Presence of Representatives of the American Delegation of the Savoy Orders Attendance at the Solemn Vespers and Installation of Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, February 5–6, 2026
The American Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy was represented at the liturgical celebrations marking the assumption of office of His Excellency the Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks as Archbishop of New York at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on 5–6 February 2026.
On Thursday, 5 February 2026, Cavaliere di Gran Croce Dott. John Laurent J. Gelati, accompanied by Ufficiale Joseph Lucia, attended Solemn Vespers at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on the eve of the Archbishop’s installation. The liturgy, held within the noble setting of the Mother Church of the Archdiocese, formed part of the Church’s traditional Liturgy of the Hours, with psalms, scriptural readings, and the chanting of the Magnificat offered in thanksgiving for the blessings of the day and in prayerful preparation for the new Archbishop’s ministry. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, together with the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, His Excellency Cardinal Christophe Pierre, and numerous bishops, clergy, religious, and lay faithful, took part in the solemn celebration.
The Cathedral choir and orchestra presented sacred works by Mozart and Palestrina, underscoring the solemnity of the evening prayer. In his homily, Archbishop Hicks expressed heartfelt gratitude for the welcome extended to him and emphasized the call to “hope, service, and unity in Christ.” He spoke of his desire to serve as a shepherd attentive to the needs of the people, one who “listens, accompanies, and builds bridges,” and commended the faithful to pray erful collaboration for the spiritual renewal of the Church in New York.
On Friday, 6 February 2026, the Archdiocese of New York officially installed Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks as the eleventh Archbishop of New York during a solemn Mass of Installation at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The apostolic mandate was read in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Dolan, many bishops from across the United States, and a large assembly of clergy, religious, civil dignitaries, and lay faithful. Ufficiale Joseph Lucia attended the Installation Mass, representing the American Delegation of the Savoy Orders on this historic occasion.
Archbishop Hicks, formerly Bishop of Joliet, Illinois, was appointed Archbishop of New York by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and installed at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on 6 February 2026. Born on 4 August 1967 in Harvey, Illinois, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago on 21 May 1994. His pastoral and formative assignments have included parish ministry in the Chicago area, service as dean of formation at St. Joseph College Seminary and later at Mundelein Seminary, missionary leadership as regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Central America, and service as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago, before his ordination as auxiliary bishop in 2018 and his appointment as Bishop of Joliet in 2020. He continues to contribute to the work of the Church in the United States through his involvement with committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops devoted to clergy, consecrated life, and ongoing formation.
In fidelity to its historic mission of witnessing to the Catholic faith and to the charitable ideals of the Royal House of Savoy, the American Delegation was honored to be present at these important liturgical celebrations, assuring Archbishop Hicks of the Delegation’s prayers as he begins his ministry as Archbishop of New York.
BIOGRAPHY
Bishop Ronald Aldon Hicks was born on August 4, 1967, in Harvey, Illinois, to Ronald and Roselee Hicks. He has a younger brother, Rick. He grew up in South Holland, Illinois, where he attended St. Jude the Apostle Parish and grade school.
Bishop Hicks was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 21, 1994. He served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Chicago from 1994 to 1996 and at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills, Illinois, from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2005, he lived and ministered at St. Joseph College Seminary in Chicago as the dean of formation.
In July 2005, with permission from Cardinal Francis George, Bishop Hicks moved from Chicago to El Salvador to begin his five-year term as regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) in Central America. NPH is a home dedicated to caring for more than 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries.
From 2010 to 2014, Bishop Hicks served as the dean of formation at Mundelein Seminary. During that time, he assisted with weekend Masses at St. Jerome Parish in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Bishop Hicks was appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Blase Cupich on January 1, 2015. On September 17, 2018, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
On July 17, 2020, Pope Francis announced that he had named Bishop Hicks as the sixth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. He was installed at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet on September 29, 2020.
Bishop Hicks serves on the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and as the USCCB liaison to the Association of Ongoing Formation of Priests and the National Association of Diaconate Directors. He has also been appointed to the USCCB’s Charter Review Workgroup. He also serves on the board of the Catholic Extension Society and the Mundelein Seminary Advisory Board.