Cardinal Dolan was ordained to the priesthood in 1976 and served as associate pastor in Richmond Heights, MO. until 1979 when he began graduate studies in American Church History at the Catholic University of America.
On his return to St. Louis, he served in parish ministry from 1983-87, during which time he was also liaison for the late Archbishop John L. May. 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.
On June 19, 2001 Fr. Dolan was named the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis by Pope John Paul II. He was named Archbishop of Milwaukee by His Holiness in June, 2002 and installed as Milwaukee’s 10th archbishop in August where he served until he was appointed Archbishop of New York by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in February, 2009.
