Timothy M. Dolan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Timothy M. Dolan |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop of New York |
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Cardinal Dolan during the entrance procession of mass at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
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| Church |
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| Archdiocese | New York |
| Appointed | February 23, 2009 |
| Enthroned | April 15, 2009 |
| Predecessor | Edward Egan |
| Other posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 19, 1976 |
| Consecration | August 15, 2001 by Justin Francis Rigali, Joseph Fred Naumann, Michael John Sheridan |
| Created Cardinal | February 18, 2012 |
| Rank | Cardinal Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Timothy Michael Dolan |
| Born | February 6, 1950 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Prelate |
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Timothy Michael Dolan (born February 6, 1950) is an American cardinal in the Catholic Church. A cardinal is a high-ranking leader chosen by the Pope. He is currently the tenth Archbishop of New York. An archbishop leads a large area of Catholic churches called an archdiocese. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to this role in 2009.
From 2010 to 2013, Cardinal Dolan was the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This group helps guide the Catholic Church in the U.S. He became a cardinal in 2012. The National Catholic Reporter describes him as a leader with traditional values and a friendly personality. Before his current role, he served in several important positions. These included leading a college in Rome, being a bishop in St. Louis, and serving as an archbishop in Milwaukee.
Contents
Life and Career of Timothy Dolan
Early Life and Education
Timothy Michael Dolan was born on February 6, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. He was the oldest of five children. His father, Robert, was an engineer. His mother, Shirley, cared for the family. The family later moved to Ballwin, a suburb of St. Louis. They attended Holy Infant Roman Catholic Church there.
From a young age, Timothy Dolan showed a strong interest in becoming a priest. He once said he couldn't remember a time when he didn't want to be a priest. As a child, he would even pretend to celebrate Mass. In 1964, he began his studies at Saint Louis Preparatory Seminary. He later earned a degree in philosophy from Cardinal Glennon College. He continued his studies in Rome, Italy, at the Pontifical North American College. In 1976, he earned another degree from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Becoming a Priest
Timothy Dolan became a priest on June 19, 1976. He was ordained at Holy Infant Church for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. After his ordination, he worked as an associate pastor at two parishes in Missouri.
In 1979, he went to Washington D.C. to study for his doctoral degree. He focused on the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. His research later became a book. After returning to Missouri in 1983, he worked in parishes for four years. During this time, he also helped reform the archdiocese's seminary.
In 1987, the Vatican appointed Dolan as a secretary in Washington. He worked as a link between the Vatican and Catholic areas in the U.S. In 1992, he returned to Missouri. He became the vice-rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He also taught Catholic history at St. Louis University.
Leading the Pontifical North American College
From 1994 to 2001, Dolan served as the leader, or rector, of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This is a special school for future priests. During his time there, he wrote a book called Priests for the Third Millennium. He also taught at other important universities in Rome. In 1994, he was given the title of Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.
Becoming a Bishop
On June 19, 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Dolan as an auxiliary bishop of St. Louis. An auxiliary bishop helps the main bishop of an area. He became a bishop on August 15, 2001. He chose his motto: Ad quem ibimus, which means "Lord, to whom shall we go?" This comes from a Bible verse.
Archbishop of Milwaukee
On June 25, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Dolan as the tenth archbishop of Milwaukee. He officially began his role on August 28, 2002. As archbishop, he focused on supporting priests and encouraging new people to join the priesthood. The number of students in the seminary grew during his time there. He also wrote books like Called to Be Holy and To Whom Shall We Go?. He even co-hosted a TV show with his brother called Living Our Faith.
Apostolic Administrator of Green Bay
From September 2007 to July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI also named Dolan to oversee the Diocese of Green Bay. This temporary role is called an apostolic administrator. He did this while still serving as archbishop in Milwaukee.
Archbishop of New York
Appointment and Installation
On February 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Dolan as the tenth archbishop of New York. He took over from Cardinal Edward Egan, who had reached the age for retirement. Dolan was officially installed as archbishop at St. Patrick's Cathedral on April 15, 2009. Many important leaders attended the ceremony.
