Dolan stops into the firehouse across from St Francis of Assisi Church to meet with firefighters. (Seth Gottfried)
Cardinal Timothy Dolan has a busy schedule on his first full day back from Rome after his elevation to the new post.
Dolan began his day early at St. Frances of Assisi in Manhattan where he distributed food to the hungry.
The new cardinal joined the daily breadline, which usually feeds about 375 people, as he handed out roast beef sandwiches, fruit cups, orange juice and coffee.
“This means a lot more to me than the red cassock because it’s for love and charity,” Dolan said as he donned a white apron before passing out breakfast. “What better place to be on Ash Wednesday than with the poor. This is what it’s all about, love of God and love of neighbor.”
Father Mike Carnevale, director of St. Frances’ breadline, called the cardinal’s participation “a great honor for the diocese and us.”
“That this is the first thing the cardinal is doing since he’s back shows he cares about the poor so much he’s making it a priority.”
Dolan described Ash Wednesday as “a solemn, prayerful, penitential day but it’s also a sign of fresh starts…Ash Wednesday gives us a fresh start and it celebrates the lavish praise and mercy of God.”
Eugene Lemon, 59, a pianist in Midtown, said Dolan “has the compassion of Christ.”
“I hope he continues in this vein. It makes me proud. He has such a large authority and yet he sees the need to come here and help us. He’s our advocate for the poor.”
Dolan, who shared that he had gotten “a full 8 hours” of sleep to fend off any jet lag, showed that his sense of humor was as sharp as ever when asked what he was going to give up for Lent.
“I’m going to give up listening to the presidential debates – maybe I should do it for penance,” he quipped.
After passing out breakfast, Dolan visited Engine 1, Ladder 24, a firehouse across the street from the church.
“Thank you for what you guys do,” Dolan told a group of six firefighters. “Thanks for everything you do. God bless you in your good work.”
“He came last year when he was a bishop but it was very nice for him to come over today,” Capt. William Hill said. “The new title is good for the city and for us.”
Later in the day he will participate in Ash Wednesday celebrations, leading a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent.
Dolan was among 22 Catholic churchmen who were elevated to cardinal Saturday by Pope Benedict XVI.
“It was tremendous and to be with all those people, that’s what invigorated me most,” Dolan said of his trip to Rome. “People who were there for my first assignment as a freshly-minted parish priest, it meant the world to me.”