Whereas, the Empire State is privileged to honor individuals who make invaluable contributions to the well-being of our society, including those enriching our lives through religious and spiritual work; thus, we join with countless Catholics around the world who pay tribute to the life and works of Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, on the auspicious occasion of his elevation to the College of Cardinals;  and

Whereas, born on February 6, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri, the eldest of the five children of Robert and Shirley Radcliffe Dolan, Timothy Michael Dolan recognized his calling to Holy Orders early on, and attended Saint Louis Preparatory Seminary and Cardinal Glennon College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy; Fr. Dolan was ordained on June 19, 1976, by Archbishop Edward Thomas O’Meara; he then did pastoral work in Shrewsbury and Richmond Heights, Missouri;  and

Whereas, furthering his education, Fr. Dolan completed a doctorate in American Church History at the Catholic University of America; returning to Missouri, he was instrumental in reforming the archdiocesan seminary system; a gifted educator and charismatic speaker, Fr. Dolan was a most sought-after teacher when he returned to his alma mater as Vice-Rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, teaching church history there and as a professor of theology at St. Louis University;  and

Whereas, rising through the ranks of church hierarchy, Fr. Dolan became Msgr. Dolan and the Rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1994;  on the silver anniversary of his ordination, Msgr. Dolan was named the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis by Pope John Paul II; the following summer, Bishop Dolan was named the tenth Archbishop of Milwaukee, where he remained until he received Pope Benedict XVI’s appointment as tenth Archbishop of New York, to replace the retiring Edward Cardinal Egan;  and

Whereas, the Archdiocese of New York welcomed Archbishop Dolan on Easter Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; in short order, Archbishop Dolan, with his friendly, gregarious, down-to-earth style, deep knowledge of church history, and great respect for education, has become beloved by his New York flock, which was delighted to learn this past January that Pope Benedict XVI had announced the appointment of Archbishop Dolan to the College of Cardinals;  and

Whereas, in the Consistory of February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI elevated Timothy Michael Dolan to the College of Cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome; Cardinal Dolan also received the title of Arch-Priest of Nostra Signora di Guadalupe a Monte Mario; he is currently the President of the United States Conference of Bishops and his other posts include membership on the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America, on the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications; known for his indefatigable energy and infectious enthusiasm, there can be no doubt that Cardinal Dolan’s influence will reach far into the next generation of Catholicism in New York;

Now, Therefore, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim March 12 – 18, 2012

TIMOTHY CARDINAL DOLAN WEEK

in the Empire State.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at

the Capitol in the City of Albany this twelfth day

of March in the year two thousand twelve

Governor

Secretary to the Governor