John Joseph Dunn

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]