Apostolic Visitation to St Patrick's College

The Apostolic Visitation to St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and a number of other Houses of Formation in Ireland will take place from January 31st until February 7th.  The Archbishop of New York, Archbishop Timothy Dolan will lead the Visitation.  He has asked the following to assist him:

• Most Reverend Edwin O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore
• Most Reverend Edward Burns, Bishop of Juneau
• Most Reverend William Callahan, Bishop of La Crosse
• Most Reverend Bernard Hebda, Bishop of Gaylord
• Reverend Monsignor Francis Kelly, Rector, Casa Santa Maria, Rome

Two priests, assistants to the Archbishop of New York, Reverend Dennis McManus and Reverend James Cruz will also travel with the delegation.

Monsignor Connolly, President, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth has reiterated his welcome of the nomination of Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York as Apostolic Visitor to Irish Seminaries and Houses of Formation as well as a high calibre and experienced team of assistants.

The Holy Father in his letter to the Faithful in Ireland observed that the visitation is “intended to assist the local Church on her path of renewal”.  Monsignor Connolly, has stated his belief that this will be a privileged time when the seminary community will have the opportunity to share its daily life with the Holy Father’s personally appointed representative, so that together all might discern how best, in Pope Benedict’s own words to strive toward a “renewed strength and deeper sense of mission”.

Monsignor Connolly also notes that Archbishop Dolan was himself rector of a seminary on two occasions. He first served as rector at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, and subsequently as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome where he was stationed until June 2001.

“The work of the Archbishop in the area of seminary education has thus influenced the life and the ministry of a great number of priests of the new millennium.

Additionally he has very considerable experience as a pastor both as priest and Bishop. ‘We are indeed very privileged therefore to have someone of Archbishop Dolan’s calibre and experience conduct this important service on behalf of the Holy See and indeed the wider Church along with fellow bishops and priests who have significant experience in the work of priestly formation..’