New Archbishop wants his Kilbeggan teacher at his installation

When New York"s new Archbishop, Timothy Dolan, is installed to his elevated position next week, sitting in the pew in St. Patrick"s Cathedral for the occasion will be the Kilbeggan nun who was his religion teacher.Sr. Bosco Daly, a Mercy Sister, attached to St. Mary"s Convent Drogheda, taught at the Sisters" grade school (primary school) in Ballwin, St. Louis, Missouri, and it was there that Archbishop Dolan - currently Archbishop of St. Louis - received his primary education. Archbishop Dolan"s appointment as Archbishop of New York is a significant promotion for him, and the news of his appointment was covered by CNN, who also interviewed him upon his appointment.Over the years, on many occasions, Archbishop Dolan has expressed his deep appreciation for the education and formation he received from the Meath Mercy Sisters and has visited them in Drogheda on a number of occasions.He had planned to visit Drogheda again during this summer but those plans may have to be reviewed following his appointment to New York.Travelling along with Sr. Bosco to the installation ceremony will be Bishop Michael Smith, and Fr. Denis Nulty, P.P., St. Mary"s Drogheda - who spent a period in Mullingar during the 1990s - who have also been invited over for the ceremony by Archbishop Dolan.Sr. Bosco has been asked to read the Scripture text at the Solemn Vespers being celebrated in St. Patrick"s Cathedral on Tuesday evening, 14 April.Coincidentally, an earlier Archbishop of St. Louis was John Joseph Glennon, originally from Kinnegad, who went on to become appointed Cardinal of that Diocese, although he died within days of the announcement.Cardinal Glennon, as Archbishop, came to Mullingar in 1933 and prayed at the laying of the foundation stone of the Cathedral, and came back several years afterwards to preach at the consecration of the Cathedral.He was appointed Cardinal in 1946, but died while on a visit to Aras an Uachtarán in Dublin, and his funeral was held from the Cathedral in Mullingar.The first resident Bishop of New York was Fr. John Connolly, a native of Slane, Co. Meath. Fr. Connolly was a member of the Dominican Order and resident at their Irish house in Rome, San Clemente (close to the Colosseum) when he was appointed as Bishop of New York in October 1814. The first Bishop of New York died before he could take up his appointment.Bishop Connolly, when he arrived in New York in November 1815, found there were just four priests and three churches in the diocese. Before his death in February 1825, he had built another eight Churches as well as initiating several other developments.