Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York appointed Apostolic Visitor

The President of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Monsignor Hugh Connolly has welcomed
the nomination of 
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York
as Apostolic Visitor to Irish Seminaries
and Houses of Formation.

Msgr Connolly noted 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”.

Noting the Holy Father’s observation that the visitation is “intended to assist the local Church on her path of renewal” Monsignor Connolly said this will be a privileged time when our seminary community will have the opportunity to share our daily lives with the Holy Father’s personally appointed representatives, so that together we might discern how best, in Pope Benedict’s own words, “to make reparation for the sins of abuse” and together strive toward a “renewed strength and deeper sense of mission on the part of all”.

As part of the worldwide celebration of the Year for Priests, inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, delivered a lecture in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on the theme God is the only treasure people desire to find in a priest.
The lecture was delivered in Callan Hall on Thursday 27 May last, to an audience of priests, religious, seminarians, college staff and those with a particular interest in priesthood and vocations. Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland made the response.