By Currents News
Just hours after the leadership announcement, Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks and Cardinal Timothy Dolan celebrated Mass together for the first time at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Advent Mass with Archdiocese of New York employees marked a warm welcome for the incoming archbishop and a moment of unity as he asked for prayers and pledged to pray for those he will soon serve.
By Currents News
After submitting his resignation to the pope as required by Church law, Cardinal Timothy Dolan shared candid thoughts about retirement on his weekly podcast. The Archbishop Emeritus of New York says the transition doesn’t trouble him — and reflects on faith, family, and what the next chapter could hold.
By Currents News
Ordained in 1976 and named Archbishop of New York in 2009, Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s life has been marked by service to the Church at every level. As he becomes Archbishop Emeritus, this timeline traces his path from parish priest to cardinal.
By Currents News
As he looks ahead to working with Archbishop Ronald Hicks, Bishop Robert Brennan also paused to reflect on his relationship with Cardinal Timothy Dolan. In an interview, the Brooklyn bishop expressed gratitude and respect for Dolan’s leadership and friendship during their years serving together in New York.
Pope Leo XIV appoints Archbishop Ronald Hicks as the new leader of the Archdiocese of New York, accepting Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s resignation and ushering in a new chapter for millions of Catholics.
We take a closer look at the life and faith journey of Archbishop Ronald Hicks, from his Chicago roots and missionary work in El Salvador to his call to lead New York’s Catholic community.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan reflects on turning 75 and submitting his resignation, sharing his thoughts on retirement and what the next chapter of his priesthood may look like.
Kellenberg Memorial High School on Long Island is welcoming animals into daily campus life, using furry and feathered friends to reduce student stress and teach care for God’s creation.
By Jessica Easthope and Paula Katinas
When Archbishop Ronald Hicks is installed in the Archdiocese of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Feb. 6, it will mark the second time this year that a native of a Chicago suburb has been chosen to hold a prominent position in the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Hicks’ hometown of Holland is close to Pope Leo XIV’s hometown of Dolton, “and our houses are literally 14 blocks apart,” the newly appointed leader of the archdiocese said at his first press conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Dec. 18.
While the two men didn’t know each other growing up, they have a lot in common. “We would have played baseball in the same parks, gone swimming in the same public pools, and even shared a famous pizza place that’s our favorite,” Archbishop Hicks said.
Speaking of baseball, he made it clear that while New York is his new home, he is a loyal Chicago Cubs fan. He prefaced his remarks by joking, “Let me begin with potentially my first controversial statement. I am a Cubs fan!”
However, he quickly added, “I am going to start rooting for the New York sports teams.”
Archbishop Hicks also confessed a fondness for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, although he said he has developed a taste for New York-style thin-crust slices.
“I already love the pizza. I love it a lot,” he said.
His heart is filled with gratitude for his new appointment, he said.
“My desire is to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and do the will of God, serving with a shepherd’s heart,” Archbishop Hicks said.
As he becomes acquainted with his new home, he is looking forward to working with his fellow bishops in New York State, including Bishop Robert Brennan, whom he has met. “I look forward to getting to know him, all my brothers here, and doing it just in a great spirit of collaboration and unity,” he explained.
Archbishop Hicks said he enjoys meeting his fellow clergy and said he is often the first to introduce himself and extend a handshake.
At bishops’ conferences, for example, “I’m the type, if we’re in the lunch line, I stick my hand out and say, ‘Hi! I’m Ron Hicks. Who are you?’ I like getting to know them and collaborating with them,” he said. “I like people.”
By Katie Vasquez
At Kellenberg Memorial High School, the hallways sometimes resemble a zoo, with birds, peacocks, and dogs roaming alongside students and teachers.
Junior Bria Green described her surprise upon seeing the animals.
“I honestly had to do a double take because I walked in and it was like birds, peacocks, dogs. And I was like, wow, this is kind of like a zoo.”
Fellow junior Abigail Hassett echoed the sentiment. “I walked in and I see the birds and I see the peacocks, and there’s dogs walking around, and the teachers are walking around with the dogs and everyone’s talking about how much they love it.”
This unique environment has been a hallmark of the Long Island Catholic school since it opened in 1987, when the Society of Mary brothers and priests moved in and brought their pets with them.
Principal Brother Kenneth M. Hoagland, S.M., explained the longstanding tradition. “From the very first day we had our pets and we’ve shared them.”
During study hall, students have the opportunity to walk the dogs around the school. For many teens, it’s more than a chore—it’s a valuable stress reliever.
“If you’re having a bad day, like a bad quiz or bad test, they just always cheer you up and it’s always just a cute thing,” Green said. “They’re adorable and they just make it so special.”
Brother Hoagland added, “They’re like guard dogs. They guard against anxiety, fear and sadness.”
The school’s maintenance staff, including Supervisor of Grounds and Landscaping Kevin Wells-Hardy, cares for the more exotic animals, such as peacocks, koi fish, and parrots.
“It’s unique. It’s special because no other place has anything like this,” Wells-Hardy said. He noted that the peacocks are “pretty much self-sufficient. We just have to make sure they stay put. They don’t fly out.”
