Rockville Centre, N.Y., Jun 25, 2013 / 08:22 am
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop John C. Dunne, who was an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, on June 22, a few months after he turned 75.
Canon law requires that bishops submit their resignation upon their 75th birthday.
Born in 1937, Bishop Dunne was ordained a priest for the Rockville Centre diocese on June 1, 1963. As a priest of the diocese, he served as a pastor, as spiritual director at Immaculate Conception Seminary, and in various positions in the diocesan chancery.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre in 1988, and was consecrated on Dec. 13 of that year by Bishop John R. McGann, who was then the bishop of the local Church.
The diocese has 1.7 million Catholics in a population of 3.5 million, making it the fifth most populous diocese in the U.S. It has 133 parishes, 369 priests and over 800 vowed religious.
The diocese is governed by Bishop William F. Murphy, who is assisted by two auxiliaries. Bishop Dunne joins three other men as auxiliary bishop emeriti of the Rockville Centre diocese.