John Joseph Dunn

John Joseph Dunn (September 1, 1870 – August 31, 1933) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1921 until his death in 1933.

John Joseph Dunn
Auxiliary Bishop of New York
In office	1921-1933
Orders
Ordination	May 30, 1896
Consecration	October 28, 1922 by Archbishop Patrick Hayes
Personal details
Born	September 1, 1870 New York City
Died	August 31, 1933 (aged 62) St. Vincent's Hospital
Buried	Cemetery of the Sisters of St. Dominic
Nationality	American
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	John and Mary (née Cassidy) Dunn
Education	St. Francis Xavier's College
Alma mater	St. Charles College
Motto	Adoro Te Devote

Biography

John Dunn was born in New York City to John and Mary (née Cassidy) Dunn.[1] He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Gabriel's Church on the East Side of Manhattan.[1] He then attended St. Francis Xavier's College before entering St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland, from where he graduated in 1890.[2] He returned to New York and there completed his theological studies at St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary in Troy.[3]

Dunn was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1896.[4] He was then appointed a curate at St. John the Evangelist's Church, where he remained until 1921.[3] In 1904, he was named diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, a position which he retained until his death.[5] During his first 17 years as director, he raised over $2 million for Catholic foreign missions.[6] He also served as chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York from 1914 to 1921.[5] In 1916, he vigorously defended Catholic institutions in New York during their investigation by the Charities Department under Mayor John Purroy Mitchel; he was charged with crimes against the city, including libel, obstruction of justice, and perjury based on information obtained through wiretaps, but were later dropped.[7][8]

On August 19, 1921, Dunn was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York and Titular Bishop of Camuliana by Pope Benedict XV.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 28 from Archbishop Patrick Hayes, with Bishops Joseph Conroy and John O'Connor serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.[4] He selected as his episcopal motto: Adoro Te Devote (Latin: "Devotedly I Adore Thee").[9]

In addition to his duties as director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Dunn was named pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in Manhattanville.[10] He became treasurer of the archdiocese in 1922, and was vice-president of Catholic Charities.[1] He also served as chaplain of the New York chapter of the Knights of Columbus; spiritual director of the archdiocesan Union of the Holy Name Societes; and Grand Prior of the American chapter of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, an order in which he held the rank of Knight Grand Cross.[7] He was ecclesiastical superior of the Sisters of St. Dominic, and was instrumental in the development of Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh.[1]

Dunn died from a heart attack at St. Vincent's Hospital, at age 63.[1] He is buried at the cemetery of the Sisters of St. Dominic.[1]

References

1. "BISHOP J. J. DUNN DIES AT AGE OF 63". The New York Times. 1933-09-01.
2. "MGR. DUNN APPOINTED AUXILIARY BISHOP". The New York Times. 1921-08-19.
3. O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922. Washington, D.C.
4. Cheney, David M. "Bishop John Joseph Dunn". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
5. "INVEST MGR. DUNN AS TITULAR BISHOP". The New York Times. 1921-10-29.
6. "12 BISHOP TO SEE DUNN CONSECRATION". The New York Times. 1924-10-24.
7. "ARCHBISHOP PRAISES DUNN'S FIGHT FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES". The New York Times. 1921-11-11.
8. Hopkins, June. "Widows and Waifs: New York City and the American Way to Welfare, 1913-1916". The Social Welfare History Project. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27.
9. "MGR. DUNN'S COAT OF ARMS". The New York Times. 1921-10-26.
10. "MGR. DINEEN NAMED TO POST OF CHANCELLOR". The New York Times. 1921-11-20.