Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Encourage and teach with patience

It is with great joy and personal delight that I received the news of the appointment of Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan as Archbishop of New York.

My cherished friendship with Archbishop Dolan dates back to our days as graduate students at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Later, we worked closely together when I served on the board of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where Archbishop Dolan was Rector.

By virtue of his welcoming and dynamic personality, Archbishop Dolan puts people at ease immediately and, even more importantly, points them towards the Lord Jesus. His heart is open to everyone, especially to priests.  He is articulate in explaining the truths of our treasured Catholic faith and is himself a noted Church historian.  The image of the Good Shepherd will come alive in his ministry to the Church of New York.

As he assumes this prestigious and, yes, challenging, role as the chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of New York, I assure him of my own prayers as well as the prayerful support of our diocesan Church in northern Virginia.