The New York media did an excellent job of covering the installation events for Archbishop Ronald Hicks, who was installed as New York’s 11th archbishop on February 6. Archbishop Hicks is a member of Catholic Extension Society’s Board of Governors and now leads 2.5 million Catholics in the historic Archdiocese of New York.
The media was intensely and rightfully interested in Archbishop Hicks’ readiness to step into this massive role, given that he comes from the much-smaller Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. They asked both him and our president, Father Jack Wall, many questions about his experience. Father Wall discussed the dynamic, well-prepared leader they are getting in Archbishop Hicks with NBC 4 New York.
What the media did not realize is that Archbishop Hicks has a comparable level of experience as his predecessor, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, had when he became New York’s archbishop in 2009.
New York is familiar with Dolan’s affable, larger-than-life persona, and his long tenure as a cardinal which he was elevated to in 2012. Since then, Cardinal Dolan has participated in two papal elections. Below, Cardinal Dolan (second from right) joins fellow American cardinals at a post-conclave press conference reacting to the election of Pope Leo XIV.
A recency bias makes it easy to forget that Cardinal Dolan was once the new kid on the block at St Patrick’s Cathedral at 5th and 51st streets, and he too had a big learning curve when he assumed the office in 2009.
So, here is a side-by-side comparison of Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Hicks’ experience before they were appointed to lead the Archdiocese of New York:
Pastor and leader
Of course, much of what was written about Archbishop Hicks this week was about his background as a missionary in Latin America, which he says has shaped his life and ministry the most. This was emphasized last week when he invited a former orphan from El Salvador, who was found in the trash as an infant, to read at his installation Mass. Samuel Jimenez was rehabilitated by the orphanage Archbishop Hicks led from 2005 to 2009.
Yet clearly Archbishop Hicks has strong “administrative chops” as well. And while Latin America may have prepared him pastorally, his record as an administrator for the past decade gives him as much of a solid leadership footing as Cardinal Dolan had when he took charge of the immensely large Archdiocese of New York in 2009.
During the installation Mass, Cardinal Dolan formally gave his Cathedral chair up to Archbishop Hicks – a symbol of the change of authority.
And the new archbishop said to his predecessor,
To Cardinal Dolan – thank you for your magnanimous leadership here for 17 years. In a particular way, I want to thank you for your gracious support of me both personally and publicly.”
While his credentials clearly show he is fully prepared to lead, Archbishop Hicks doesn’t want his legacy to be solely marked by administrative leadership. He realizes that the Church has a broader mission to teach, heal and offer hope.
In a city that is home to so many world-class enterprises, perhaps that is why he chose to emphasize his foundational belief about what he is called to do in New York. And he is ready to give it his all. He said, “I’m excited about becoming their shepherd. I don’t want to be seen as the CEO or the corporate head. I am called to be a shepherd.”
And, of course, his ongoing leadership as part of the board of governors for Catholic Extension Society will keep him in touch with the poor in the poorest regions of our country. Ad Moltos Annos, Archbishop Hicks!
