September 2026

Letter from the Archbishop

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

As I begin this letter, there is one thing I must say first: thank you. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes as I recovered from surgery for a detached retina. I have been deeply touched by the outpouring of kindness from across the archdiocese and beyond.

Your prayers have been a reminder of how much we rely on one another, especially in moments when life asks us to slow down. September is always a season of transition. Children begin a new school year. Young adults leave home for college, while their parents watch with a little ache as their children begin lives of their own. Summer’s slower rhythms give way to familiar routines, and we find ourselves moving forward while carrying with us what has come before.

Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than here in New York, especially this year. As I have gotten to know my new home by walking its streets and exploring the city, I’ve noticed how present September 11th still is in everyday life.

Twenty-five years later, its memory lives on; in a new skyline, in simple plaques and great memorials, and in the photographs of first responders who were lost, still displayed outside of firehouses and police stations. I was living in Chicago at the time, but, like so many of you, I remember it vividly. We remember those who died and the extraordinary courage, service, sacrifice, and compassion that followed.

That same spirit of remembering calls us to consider how we care for one another and the world we have been given. September also opens the Season of Creation, a month that invites us to look more closely at the fragility and dignity of life and our responsibility for one another. To care for God’s creation is to recognize the interconnectedness of all life and to remember that the poor and vulnerable often suffer first and most profoundly when our common home is harmed.

Caring for the earth and caring for one another are inseparable. And finally, this is where the witness of the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen speaks to us. His beatification this month reminds us of a man who understood the power of helping others see. His life was deeply connected to New York, and his voice reached millions through television and radio. He knew that our task is not simply to speak about Christ, but to help others see Christ; in the Eucharist, in the poor, and in the ordinary circumstances of daily life.

It’s a busy month, but September reminds us that there is a time for everything under heaven: a time to remember and a time to begin again. Thank you again for your prayers during my recovery. They have been a profound gift to me, and I assure you of my continued prayers for you.

As I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks

Archbishop of New York

Featured Events

Share With Your Community

Initatives

Building Momentum Together

Liturgical Calendar

Follow the Church's liturgical calendar for September 2026, marking the feast days and memorials of saints throughout the month — from St. Teresa of Calcutta to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Liturgy Newsletter

Prayer Card

Care for Creation Prayer Card

As we enter this sacred season, we join Christians around the world in prayer and reflection for our common home. May we grow in gratitude for God's creation, renew our commitment to care for the earth, and walk gently alongside all living things.

Download iPhone Prayer Card Download Android Prayer Card

Contact