Baptism serves as family send-off
for new archbishop

	FAMILY BAPTISM -- Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan baptizes his newest little niece, Grace Kelly Dolan, Aug. 3, at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, St. Louis. Dolan and Katie Edwards, pictured at left, are Grace's godparents. Also pictured are Grace's parents, Pat, youngest brother of the archbishop, and Mary Theresa Dolan, Edward's older sister. (Photo by Scott McConnaha)

ST. LOUIS -- Dubbed by many in the Dolan family as "the royal baptism," three-month-old Grace Kelly Dolan was initiated into the Christian community by her uncle, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, Aug. 3.

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Held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, St. Louis, where Dolan resided, close to 75 friends and relatives attended the big event.

Presiding first at the parish's regular 5 p.m. Saturday Mass, Dolan appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself. When his brother, Pat, and wife Mary Theresa -- Grace's parents -- came in a little late, Dolan, sitting in his presider's chair, watched them from the moment they came through the church's side door to when they sat down about five pews from the front. Dolan made no effort to hide his wide smile when seeing them, and even gave a little wave when they looked up.

Baptism goes off without hitch

Katie Edwards, Mary Theresa's younger sister, and Dolan were chosen to be Grace's godparents. The baptism went off without a hitch. Gracie, as she is sometimes called, didn't cry once, and Dolan carried out his dual role of baptizer and godparent without a single misstep.

Following a photo session at the end of the baptism, all the guests were invited into the rectory for a reception that included the finest, or at least the most popular of St. Louis delicacies.

There was a six-foot sandwich from Amighetti's Italian deli, salad from The Pasta House Co., toasted ravioli, White Castle hamburgers, Imo's Pizza, Ted Drews frozen custard and coolers full of Busch beer.

The menu was chosen and paid for by Dolan, who's love of food is no secret. He told the Catholic Herald, "I'm the godfather, so this is my duty." He's also godfather of niece Kerry, 18, daughter of his sister Deborah and her husband Fred Williams.

A send-off of sorts

More than just a baptism reception, it became a send-off of sorts for the man who was soon to depart for Milwaukee. "It's kind of like a small farewell party for him. Friends and family. Because everyday he gets calls saying, 'Hey, before you leave for Milwaukee, I'd love for you to come over for dinner.' So what he does is, he tells all those people, 'Why don't you just come to the baptism?'" Mary Theresa, who goes by Mary T., explained to the Catholic Herald.

When asked why they chose Dolan to be godfather, Pat jokingly said, "Because he gives really good gifts," to which Mary T. added, "If it wasn't for him (introducing them to one another), we wouldn't even have Grace.... Tim was so excited about her."

Following Dolan's enthusiastic acceptance to be Grace's godfather, Pat said he asked his brother if it would be helpful to have another priest do the baptism. "Heck no. I'll hold her here and read from here," nodding first at his right hand, then at his left, Pat said of his brother's response.

'Wonderful being godmother of archbishop'

Lois Milford, Dolan's godmother and aunt, was at the baptism and she told the Catholic Herald that it's wonderful being the godmother of an archbishop. "It was wonderful being the godmother of a priest. He's always just been delightful from the time he was a child. We've all enjoyed him. He used to babysit for my children when he was in the seminary. They'd play flashlight tag. He's just a delightful person."

Milford, younger sister of Dolan's mother, Shirley, is quick to deny having any influence on Dolan's rise through the ranks of Catholic hierarchy. "I wish I could take credit for it, I really do.... I just see God's hand in all of it."

She remembers him being "a great kid, very particular, though. He had his own room at home and if you went in he could tell. He'd say, 'Who went into my room, the rug's messy,'" she said smiling.

"I don't know anybody that doesn't love him, including my six children and their families. If I had known that he was going to be leaving St. Louis this soon, I'd have had him over every Tuesday night for dinner," Milford said.

She described Dolan's personality as magnetic. "People gravitate towards him. When he's there (at family gatherings), there's always a lot of laughter, a lot of joking, but people just gravitate towards him, they always have."

Grace's baptism reception was no different. Dolan rarely stood still during the party. He went from room to room on the crowded first floor of the old brick rectory, talking and laughing with his many friends and relatives, sometimes carrying around a pizza box offering slices of the thin-crust St. Louis specialty, and frequently on the lookout for Gracie, picking her up and showing off his newest little godchild.