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To: Priests and deacons
From: Fr. Pedro Poloche, director, Ongoing Formation of Priests
We are pleased to announce that Bishop John Dolan, of the Diocese of Phoenix, will be the speaker for our first study day of 2025, scheduled for Thursday, January 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Chancery grand halls.
Bishop Dolan will share his personal experience regarding mental health issues and suicide within his family. He will also discuss the mental health ministry that he established in his diocese in 2022 and the focus areas of education, accompaniment and advocacy.
Bishop Dolan was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Diego, California, July 1, 1989. He was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix August 2, 2022. Prior to his arrival in Phoenix, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, California. He also served in the positions of vicar general, vicar for clergy and the moderator of the curia.
Bishop Dolan, the seventh of nine children in his family, attended local Catholic schools at St. Mary Magdalene parish. Later, he attended University High School, before attending St. Francis Seminary and the University of San Diego, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He also earned a master’s in divinity and theology at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California. He has served in numerous parishes in California.
He instituted the annual Mass of Remembrance for people who died by suicide on September 4, 2022, and has co-authored two books published by Ave Maria Press—When a Loved one Dies by Suicide and Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders.
Lunch will be served. To register for this study day, please email Amanda Hailey at ahailey@archatl.com or call 678-595-9181. We hope you can join us for this informative study day.
