Fishkill Students Ask the Questions at Cardinal’s Schools Week Visit

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Does Cardinal Dolan have a hobby? A favorite team? A favorite teacher in school? These questions and more were asked of the amiable cardinal during a Catholic Schools Week visit he made to St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill.

The questions and responses were recorded for the cardinal’s radio program, “Conversations With the Cardinal,” which airs on The Catholic Channel on SiriusXM.

The answers, by the way, are walking and reading; the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team; and Sister Mary Bosco, R.S.M., who taught the cardinal for three years in Catholic elementary school in Ballwin, Mo.

In an interview with CNY, the cardinal said he wanted the Jan. 30 visit to St. Mary’s School to show the archdiocese how much he loves Catholic schools.

He acknowledged the sacrifices made to obtain a Catholic education and said it’s all worth it when you can see “the sparkle in the eyes of the children.”

Not only did the students have questions about the cardinal’s hobbies and favorite sports teams, but they asked him some hard-hitting questions as well.

Third-grader Max Gruber wondered, “What inspired you to enter the priesthood?”

The cardinal answered that it was not a thing but a person who inspired him—Jesus. “He has a plan for all of us,” he said.

The question and answer session was held in the school gymnasium. A large banner, covered in red hearts, read, “Welcome Cardinal Dolan.”

Also present was Father Jonathan Morris, program director of The Catholic Channel.

Earlier, the students attended Mass celebrated by the cardinal. Concelebrants included St. Mary’s current pastor, Father Joseph Blenkle, and retired pastor, Msgr. Joseph Martin.

Dr. Timothy McNiff, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, was also in attendance, as was the principal of the 300-student school, Ellen Anderson.

During his homily, the cardinal said the name of the parish, St. Mary, Mother of the Church, was beautiful because Mary “was there right at the beginning.” He said, she was there in Bethlehem, at Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana, and at the foot of the cross. Because she was present for all of that, he said, “No wonder we call Mary, Mother of the Church.”

When he asked them who the angel was that appeared to Mary, nearly all raised their hands to answer “Gabriel.”

In between Mass and the radio taping, the older students took the cardinal down memory lane and danced in unison to the songs “That’ll Be the Day,” “Dancing in the Streets” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” The cardinal happily bopped along to the tunes as he walked among the students with a beaming smile.

Sixth-grader Sophia Panos said the visit with the cardinal “took a lot of preparation,” all well worthwhile, because “it was very exciting.”

Her classmate, Anthony Basilone, said, “It was nice he picked our school out of all of them. I’m proud and excited.

“He was funny, and he’s really nice,” Anthony said.