s perspective 

The Very Reverend William T. Corcoran, Ph.D., currently on sabbatical in Rome, knew Archbishop-designate Hicks through his parents, who attend St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in the far southwest corner of Chicago, near the Joliet border. Father Corcoran served as pastor there, arriving in 2014, years after Hicks had moved on in his ministry. 

“His father was an altar server and lector there. His mother is a convert to the faith,” Father Corcoran said, also speaking by phone. He would see the future archbishop when he returned to give talks or attend funerals. 

Father Corcoran emphasized Archbishop-designate Hicks’ pastoral qualities and intellectual gifts. “He is absolutely as smart as a tack,” he said. “He has tremendous people skills. He’s deeply spiritual. His life is rooted in spirituality and prayer. He’s approachable and pastoral. He’s there when you need him; he shows up.” 

He also noted Hicks’ fluency in Spanish and cultural sensitivity, qualities developed through his formation and ministry. 

“He’s a wonderful, wonderful person, a wonderful priest and bishop,” Father Corcoran said, “and New York is extremely lucky to have him serve as your archbishop.”