Beyond the fun, the animals provide a hands-on lesson in responsibility and respect for creation.
“We have a respect for God’s creation, but also we have a responsibility to care for all God’s creation,” Brother Hoagland said. “So, we feel very engaged in that work.”
Abigail emphasized the students’ role: “Making sure that they’re safe, that no one harms them or anything.”
This cherished school tradition is one that Kellenberg Memorial plans to continue for years to come.
By Jessica Easthope
New York has a new archbishop: Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
He’s also chosen Archbishop Ronald Hicks of Illinois to lead the millions of Catholics in the Archdiocese of New York.
By Christine Persichette
In a significant announcement from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, as the new Archbishop of New York.
The 58-year-old archbishop-designate, a fellow Illinois native and the first American pontiff’s choice, will lead one of the Catholic Church’s most prominent archdioceses.
For the past five years, Bishop Ronald Hicks has celebrated Mass in the Diocese of Joliet.
Soon, he will preside at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Pope Leo XIV selected the Illinois native to succeed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who turned 75 last February and submitted his required letter of resignation.
This transition marks a substantial increase in responsibility for Hicks: he moves from serving a diocese of approximately 520,000 Catholics across 117 parishes to an archdiocese encompassing some 2.8 million Catholics in 296 parishes.
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago in the suburb of South Holland—a short distance from Dolton, where Pope Leo XIV grew up.
Hicks attended Catholic schools and has a younger brother. He frequently speaks fondly of his family, once saying, “I’ll just set for the record with my family I hit the absolute lottery and jackpot I was born into such a wonderful family.”
A pivotal moment in Hicks’ faith journey occurred around age 14 during a family dinner table debate about the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
His father declared, “it absolutely is the real body and blood of Christ it is truly Him and if it weren’t there’d be no reason to go to church anyway… this is what it’s all about.”
Hicks has described this as the time of his conversion.
Like Pope Leo XIV, Hicks has experience as a missionary.
He spent five years serving orphaned and abandoned children in El Salvador.
Reflecting on that period, he shared, “If I were let alone and I was allowed to still be working at a home for orphaned and abandoned children in El Salvador and Central America I’d still be there—that’s where my heart is. I’ve been called now to be a Bishop and I think more as a Bishop I’m not doing hands-on things as much but what I want to do is inspire others to do it.”
Inspiring service has been a hallmark of his leadership in Joliet.
His recent pastoral letter, titled “Make,” served as a call to action for Catholics in the diocese.
He explained, “This is coming from my heart I love Jesus so much I want others to love Jesus and to be saved by him through the church and the sacraments and all of that… it’s just a good practical guide of how we might go out there and try to make disciples in our families, in our neighborhoods… in our workplaces, in our world.”
Archbishop-designate Hicks has previously mentioned meeting Pope Leo when the pontiff was Cardinal Robert Prevost.
The two share many similarities, though one notable difference stands out: Hicks is a devoted Chicago Cubs fan. He may soon adopt allegiance to the New York Yankees or Mets.
The date for Hicks’ installation Mass has yet to be announced.
By Jessica Easthope
Fr. Lou Scurti doesn’t hide his addiction — he’s been feeding it for close to 70 years. And now it’s bigger than himself.
“Oh Madonn’ it’s the presepio!” Fr. Lou said.
This is Fr. Lou’s addiction come to life — his personal collection of Nativity figures, called a presepio. Now it lives at the Italian American Museum in Lower Manhattan.
“Yes, it’s a passion, yes it’s a hobby. But it might be also addiction. But that’s alright, I enjoy this addiction,” Fr. Lou said.
It’s Fr. Lou Scurti’s gift to New York City this Christmas and every Christmas to come.
“I’m ecstatic! And I invite the public to come and visit it, to get a flavor for our history and the very sacred story of the birth of Jesus,” he said.
Fr. Lou is a retired priest from the Diocese of Paterson now ministering at St. Anthony of Padua in SoHo. Over the years, finding the perfect statues for the presepio has taken him to all corners of the globe. But it started under his uncle Jimmy’s Christmas tree in Jersey City.
“My uncle Jimmy Scurti, he would put the Christmas music on, my grandmother would come out and feed me, and I’d be under the tree playing with these figures,” Fr. Lou reminisced.
In the faces of these figures Fr. Lou sees the main figures in his own life. This gift that flows through generations of family tradition is in memory of them.
“All of my family’s presepii, my own presepio, my grandparents, pieces from all of our traditions are here,” he said.
Fr. Lou says there’s beauty in the imperfection and the details are what really shine. But the focus remains the same.
“Jesus is the root of all of this,” he said. “So this is a celebration of the word made flesh.”
As tourists flood New York City this Christmas season, Fr. Lou has high hopes for the museum’s visitors.
“When people come, I think it should warm their hearts, bring them back in history to their own origins, and, of course, to the birth of Jesus,” Fr. Lou said.
The presepio belongs to the museum now — but Fr. Lou’s heart lives among these statues. His love for them, for Christmas and his collection still grows.