Visiting Vicariates

This past week I visited two vicariates, the South Bronx and East Manhattan.   The Archdiocese of New York is broken down into 19 different geographic regions, called vicariates, each with a local vicar. Shortly after my installation last April, I began to visit each of the vicariates, beginning with those in the upper counties of the Archdiocese. Each of the vicariate visits begins with a dinner for the local priests and deacons, followed by a prayer service with members of every parish in the region, and concludes with a reception. I come away energized and uplifted by the goodness and the faith of both the clergy and the laity that I am privileged to meet. They welcome me so warmly, and I am humbled that they have so quickly accepted me as their new Archbishop.