Archbishop of New York visits his 100-year-old former teacher in Offaly
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York and an influential figure in the Catholic Church in North America, was in Tullamore today (Wednesday) to visit a beloved former teacher of his who is now 100 years of age.
Sister Mary Bosco Daly, a Kilbeggan native who became a centenarian in January, was visited at St Joseph's Convent in Tullamore by her famous ex-pupil, who posted a video clip of their encounter on social media.
"I am supposed to be in Rome with (Pope Leo XIV) but I flew over to Ireland. I'm in Tullamore, Ireland... with my beloved Sister Mary Bosco," he said.
"I wanted to visit her. She's 100 years old and she taught me in grade school when I was just a little gosson, a little boy.
"I thank God for Sister Bosco's vocation as a devoted, generous Sister of Mercy."
In a lighter moment at the end of the clip, he asked Sister Bosco if she wanted to sing, and when she shook her head he said, "thank God", causing both to laugh.
Cardinal Dolan has more than 300,000 followers on the social media platform X, and his video clip from Tullamore, which was shared at lunchtime today, had already been viewed more than 50,000 times. You can see it here:
Cardinal Dolan has spoken on a number of occasions about the influence of Sister Bosco on his life.
The Westmeath woman joined the Sisters of Mercy in Drogheda in 1944. She taught for a number of years in Dublin, before being selected to go on mission to Ballwin, Missouri in 1957.
On January 4 this year Cardinal Dolan posted another online video message about her on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
"She played a towering role in my life," he said. "She and three other Sisters of Mercy from Drogheda in Ireland came to my home parish, in Ballwin, Missouri, to teach us, and I was blessed to have Sister Mary Bosco as my teacher in second, fourth, and fifth grade.
"She taught me wisdom, she taught me knowledge, she taught me to put Jesus first. She taught me to know, love, and serve the Lord.
"Sister Mary Bosco, I don't know where I'd be without you. I love you, I thank God for you... never ever will I forget you."
Sister Mary Bosco Daly returned to Ireland in the 1970s but continued to maintain her friendship with Timothy Dolan. Interviewed by the New York Daily News in 2012, when he became a cardinal, she said: "I've known him since he was 8 years old. He was just a regular boy growing up, but very good in every way."
In today's video clip from Tullamore, Cardinal Dolan also noted that it was the anniversary of the marriage of his parents, Robert Dolan and Shirley Radcliffe, who wed in Maplewood, Missouri, on May 14, 1949.