Cardinal Timothy Dolan has travelled to Tullamore, Ireland, to visit the 100-year-old nun who played a pivotal role in his journey to the priesthood.
Sister Mary Bosco Daly, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, taught Dolan as an eight-year-old at Holy Infant School in Missouri in the 1950s.
Originally from Ireland, she was one of three nuns who left for the United States to teach, later returning to Ireland where she spent over three decades in ministry, as reported by The Catholic Herald.
Dolan, now the Archbishop of New York, describes Sister Mary as his “spiritual mother”. She was present for his First Holy Communion, Confirmation and even helped prepare him for his first Mass.
Speaking to the Offaly Express, Sister Mary said: “When he was studying in Rome, he came over to Ireland and I looked after him.”
She also remembered encouraging him in his vocation. She said: “I coaxed him along.”
The cardinal had originally planned to visit Sister Mary in February, but the trip was delayed when his flight was grounded.
He used the time between the recent papal conclave and the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV to make the long-awaited journey.
Sister Mary marked her 100th birthday in January, becoming Ireland’s 457th centenarian.