Cardinal Dolan flies to Ireland to see 100-year-old nun who shaped his priesthood

Thomas Edwards• May 19, 2025

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has journeyed to Tullamore, Ireland, to visit his old teacher following the Conclave.

Sister Mary Bosco Daly, a Sister of Mercy who is now 100 years old, was one of three Irish sisters who travelled to Holy Infant School, Missouri, to teach in the 1950s. There she taught the eight-year-old Timothy Dolan, the future Archbishop of New York.

Sister Mary entered religious life after being inspired by a neighbour who had become a nun. She made her first profession on 20 August 1947, and her final profession on 20 August 1950.

Sister Mary, whom Dolan describes as his spiritual mother, was present for his First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Upon hearing that Dolan was considering the priesthood, she recounts that she “coaxed him along” and that “when he was studying in Rome, he came over to Ireland and I looked after him”, reports The Offaly Express. 

When the time for his ordination came, she helped him prepare for his first Mass. When he was made a cardinal in 2012, she was present, telling the Irish central: “I didn’t think I’d ever live to see him cardinal.”

After 22 years teaching in Missouri, she returned to Ireland and was based in Drogheda, County Louth, for 32 years. Since 2011, Sister Mary has lived in Tullamore, County Offaly.

Dolan had planned to visit Sister Mary in February due to her failing health, but was prevented when his flight was grounded after a passenger suffered a stroke.

Dolan, who voted in the Conclave and also attended Sunday’s inauguration Mass for the new pontificate, took advantage of the time between the two events to visit Sister Mary.

In a video of the reunion, Cardinal Dolan reflects on the power of vocation and thanks God for Sister Mary’s choice to devote her life to Him. He also asks Sister Mary if she would like to sing, and when she replies no, he jokes: “Thank God!”

Sister Mary became Ireland’s 457th centenarian in January. However, she is not the country’s oldest nun: Sister Patricia O’Neill of Limerick is 107.

(Photo credit: Cardinal Timothy Dolan X)