A Cardinal's Work... and Play

You've gotta love the photo -- Cardinal Edward Egan of New York and the legendary Sirio Maccioni at the opening of "Le Cirque 3.0," the third "incarnation" of the institution long viewed as the city's premier restaurant. Before moving to its new digs on East 58th its predecessor was, of course, Le Cirque 2000, where Cardinal Sodano could usually be found on his trips to Manhattan.

Last week, Egan ordained eight priests in St Patrick's Cathedral. Two nights later, he conferred his first batch of papal honors on the New York clergy when 38 new monsignori -- led by the the Cathedral's new rector, now Mons. Robert Ritchie -- picked up their rescripts in another St Pat's ceremony.

As the cardinal nears his sixth anniversary at the helm of Big Apple Catholicism, plans have started to be announced for the bicentennial of the archdiocese's founding in 2008 (none of the other Sees celebrating 200 years have done a damn thing yet), his parish reconfiguration plan is getting a much smoother reception than anticipated and -- lest anyone forget -- there's the not-so-little matter of the church's breakout into satellite radio when "The Catholic Channel" debuts in the fall on Sirius.

Hey now.

After a couple bumps along the road -- and, it must be said, less than a year off his 75th birthday -- it seems that for the current occupant of 452 Madison, life is good right now. But the work's still getting done, too. Suffice it to say, it looks like a healthy balance.


PHOTO 1: John Lei/The New York Times
PHOTO 2: Chris Sheridan/Catholic New York

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