John Dunne (bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Mary Dunne DD
{8 June 1845 in Tooreigh, Mitchelstown
, County Cork
, Ireland
– 22 August 1919 in Bathurst
, New South Wales
), an Australian suffragan bishop
, was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst
, New South Wales. Reverend Dunne was consecrated by Cardinal Moran in 1901 and served until his death in 1919.
, Drumcondra
, Dublin, where he was ordained priest on 24 June 1870 and arrived in Sydney the following year, before transfering to the Bathurst diocese. Dunne served in the Fish River
district, at Mudgee
and at Wentworth
on the Darling River, before becoming a parish priest in 1875 in Dubbo
. Over a period of ten years, Dunne established a brick church and the Convent of Mercy, which had day and boarding schools, before being recalled to Bathurst to administer the cathedral parish, supervising the construction of a Patrician Brothers' monastery and enlargement of the cathedral. Dunne eventually served as vicar-general from 1900 under Bishop Joseph Byrne.
, he gave generously to finance its 1907 additions. Throughout his life Dunne promoted Catholic education. As a prudent and skilful administrator and a near-genius at raising money, he made the 'voluntary system' work in his diocese. Before he visited Europe in 1906, he was presented with a purse containing £
1,000, most of which he characteristically saved during his year's absence, and presented the remainder to St Stanislaus' College.
Dunne died of cancer at Bishop's House on 22 August 1919 and was buried in the Catholic section of Bathurst cemetery.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
{8 June 1845 in Tooreigh, Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 3300. Mitchelstown is situated in the valley to the south of the Galtee Mountains close to the Mitchelstown Caves and is 28 km from Cahir, 50 km from Cork and 59 km from Limerick...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
– 22 August 1919 in Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
), an Australian suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
, was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst is a Latin rite suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1865, covering the Central West and Orana regions of New South Wales, Australia...
, New South Wales. Reverend Dunne was consecrated by Cardinal Moran in 1901 and served until his death in 1919.
Early years and background
Born to Michael Dunne, a farmer, and his wife Mary, née Hennessy, Dunne was educated by the Christian Brothers at Mitchelstown, and Mount Melleray College, and studied for the priesthood at All Hallows CollegeAll Hallows College
All Hallows College is a Roman Catholic college located in Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland. All Hallows is one of six linked colleges of Dublin City University, meaning that the college's degrees are validated and accredited by the university.-History:...
, Drumcondra
Drumcondra, Dublin
Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
, Dublin, where he was ordained priest on 24 June 1870 and arrived in Sydney the following year, before transfering to the Bathurst diocese. Dunne served in the Fish River
Fish River (New South Wales)
- Rivers :There are two rivers in New South Wales called the Fish River.The Fish River rises on the plateau south east of Oberon, New South Wales, and flows generally to the north-west, becoming the main headwater of the Macquarie River just east of Bathurst, New South Wales. There is a reservoir...
district, at Mudgee
Mudgee, New South Wales
Mudgee is a town in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the broad fertile Cudgegong River valley 261 kilometres north west of Sydney. Mudgee is the centre of the Mid-Western Regional Council Local Government Area...
and at Wentworth
Wentworth, New South Wales
Wentworth is a small border town in the far south west of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It lies at the confluence of Australia's two most important rivers, the Darling and the Murray, the latter forming the border with the state of Victoria to the south. The border with the state of...
on the Darling River, before becoming a parish priest in 1875 in Dubbo
Dubbo, New South Wales
Dubbo is a city in the Orana Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre in the Orana region, with an estimated population of 38,037 and serves an estimated catchment of 130,000....
. Over a period of ten years, Dunne established a brick church and the Convent of Mercy, which had day and boarding schools, before being recalled to Bathurst to administer the cathedral parish, supervising the construction of a Patrician Brothers' monastery and enlargement of the cathedral. Dunne eventually served as vicar-general from 1900 under Bishop Joseph Byrne.
Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst
Following the death of Bishop Byrne, Dunne was elected Bishop of Bathurst on 12 January 1901, and consecrated by Cardinal Moran on 8 September 1901. Widely known as the 'Builder Bishop', Dunne is credited with ensuring that every parish had a church, school, presbytery and convent. In Bathurst he raised the money to build St Joseph's Mount and Orphanage, St Philomena's School and the stately Bishop's House. Keenly interested in St Stanislaus' CollegeSt Stanislaus College (Bathurst)
St Stanislaus' College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, conducted by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul's priests and brothers...
, he gave generously to finance its 1907 additions. Throughout his life Dunne promoted Catholic education. As a prudent and skilful administrator and a near-genius at raising money, he made the 'voluntary system' work in his diocese. Before he visited Europe in 1906, he was presented with a purse containing £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1,000, most of which he characteristically saved during his year's absence, and presented the remainder to St Stanislaus' College.
Dunne died of cancer at Bishop's House on 22 August 1919 and was buried in the Catholic section of Bathurst cemetery.