On November 30th, 2021, Catholic Extension Society honored His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan at the Seventh Annual Spirit of Francis Award Dinner in New York City.
His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1976, Timothy Cardinal Dolan served as parish priest for eight years, as secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, D.C., as a professor at Kenrick Seminary and St. Louis University, and as rector of the North American College in Rome.
In 2001, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of his home diocese by Pope St. John Paul II, who, a year later, made him archbishop of Milwaukee. Pope Benedict XVI transferred him to the Archdiocese of New York in 2009, and named him a Cardinal in 2012.
He has served as President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services, and the co-chair of the National Jewish-Catholic Dialogue. It was his honor as well to enter the conclave which elected Pope Francis in 2013.
The Spirit of Francis Award
The Catholic Extension Society Spirit of Francis Award recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant impact on the mission of the Catholic Church in America through service or philanthropy. Spirit of Francis Award recipients are laudable for their commitment “to reach out to the margins of society” in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis, and the founder of Catholic Extension Society, Father Francis Clement Kelley. The proceeds from the New York Spirit of Francis dinner will benefit Catholic Extension Society’s Cuba Initiative.
Catholic Extension Society’s Cuba Initiative
Cuba is the largest and most populous island in the Caribbean and it is estimated that 80% of the population of Cuba is Catholic. In the 60 years that have passed since the socialist revolution, the Cuban government has not allowed the Catholic Church to build any new churches, contributing to one of the island’s most pressing needs: the repair and construction of churches and church facilities, especially in rural areas.
Since 2016, Catholic Extension Society, with permission of both the U.S. and Cuban governments, has made a commitment to help the Cuban Catholic Church, collaborating with all 11 dioceses of Cuba, adopting 43 building projects throughout the island and distributing thousands of medical supplies in partnership with Caritas Cuba. In 2021, Catholic Extension Society has added to its existing commitment to Cuba to support salaries of Priests, Religious Sisters and other pastoral leaders.
Seventh Annual New York Spirit of Francis Award Dinner
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
6:30 PM | Welcome Reception
7:30 PM | Dinner & Award Presentation
Venue:
Metropolitan Club
One East Sixtieth Street
New York, NY 10022