Changes to Schools and Parishes
Soon after arriving in New York, Cardinal Dolan began looking at the archdiocese's schools and churches. Due to changes in population, rising costs, and fewer people attending, many schools and churches were not being used fully. He oversaw plans to close or combine some of these schools and parishes. This helped the archdiocese adapt to new challenges.
Dolan also served as the head of Catholic Relief Services. This organization helps people in need around the world. He visited countries like Ethiopia and India in this role.
Church Investigations
In 2011, the Vatican asked Dolan to lead an investigation of the Pontifical Irish College. This is a seminary in Rome for Irish students. His report in 2012 was very critical of the college. It said that many students were unhappy with the atmosphere. It also mentioned that staff seemed to dislike traditional Catholic teachings, while students were enthusiastic about them. Dolan's report suggested changes to the staff. As a result, some staff members were reassigned or resigned.
Current Activities
Cardinal Dolan continues to be involved in many important church groups. He was appointed to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. These groups help with communication and support Eastern Catholic churches. In 2013, Pope Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
In 2014, Dolan was involved in a legal case about the remains of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Sheen had been buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral since 1979. Another diocese wanted his remains moved. After a court order in 2016, the archdiocese was told to transfer the remains.
Dolan also delivered the first prayer at the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017. In 2020, he offered the opening prayer for the 2020 Republican National Convention. In February 2023, he announced that 12 schools in the archdiocese would close. These schools had struggled financially after the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2024, while visiting Jerusalem, Dolan and his group had to take cover during a missile attack. Everyone in his group was safe.
Leading the USCCB
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Dolan leads the Priestly Life and Ministry Committee. He was elected president of the USCCB on November 16, 2010. He was the first leader from New York to hold this position. He served a three-year term until November 12, 2013.
Becoming a Cardinal
Timothy Dolan was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on February 18, 2012. The day before, he spoke to the Pope and other cardinals about spreading faith in today's world. He became a Cardinal Priest of the Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario church in Rome. When Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement in 2013, some people thought Dolan might be a possible successor to the Pope.
Views and Beliefs
Thoughts on Society and Police
In June 2020, Cardinal Dolan spoke about protests and police actions. These events followed the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, and the shooting of Breonna Taylor. He said that police officers are mostly good people. He also said that the protesters had an important message. He stated that black lives matter, adding that "all lives matter" and "police lives matter" too.
In an article in July 2020, Dolan asked people to stop criticizing the New York City Police Department too much. He said that police officers themselves were very upset about the death of George Floyd. He also mentioned that many people in the Bronx, a part of New York City, rely on the police for safety.
War and Justice
Dolan has spoken about the Church's views on war and the death penalty. He noted that the Church has generally been against the war in Iraq and capital punishment. However, he also said that these issues can be discussed and are not considered "intrinsically evil" by the Church.
Terrorism and Hope
After the September 11 attacks in New York City, Dolan visited Ground Zero. This was the site where the Twin Towers fell. He said, "We'll never stop crying." But he also spoke about the hope and rebuilding that followed the attacks. He said it showed the strong spirit of the community.
Awards and Honors
Cardinal Dolan has received several honors for his work:
- He was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus in 2011.
- He also received the Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
- He is a Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta.
- In 2015, he received the Isaiah Award for Exemplary Interreligious Leadership. This award recognized his efforts to build good relationships between different faiths.
Books Written by Timothy Dolan
Cardinal Dolan has written several books, including:
- Some Seed Fell on Good Ground (1992)
- Priests For The Third Millennium (2000)
- Archdiocese of St. Louis—Three Centuries of Catholicism, 1700–2000 (2001)
- Called to Be Holy (2005)
- Advent Reflections—Come, Lord Jesus! (2007)
- Doers of the Word—Putting Your Faith into Practice (2009)
- To Whom Shall We Go?—Lessons from the Apostle Peter (2009)
Images for kids
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Dolan's coat of arms
See also
In Spanish: Timothy Michael Dolan para niños
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
