Auxiliary Bishop John P. Dolan of San Diego to Become 5th Bishop in Diocesan History
PHOENIX (June 10, 2022) – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted from pastoral governance of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop John P. Dolan of San Diego as the fifth Bishop in the 52-year history of the diocese. Bishop Dolan will begin his new assignment in Phoenix in early August 2022, taking over for one of the fastest growing Catholic dioceses in the United States with an estimated 1.1 million Catholic population.
Bishop Dolan, who turned 60 years old earlier this week, is a native of San Diego. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in April of 2017 where he also served as the vicar general, vicar for clergy and the moderator of the curia. Prior to the appointment in 2017, he served as a priest at various parishes across the Diocese of San Diego for 28-years.
“My heart is filled with joy on this day as Pope Francis appoints me to serve as the Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix,” said Bishop Dolan. “I cannot begin to express my thanks to God for his goodness to me throughout my life and I enter this new chapter with a renewed commitment to love and serve the Lord and His Church with my whole heart, soul, and strength.
“I am grateful to Lord who has blessed me with the love of my parents and family, my dear friends, and the many priests, deacons, religious, parishioners, and all with whom I served in the Diocese of San Diego. I am particularly grateful to Cardinal-Designate Robert W. McElroy, bishop of San Diego, and Auxiliary Bishop Ramon Bejarano with whom I have shared a common joy in the Lord. San Diego is blessed to have these men of God.
“Finally, I am truly grateful to God for Bishop Thomas Olmsted and Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares who have warmly welcomed me to the Diocese of Phoenix. Please pray for all three of us as we journey together on mission in Christ!”
