Brian Joseph Dunn
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Brian Joseph Dunn (born 1955) is a Canadian prelate of the
Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
who is Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth. He was Bishop of Antigonish from 2010 to 2019.


Early years

Born in St. John's,
Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...
, Dunn was raised in the mining community of
Buchans Buchans ( ) is a town located in the central part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on the northwest shore of Beothuk Lake on the Buchans River. The town is located within the statistica ...
where he attended primary and elementary school before moving to the fishing community of
Harbour Grace Harbour Grace is a town in Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. With roots dating back to the 16th century, it is one of the oldest towns in North America. It is located about northwest of ...
where he attended secondary school. Dunn attended
Memorial University of Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...
for one year before transferring to King's University College of the
University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO; branded as Western University) is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thame ...
where he graduated with a BA in 1976. Dunn completed seminary formation at St. Peter's Seminary, graduating with a MDiv in 1979. Dunn undertook post-graduate studies and graduated with a JCL and JCD from St. Paul University in 1990 and 1991 respectively. He completed an MTh at
University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...
in 2006.


Priest

Dunn was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Grand Falls on 28 August 1980, where he served as a
Parochial Vicar A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...
(
Associate Pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicis ...
) at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in
Grand Falls-Windsor Grand Falls-Windsor is a town located in the central region of the island of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, with a population of 13,853 at the Canada 2021 Census, 2021 census. The town i ...
from 1980 to 1985. Dunn then served as Pastor of St. Gabriel's Parish in St. Brendan's from 1985 to 1988, and then as Pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Grand Falls from 1991 to 1996. He was subsequently Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in
Harbour Breton Harbour Breton is a small fishing community on the Connaigre Peninsula in Fortune Bay, on the south coast of the island of Newfoundland in Canada. It is the largest center on the Connaigre Peninsula and was long considered the unofficial capital ...
from 1996 to 1999, followed by the position of Pastor for both Holy Cross Parish in Holyrood and St. Peter and St. Paul Parish in
Harbour Main Harbour Main, formerly Harbour Main-Whitbourne and Harbour Main-Bell Island, is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Prior to 1975, the district elected two MHAs. Between 1972 and the y ...
from 1999 to 2002. Dunn served the Diocese of Grand Falls as Vice-Chancellor (1980–1996),
Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...
(1996–2008), Member of the
College of Consultors A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e., a counselor. In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions: *in the Roman Curia, a consultor is a specially appointed expert who may be called upon for advice desired by ...
(1991–2002), Bishop's Canonical Advisor (1990–2008), Judge for the
Marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
Tribunal A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title. For example, an advocate who appears before a court with a singl ...
(1990–2008), and Associate
Judicial Vicar In the Roman Catholic Church, a judicial vicar or episcopal official () is an officer of the diocese who has ordinary power to judge cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court. Although the diocesan bishop can reserve certain cases to himself, ...
of the Marriage Tribunal (2002–2008). Dunn has also served a lecturer with the
Atlantic School of Theology Atlantic School of Theology (AST) is a Canadian public ecumenical university that provides graduate level theological Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taug ...
(1992–1999) for the Diploma Program for Theology and Ministry, lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law at St. Paul University (2003–2004, 2007), and served on the faculty at St. Peter's Seminary (2002–2008) where he taught courses in Canon Law, Ecumenism, Ecclesiology, and Liturgical Law; he served as Dean of Studies from 2005 to 2008.


Bishop

On 16 July 2008,
Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...
named Dunn auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie. He received his episcopal consecration from Bishop
Jean-Louis Plouffe Jean-Louis is a given name, especially for French males. Notable people named "Jean-Louis" include: * Jean-Louis Alléon-Dulac, French naturalist * Jean-Louis Aubert, French singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer and producer * Jean-Louis Baribe ...
at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador on 9 October. On 21 November 2009, Pope Benedict appointed Dunn Bishop of Antigonish. Dunn was installed on 25 January 2010. He replaced Raymond Lahey, who was facing charges of possessing and importing child pornography. He became ''ex officio''
Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...
of
St. Francis Xavier University St. Francis Xavier University is a public undergraduate liberal arts university located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a member of the Maple League, a group of primarily undergraduate universities in Eastern Canada. History St. Fran ...
as well. Dunn was elected to participate in the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization in October 2012. He spoke on methods of evangelizing victims of clerical sexual abuse. He proposed "the appointment of pastoral teams consisting of clergy and laity, an official reflection on and recognition of lay ecclesial ministers, a deliberate and systematic involvement and leadership of women at all levels of Church life, e.g., permitting women to be instituted as lectors and acolytes and the institution of the ministry of catechist". On 13 April 2019,
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
named Dunn Archbishop Coadjutor of Halifax-Yarmouth. On 27 November 2020,
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
accepted the resignation of Archbishop Anthony Mancini. As Coadjutor Archbishop, Dunn succeeded Archbishop Mancini as head of the Archdiocese. Dunn is the Grand Prior of the Canada-Atlantic Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.


References


External links


Biographical notes for Bishop Brian Joseph Dunn – Diocese of Antigonish
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunn, Brian Joseph 1955 births 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Canada 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Canada Canadian Roman Catholic archbishops Living people People from Buchans People from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Roman Catholic archbishops of Halifax Roman Catholic bishops of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario St. Peter's Seminary (Diocese of London, Ontario) alumni University of Western Ontario alumni University of Ottawa alumni University of Notre Dame alumni Grand Priors of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre