In the waning days of his tenure as Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan has issued what many are calling a parting shot at one of the archdiocese's most vibrant Hispanic communities: the parishioners of St. Mary's Church (officially the Church of the Immaculate Conception) in Yonkers. Just days after Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation and appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as his successor, Dolan released a new decree reaffirming the merger of St. Mary's parish into another, effectively sidelining the historic church that has served immigrants for 175 years. This move has reignited accusations that Dolan has long been unfriendly toward the growing Hispanic population in the archdiocese, prioritizing administrative consolidation over pastoral care for Latino Catholics.
St. Mary's Church, often dubbed the "Cathedral of the Hudson River Valley," stands as a symbol of immigrant resilience in Yonkers. Founded in 1848, it has historically welcomed waves of newcomers—Irish, Italian, and now predominantly Hispanic, with many parishioners from Dominican, Mexican, and other Latin American backgrounds. The community is known for its outreach to new immigrants, providing food, clothing, and support amid ongoing arrivals. Yet, under Dolan's leadership, the church has faced repeated threats of closure or merger, culminating in this latest decree that critics say defies a prior Vatican reversal.
The controversy traces back years. Dolan sought an "extinctive union" merging Immaculate Conception Parish (St. Mary's) with St. Peter-St. Denis Parish, meaning St. Mary's would lose its independent status. Largely Hispanic parishioners appealed, arguing the merger disregarded their cultural and spiritual needs. After Dolan rejected their appeal, they escalated to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Clergy, which revoked his decree earlier this year—the first such reversal in the Archdiocese of New York's history and only the ninth in modern U.S. Catholic history.
Undeterred, Dolan has now issued a new decree, described by local reports as disobedient to the Vatican. In it, he references "white flight to the suburbs, together with a substantial immigration of Hispanics," framing demographic shifts in a way that some see as dismissive. The decree also eliminates Spanish-language Masses previously offered, leaving only limited bilingual options initiated by parishioners themselves. Attendance at St. Mary's is reportedly at 80% capacity, with growth among Hispanic members—hardly the profile of a dying parish.
This isn't an isolated incident. Throughout Dolan's 16-year tenure (2009-2025), critics have pointed to a pattern of actions that appear hostile or indifferent to Hispanic Catholics, who now form a significant portion of the archdiocese's faithful. The Archdiocese of New York serves about 2.8 million Catholics, with Hispanics comprising a growing demographic—nearly one million in the region, by some estimates. Yet, Dolan's policies on parish reorganizations have disproportionately affected immigrant-heavy urban parishes.
The "Making All Things New" planning process (2010-2015) led to numerous mergers and closures, often in areas with strong Latino presence. In Yonkers alone, multiple churches serving immigrant communities faced consolidation. While financial pressures—declining attendance overall, priest shortages, and massive settlements for clergy abuse claims (over $300 million announced in 2025)—are cited as justifications, critics argue these decisions ignored the vitality of Hispanic parishes. St. Mary's, for instance, was deemed in need of $10 million in repairs, a figure disputed by independent engineers as exaggerated. The archdiocese banned the parish from fundraising for repairs, further fueling suspicions.
Broader criticisms highlight Dolan's silence on immigration issues affecting Hispanics. Despite the national debate over migrant rights and policies, Dolan remained notably quiet, even as other bishops advocated strongly. His associations drew scrutiny too: praising conservative figures criticized for anti-Latino rhetoric indirectly tied him to broader insensitivity.
Perhaps most emblematic of perceived unfriendliness is Dolan's approach to episcopal appointments. Despite the rapid growth of Hispanic Catholics, he appointed mostly white auxiliary bishops during his tenure. It wasn't until 2022—late in his leadership—that he welcomed the appointment of Bishop Joseph Espaillat, a Dominican-American priest, as auxiliary bishop. Espaillat, born in New York to Dominican immigrants, became the first Dominican-origin bishop in the U.S. and the youngest at the time.
While celebrated by many as a milestone, some viewed it as tokenism—a superficial gesture amid years of underrepresentation. Espaillat's appointment came from Pope Francis, not Dolan directly, and followed calls for greater Latino leadership. Critics noted it as the only such appointment under Dolan, despite Hispanics being "not just part of the Catholic Church in New York, they are the Church here," as Dolan himself once acknowledged in a Lenten message.
Espaillat's rise has been refreshing for many Dominican Catholics, who see him as a bridge to younger, urban Latinos. Known for his engaging style—rapping, podcasting on "Sainthood in the City," and youth ministry—he represents the future. Yet, his appointment highlighted the delay: why only one, and so late? Where is the Puerto Rican bishop? Puerto Rican Catholics paved the wave for other Hispanics by joining the late Bishop Francis Garmendia of Basque decent as he founded the Charistmatic Center.
Dolan's defenders point to efforts like supporting Hispanic ministry, Lenten videos in Spanish, and a mural at St. Patrick's Cathedral celebrating immigrants. He oversaw outreach and acknowledged Latinos' importance. But actions like the Yonkers decree overshadow these, especially as his successor, Bishop Hicks—a missionary with experience in Latin America and fluency in Spanish—signals a potential shift toward greater inclusion.
Hicks, who has expressed a "great heart" for the Latino community, takes over in February 2026. Parishioners at St. Mary's are appealing Dolan's latest decree to the Vatican again, hoping the new leadership brings reconciliation.
This episode raises deeper questions about the Church's adaptation to demographic reality. As white attendance declines in urban areas, Hispanic Catholics sustain many parishes. Policies that merge or close these without robust alternatives risk alienating the faithful keeping the Church alive.
Cardinal Dolan's legacy is complex: media-savvy, charismatic, defender against secular threats. But in Yonkers, many Hispanic Catholics feel his final act was one of retribution—striking back at a community that dared appeal to Rome. Whether valid under canon law or not, it leaves a bitter taste as he exits.
The Church in New York stands at a crossroads. With Hicks incoming, perhaps a more welcoming era for Hispanics begins. For St. Mary's parishioners, the fight continues—not just for a building, but for recognition that their faith matters.
References and Links
1. "Cardinal Dolan Takes a Final Shot at Yonkers and its Hispanic Community" - Yonkers Times (December 22, 2025): https://yonkerstimes.com/cardinal-dolan-takes-a-final-shot-at-yonkers-and-its-hispanic-community/
2. "Cardinal Dolan Destroys Archdiocese of NY" - Sacerdotus Blog (2025): https://www.sacerdotus.com/2025/12/cardinal-dolan-destroys-archdiocese-of.html (Discusses auxiliary appointments and perceptions of tokenism regarding Bishop Espaillat)
3. "Joseph Espaillat is New York's first Dominican bishop" - National Catholic Reporter: https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/joseph-espaillat-new-yorks-first-dominican-bishop-what-does-mean-our-church
4. "Hispanic Community in Yonkers Rallies to Save St. Mary’s Church" - Yonkers Times (2024): https://yonkerstimes.com/hispanic-community-in-yonkers-rallies-to-save-st-marys-church/
5. "Pope Leo replaces New York's Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of US Church" - Reuters (December 18, 2025): https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pope-leo-replaces-new-yorks-cardinal-dolan-shake-up-us-church-2025-12-18/
6. Wikipedia entry on Joseph A. Espaillat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_A._Espaillat (For background on his 2022 appointment)
7. Archdiocese of New York official statements and historical parish data referenced from various reports on "Making All Things New" reorganizations.
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