Timothy Cardinal Dolan commemorated the World Day of the Poor on Sunday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with a special Mass and blessing of food donations set to be distributed across the city.
World Day of the Poor was first established in 2017 by Pope Francis to remind the faithful to give back to those less fortunate. On Nov. 17, following a morning sermon that encouraged his flock to be at peace with God, Dolan sought to continue that tradition.
Gathering outside of the iconic house of worship on 5th Avenue after Mass, Dolan highlighted the importance of giving back to those in need, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday swiftly approaching.
“This is a special time of the year, Thanksgiving, when Americans are particularly generous in sharing our abundance, so that’s why we do this now. But I tell you, folks, every day of the year, Catholic Charities is out there feeding the poor,” Dolan said as a large crowd assembled. “This is a good time for us to restock the warehouses and the food pantries because of the generosity of our folks, but we’re at it every day, so thank you.”
Catholic Charities, a federation of approximately 90 agencies and programs located throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York, will serve more than 400,000 New Yorkers this year, regardless of their faith. During this Thanksgiving season, Catholic Charities will distribute some 11,000 turkeys, 12,000 hot meals and 100 Halal turkeys to members of the MAS Islamic Center on Staten Island.
Two vans brimming with food donations sat parked out front of the cathedral as Dolan approached. Lifting his arm skyward over the packaged goods while holding an aspergillum, a liturgical tool used to sprinkle holy water, the cardinal blessed the food with holy water and a prayer for those in need.
“Even in our New York metropolitan area, with all of its wonder and all of its prosperity, there are millions here who go to bed hungry. There are millions without a decent job, millions without a decent place to live,” added Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. “Our sisters, our brothers, our neighbors, will have a very festive and joyous Thanksgiving meal.”
