Dennis Joseph Sullivan

{{Short description|American prelate}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific_prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend | name = Dennis Joseph Sullivan | title = Bishop Emeritus of Camden | image = | alt = | caption = | church = Roman Catholic Church | archdiocese = | diocese = Camden | see = | appointed = January 8, 2013 | enthroned = February 12, 2013 | retired = March 17, 2025 | predecessor = Joseph Anthony Galante | successor = Joseph A. Williams  | ordination = May 29, 1971 | ordained_by = Terence Cooke | consecration = September 21, 2004 | consecrated_by = Edward Egan, Robert Anthony Brucato, and Patrick Sheridan  | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|3|17}} | birth_place = New York, New York, US | death_date = | death_place = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list| Auxiliary Bishop of New York and Titular Bishop of Enera (2004-2013) }} | motto = In the breaking of the bread }} {{Infobox bishopstyles | name= Dennis Joseph Sullivan | dipstyle= *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle=Your Excellency | relstyle=Bishop | image = Coat of arms of Dennis Joseph Sullivan.svg | image_size = 200px }} '''Dennis Joseph Sullivan''' (born March 17, 1945) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was bishop of the Diocese of Camden in New Jersey from 2013 to 2025. He was vicar general and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 2004 to 2013.

==Biography==

=== Early life === 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.<ref name="cny">{{cite news |last=McDonnell |first=Claudia |title=True Pastor |url=http://www.cny.org/sv090204.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027032938/http://cny.org/sv090204.htm |archive-date=2007-10-27 |access-date=2009-04-18 |work=Catholic New York}}</ref>

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.<ref name="cny" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan |url=https://camdendiocese.org/bishop-dennis-sullivan/ | url-status=dead|access-date=May 22, 2024|website=Diocese of Camden |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240514180218/https://www.camdendiocese.org/bishop-dennis-sullivan/| archive-date= May 14, 2024 }}</ref>

=== Priesthood === 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Dennis Joseph Sullivan [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsullid.html |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> The archdiocese then sent him to the Dominican Republic to further his study of Spanish.<ref name="cny" /> He spent three months there, where he "learned to speak Spanish very fast because nobody spoke English."<ref name="cny" />

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)<ref name="cny" />

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.<ref name=":1" />

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.<ref name="cny" />

=== Auxiliary Bishop of New York === On June 28, 2004, Sullivan was appointed an auxiliary bishop of New York and titular bishop of Enera by Pope John Paul II.<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = May 21, 2024 | date = June 28, 2004 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | language = it| url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/06/28/0326/01083.html | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 28.06.2004}}</ref> He received his episcopal consecration on September 21, 2004, from Cardinal Edward Egan, with Bishops Robert Brucato and Patrick Sheridan serving as co-consecrators.<ref name=":0" /> Sullivan selected as his episcopal motto: "In the Breaking of the Bread".<ref name=cny/>

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.<ref name=neuhas>{{cite news|date=2009-01-09|work=Whispers in the Loggia|title=A Son's Tribute|url=https://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2009/01/sons-tribute.html|last=Palmo|first=Rocco}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" />

===Bishop of Camden=== On January 8, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Sullivan bishop of Camden.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = November 12, 2023 | date = January 8, 2013 | language = it |title =Rinunce e Nomine, 08.01.2013 | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/01/08/0011/00027.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Report_Camden_dio_to_announce_.html|publisher=philly.com|author=Emily Babay|title=New bishop 'delighted' to lead Camden diocese|date=January 8, 2013}}</ref> In January 2014, Sullivan was criticized after the archdiocese purchased a mansion for approximately $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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Phil |title=N.J. bishop's new mansion draws criticism |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/03/camden-diocese-bishop-house/4303211/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2020, Sullivan announced that the diocese was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. He cited the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and sexual abuse lawsuit settlements as the causes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2020 |title=Camden diocese becomes latest to file for bankruptcy |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/camden-diocese-becomes-latest-file-bankruptcy |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=National Catholic Reporter |language=en}}</ref> He submitted his age-mandated retirement request the same year when he turned 75.

In 2023, Sullivan was part of the team appointed by Pope Francis to investigate Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas after Strickland criticized the pope.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = November 12, 2023 | url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255987/bishop-strickland-refused-to-resign-cardinal-says | title = Bishop Strickland refused to resign, cardinal says | date =November 11, 2023 | publisher = Catholic News Agency | first = Tina | last = Dennelly }}</ref> Francis removed Strickland as bishop of Tyler on November 11, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mares |first=Courtney |date=November 11, 2023 |title=Pope Francis Relieves Bishop Strickland of His Duties in Diocese of Tyler |url=https://www.ncregister.com/cna/breaking-pope-francis-relieves-bishop-strickland-of-his-duties-in-diocese-of-tyler |access-date=November 12, 2023 |website=National Catholic Register |language=en}}</ref>

=== Retirement === Bishop Joseph A. Williams was named Sullivan's coadjutor in March 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 21, 2024|title=Bishop Joseph A. Williams, 50, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, named coadjutor of the Diocese of Camden (N.J.) |url=https://thedialog.org/featured/bishop-joseph-a-williams-50-auxiliary-bishop-of-st-paul-and-minneapolis-named-coadjutor-of-the-diocese-of-camden-n-j/ |access-date= March 17, 2025 |website=The Dialog |language=en}}</ref> and Pope Francis accepted Sullivan's resignation as bishop of Camden on March 17, 2025, his 80th birthday.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher= Holy See Press Office | date = March 17, 2025 | access-date = March 17, 2025 | url =https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/03/17/0191/00375.html | title = Rinunce e nomine, 17.03.2025| language = it }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}} *[http://www.camdendiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden Official Site]

{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{succession box | title=Bishop of Camden | before=Joseph Anthony Galante | after= Joseph A. Williams | years=2013–2025}} {{succession box | title=Auxiliary Bishop of New York | before=– | after=– | years=2004–2013}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Dennis Joseph}} Category:1938 births Category:Living people Category:Clergy from New York City Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic titular bishops Category:Iona University alumni Category:Religious leaders from the Bronx Category:People from Woodbury, New Jersey Category:Saint Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie) alumni Category:Catholics from New York (state) Category:Catholics from New Jersey