Joliet Diocese holds special Mass, bids farewell to New York Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- The Joliet Diocese offered a faith-filled farewell and appreciation through prayer at a special Sunday Mass honoring New York Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks.

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"Today my heart is overflowing with gratitude," Hicks said. "In a few days, I am going to walk out of that office and the pastoral center for the last time, and I'll head to New York."

The Sixth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet is just weeks away from his installment as the new Archbishop of New York.

Parishioners packed St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral for bi-lingual thanksgiving mass.

"He is for the people and he's going to be well blessed in New York," parishioner Doris Boehm said. "And we're going to miss him here. We're going to miss him so much here."

Hicks is set to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is retiring at the age of 75. This new calling for Hicks is Pope Leo XIV's first major American appointment, selecting a fellow Chicago-area native to lead.

Colin McGarel served at the seminary for years under then-Bishop Hicks.

"I think the pope wants to see people with this kind of more broad experience," McGarel said. "And I think he sees that in Bishop Hicks as a man who's not only had that wider experience but has also been in a diocese, which has just so many diverse groups in it."

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New York's archbishop-designate dedicated his sermon to the congregation.

"Thank you for what you do," Hicks said. "Thank you for who you are, and thank you for everything that we have shared together."

And for the last time in Joliet, Hicks ended his mass as he always does, with a plea and a promise of prayers.

"This one last time, I'm going to sincerely ask you for your prayers. Please pray for me. Pray for me when I take these next steps. Pray for me when I start this new life," Hicks said. "And know that when you are praying for me, I am going to be praying for all of you."

Although Hicks says he will leave in a few days, he will be officially installed as Archbishop of New York on February 6 at a Mass in St. Patrick Cathedral.