Principal Chaplain

His Eminence
Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York

Timothy Michael Dolan was named Archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI on February 23, 2009. He was installed as Archbishop of New York on April 15, 2009.

He had served as Archbishop of Milwaukee since he was named by Pope John Paul II on June 25, 2002. He was installed as Milwaukee’s 10th archbishop on August 28, 2002, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, papal nuncio to the United States, installed Archbishop Dolan.

Born February 6, 1950, Archbishop Dolan was the first of five children born to Shirley Radcliffe Dolan and the late Robert Dolan. In 1964, he began his high school seminary education at St. Louis Preparatory Seminary South in Shrewsbury, Mo. His seminary foundation continued at Cardinal Glennon College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He then completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome where he earned a License in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas.

Archbishop Dolan was ordained to the priesthood on June 19, 1976. He then served as associate pastor at Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights, Mo., until 1979 when he began studies for a doctorate in American Church History at the Catholic University of America. Before completing the doctorate, he spent a year researching the late Archbishop Edwin O’Hara, a founder of the Catholic Biblical Association. Archbishop O’Hara’s life and ministry was the subject of the Archbishop’s doctoral dissertation.

On his return to St. Louis, Archbishop Dolan served in parish ministry from 1983-87, during which time he was also liaison for the late Archbishop John L. May in the restructuring of the college and theology programs of the archdiocesan seminary system.

In 1987, Archbishop Dolan was appointed to a five-year term as secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. When he returned to St. Louis in 1992, he was appointed vice rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, serving also as director of Spiritual Formation and professor of Church History. He was also an adjunct professor of theology at Saint Louis University.

In 1994, he was appointed rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome where he served until June 2001. While in Rome, he also served as a visiting professor of Church History at the Pontifical Gregorian University and as a faculty member in the Department of Ecumenical Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. The work of the Archbishop in the area of seminary education has influenced the life and ministry of a great number of priests of the new millennium.

On June 19, 2001 — the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood — then Fr. Dolan was named the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis by Pope John Paul II. The new Bishop Dolan chose for his Episcopal motto the profession of faith of St. Peter: Ad Quem Ibimus, “Lord to whom shall we go?” (Jn 6:68).

Archbishop Dolan served as chairman of Catholic Relief Services from January 2009 – November 2010. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America. He is also a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

On June 29, 2009, Archbishop Dolan received the pallium, a symbol of his office as an archbishop, from His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, at St. Peter’s Basilica.

On November 16, 2010, Archbishop Dolan was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He succeeds Cardinal Francis George of Chicago.

On January 6, 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced that Cardinal Dolan was to be appointed to the College of Cardinals. He was elevated in the Consistory of February 18, 2012.

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Dolan participated in the Conclave that elected Pope Francis in March, 2013.

Chief Chaplain

Rev. Msgr. Robert T. Ritchie

Rev. Msgr. Robert Ritchie is a retired priest from the Archdiocese of New York after more than fifty years of service. He currently assists at two parishes in Upper Manhattan (the Church of the Incarnation and the Church of Saint Elizabeth) as well as at the Mother Cabrini Shrine.

Msgr. Ritchie was ordained in 1971. His first parish experience was in the diocese of Buga in Colombia, SA. He served in various capacities in multiple parishes in New York City, as parochial vicar and as pastor, as well as in various leadership roles in the Archdiocese, including as Regional Vicar for the Northwest Bronx.

Msgr. Ritchie was named Monsignor by Pope Benedict in 2006 and served as the Rector of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for more than fifteen years, including oversight of the major restoration of the Cathedral, America’s home parish. Msgr. Ritchie served the New York Area, saying Mass and at days of recollection.

Msgr. Ritchie has been a Chaplain in the Order since 2007 and was approved in 2011 by the Prelate of the Order as Assistant Principal Chaplain for the American Association. Msgr. Ritchie represented the Association Chaplains at the Order’s Conference of the Americas twice. As Assistant Principal Chaplain, he had a seat on the Board of Directors and attended many Board meetings.

Msgr. Ritchie has attended the Lourdes Pilgrimage twelve times with the American Association. For many years, he provided spiritual direction and assignments for the Chaplains on the Pilgrimage. He has been on the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion once.

As a retired Pastor with a deep understanding of the Order and its mission, Msgr. Ritchie will be available to attend Board meetings and work with the President and the Chaplains to develop and foster spiritual activities.