John Charles Dunne
Encyclopedia
John Charles Dunne is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is currently an auxiliary bishop
of the Diocese of Rockville Centre
, serving since 1988.
, New York
, to the late Mark and Helen Dunne. His only brother, Mark J. Dunne (d. 1982), was also a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre
. He received his early education at the parochial school
of St. Boniface Church in Elmont
and at St. Francis Preparatory School
in Brooklyn. He attended Cathedral College
, also in Brooklyn, before studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 1, 1963.
Dunne served as a curate
at St. Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport
, and was later named associate director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
and of the Family Life Bureau. In 1970, he becmae spiritual director
of Immaculate Conception Seminary, where he remained until he was appointed associate vicar
for religious
. He was later named a curate at Corpus Christi Church in Mineola
(1974) and director of the Priest Personnel Office (1978). In 1984, he became pastor
of Blessed Sacrament Church in Valley Stream
.
On October 21, 1988, Dunne was appointed auxiliary bishop
of Rockville Centre and titular bishop
of Abercorn
ia by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following December 13 from Bishop John Raymond McGann
, with Bishops James Joseph Daly
and Alfred John Markiewicz
serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Agnes Cathedral
. He selected as his episcopal motto
: "God Is Love" .
As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, Dunne served as chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Science and Human Values and of the Committee on Women in Society and in the Church.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is currently an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Diocese of Rockville Centre
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre comprises the territory of Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York state, USA. Founded in 1957, this diocese was created from territory that once belonged to the Diocese of Brooklyn...
, serving since 1988.
Biography
John Dunne was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to the late Mark and Helen Dunne. His only brother, Mark J. Dunne (d. 1982), was also a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre comprises the territory of Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York state, USA. Founded in 1957, this diocese was created from territory that once belonged to the Diocese of Brooklyn...
. He received his early education at the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
of St. Boniface Church in Elmont
Elmont, New York
Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...
and at St. Francis Preparatory School
St. Francis Preparatory School
St. Francis Preparatory School, commonly known as St. Francis Prep, is a private, independent Catholic college preparatory school in the Fresh Meadows neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. It is the largest non-diocesan Catholic high school in the United States. St. Francis is run by...
in Brooklyn. He attended Cathedral College
Cathedral Preparatory Seminary (Queens)
Cathedral Preparatory Seminary is a private, Roman Catholic high school and seminary in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn...
, also in Brooklyn, before studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on June 1, 1963.
Dunne served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport
East Northport, New York
East Northport is a hamlet and census-designated place in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,845 at the 2000 census.-Founding:...
, and was later named associate director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was an association established at Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving religious education. Its modern usage, often abbreviated CCD or C.C.D., is a religious education program of the Catholic Church, normally designed for children.-History:Until the...
and of the Family Life Bureau. In 1970, he becmae spiritual director
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
of Immaculate Conception Seminary, where he remained until he was appointed associate vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
for religious
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
. He was later named a curate at Corpus Christi Church in Mineola
Mineola, New York
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place"....
(1974) and director of the Priest Personnel Office (1978). In 1984, he became pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Blessed Sacrament Church in Valley Stream
Valley Stream, New York
Valley Stream is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population in the village of Valley Stream was 37,511 at the 2010 census...
.
On October 21, 1988, Dunne was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Rockville Centre and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Abercorn
Abercorn
Abercorn is a village and parish in West Lothian, Scotland. Close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth, the village is around west of South Queensferry.-History:...
ia by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following December 13 from Bishop John Raymond McGann
John R. McGann (Bishop)
John Raymond McGann was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rockville Centre from 1976 to 2000.-Early life and education:...
, with Bishops James Joseph Daly
James Joseph Daly
James Joseph Daly, is a American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.Daly was born in New York City and was ordained a priest on May 22, 1948 from the Brooklyn diocese. Daly was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre as well as titular bishop of Castra Nova on February 28,...
and Alfred John Markiewicz
Alfred John Markiewicz
Alfred John Markiewicz was the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan....
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes Cathedral
St. Agnes Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Rockville Centre, New York, on Long Island. It is the seat of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The Most Reverend William Murphy is the ordinary bishop of the Diocese and pastor of the Cathedral parish....
. He selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "God Is Love" .
As a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, Dunne served as chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Science and Human Values and of the Committee on Women in Society and in the Church.