John P. Dolan

John Patrick Dolan (born June 8, 1962) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as bishop in the Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona since August 2022.

Early life
John Dolan was born on June 8, 1962, in San Diego, California, to Catherine and Gerald Dolan, the seventh of nine children. Dolan attended the School of the Madeleine in San Diego and University of San Diego High School. After graduating from high school in 1981, Dolan decided to become a priest. He enrolled in St. Francis Seminary, a house of formation on the University of San Diego (USD) campus.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Francis in 1985, Dolan entered Saint Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California. He obtained his Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Saint Patrick's in 1989.

Priesthood
On July 1, 1989, Dolan was ordained a priest at San Rafael Church in Rancho Bernardo, California, for the Diocese of San Diego by Bishop Leo Maher. The diocese assigned Dolan as an associate pastor at St. Michael’s Parish in San Diego. He was transferred in 1991 to Santa Sophia Parish in Spring Valley, California, to serve as associate pastor there. He was named director of vocations for the diocese in 1992.

Dolan was appointed pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Oceanside, California, in 1996. He left St. Mary in 2001 to serve as pastor for one year at St. Michael's Parish in San Diego. In 2002, Dolan become pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Chula Vista, California. After 12 years at St. Rose, Dolan was transferred in 2014 to be pastor at Saint Michael's Parish in Poway, California. Bishop Robert W. McElroy named Dolan as episcopal vicar for the clergy in 2016.

Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego
On April 19, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Dolan as an auxiliary bishop of San Diego and titular bishop of Uchi Maius. On June 8, 2017, he was consecrated a bishop by Bishop Robert W. McElroy at St. Thérèse of Carmel Church in Del Mar, California, with Bishops Robert Brom and Richard Garcia acting as co-consecrators.

As auxiliary bishop, Dolan continued to serve as vicar for clergy and was named moderator of the curia in 2017.

Bishop of Phoenix
On June 10, 2022, Francis appointed Dolan as bishop of Phoenix. Dolan was installed on August 2, 2022.

Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Dolan is a member of Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Sub-Committee for African Relations.

Dolan has lost three siblings and a brother-in-law to suicide. In 2022, he established an office for Mental Health Ministry in the diocese. He serves as chaplain to the National Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and is the co-editor of two books written by the association on suicide:


 * Responding to Suicide (2020)
 * When a Loved One Dies by Suicide (2020)