Notable Person

Msgr. James E. Dolan

For most of his 49 years as a priest, Msgr. Dolan was actively involved in youth ministry. In 1928, he started the first Catholic summer camp in the diocese. Eight years later he became archdiocesan director of the Catholic Youth Organization, and for 37 years was archdiocesan director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Msgr. Dolan also developed the first religious award, the "AD ALTARE DEI", a phrase from the Forty-Third Psalm, "With Joy I come to the altar of God." The first such award was presented to Boy Scout Edward Thurin on February 7, 1926. A key requirement of this program developed by Monsignor Dolan required that a Catholic First-Class Scout had to have served 100 hours as an altar boy during his tenure in Scouting. Monsignor Dolan shared his program and its accompanying award with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and in 1939 they approved and adopted it as the Catholic Scout's religious award. This was a historic event and shortly thereafter the National Religious Relationships Committee of the Boy Scouts of America approved of the wearing of the award on a Catholic Boy Scout's uniform.

Msgr. Dolan was ordained in the Diocese of Los Angeles and San Diego in 1925. He held several administrative positions throughout his career.

Summary

• 14 Nov 1898: Born. Coronado, San Diego, CA
• 1925: Ordained in the Diocese of Los Angels and San Diego
• 1925: St. Joseph's Church, San Diego, CA
• 1926: St. John's Church, Los Angeles, CA
• 1927-1939: Church of the Precious Blood, near Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA
• 1927: Assistant Director of the Catholic Welfare Bureau, Los Angeles, CA
• 1939-1972: Cathedral Chapel of St. Vibiana, mid-Wilshire area, Los Angeles, CA
• 1945: Appointed Papal Chamberlain
• 1950: Appointed Domestic Prelate
• 1972: Retired. Pastor emeritus (in residence) at Cathedral Chapel, Los Angeles, CA
• 1974: Died. Santa Monica, CA. Interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, East Los Angeles, CA

To honor Msgr. Dolan's significant contributions, CCSALA produced a medal in 2012 to present to adult leaders for their contributions to the CCSALA committee.

The design aspects of this medal are as follows:

• The cross is a Maltese Cross, symbolizing the rays of the sun radiating outwards.
• The fleur de lis draws on its significance to Scouts, but also its earlier meaning of purity. It also symbolizes the Trinity.
• The colors on the ribbon:
  • Red for the fire of the Holy Spirit.
  • Yellow-Gold for value and excellence.
  • Green for renewal.