Dennis Joseph Sullivan

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Dennis Joseph Sullivan
Bishop of Camden
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseCamden
AppointedJanuary 8, 2013
InstalledFebruary 12, 2013
PredecessorJoseph Anthony Galante
Orders
OrdinationMay 29, 1971
by Terence Cooke
ConsecrationSeptember 21, 2004
by Edward Egan, Robert Anthony Brucato, and Patrick Sheridan
Personal details
Born (1945-03-17) March 17, 1945 (age 79)
Previous post(s)
MottoIn the breaking of the bread
Styles of
Dennis Joseph Sullivan
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Dennis Joseph Sullivan (born March 17, 1945) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Camden in New Jersey since 2013. He served as vicar general and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 2004 to 2013.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Dennis Sullivan was born on March 17, 1945, in the Bronx, New York, to John and Hanorah (née Hayes) Sullivan. He has two brothers, Jack and Charlie, and one sister, Catherine.[1]

Dennis Sullivan attended Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx before entering Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. Having decided to become a priest, he left Iona in his second year. Sullivan then entered St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York; he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1967. Sullivan went to Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 1969 to attend the Summer Spanish Language Institute at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. He was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 1970 from St. Joseph's.[1][2]

Priesthood[edit]

Sullivan was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan by Cardinal Terence Cooke on May 29, 1971.[3] The archdiocese then sent him to the Dominican Republic to further his study of Spanish.[1] He spent three months there, where he "learned to speak Spanish very fast because nobody spoke English."[1]

After Sullivan returned to New York City in 1971, the archdiocese assigned him as curate at the following parishes in New York City:

  • St. Elizabeth's Parish in Washington Heights (1971 to 1976)
  • SS Philip and James Parish in the Bronx (1976 to 1981)
  • Ascension Parish in Manhattan (1981 to 1982)[1]

Sullivan was named pastor of St. Teresa's Parish on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1981, where he gained a degree of fluency in Chinese. In 1999, Pope John Paul II elevated him to the rank of prelate of honor. In 2004, Sullivan became pastor of SS John and Paul Parish in Larchmont.[2]

Sullivan also served as a member of the Lower East Side Catholic Area Conference, the archdiocesan priests' council, and the archdiocesan review board for sexual abuse cases.[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of New York[edit]

On June 28, 2004, Sullivan was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of New York and titular bishop of Enera by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on September 21, 2004, from Cardinal Edward Egan, with Bishops Robert Brucato and Patrick Sheridan serving as co-consecrators.[3] Sullivan selected as his episcopal motto: "In the Breaking of the Bread".[1]

As an auxiliary bishop, Sullivan served as the vicar general for the archdiocese. He celebrated the funeral mass of the writer Reverend Richard Neuhaus in January 2009.[4] Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Sullivan is a member of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs and sat on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Committee from 2005 to 2008.[2]

Bishop of Camden[edit]

On January 8, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Sullivan as bishop of Camden.[5][6] He was insta

In January 2014, Sullivan received criticism after the archdiocese purchased a mansion for approiximately $500,000 in Woodbury, New Jersey, from Rowan University to serve as the bishop's residence. The diocese responded that the bishop needed the extra room for meetings and conferences.[7] Sullivan in October 2020 announced that the diocese was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. He cited the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sexual abuse lawsuit settlements as the causes.[8]

In 2023. Sullivan was part of the team appointed by Pope Francis to investigate Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler after Strickland criticized the papacy.[9] Francis removed Strickland as bishop of Tyler on November 11, 2023.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g McDonnell, Claudia. "True Pastor". Catholic New York. Archived from the original on 2007-10-27. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan". Diocese of Camden. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop Dennis Joseph Sullivan [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  4. ^ Palmo, Rocco (2009-01-09). "A Son's Tribute". Whispers in the Loggia.
  5. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.01.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. January 8, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Emily Babay (January 8, 2013). "New bishop 'delighted' to lead Camden diocese". philly.com.
  7. ^ Dunn, Phil. "N.J. bishop's new mansion draws criticism". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  8. ^ "Camden diocese becomes latest to file for bankruptcy". National Catholic Reporter. October 2, 2020. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  9. ^ Dennelly, Tina. "November 11, 2023". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Mares, Courtney (November 11, 2023). "Pope Francis Relieves Bishop Strickland of His Duties in Diocese of Tyler". National Catholic Register. Retrieved November 12, 2023.

External links[edit]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Camden
2013–present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of New York
2004–2013
Succeeded by