The Most Rev. John P. Dolan
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

Bishop John Dolan, known for his pastoral heart and desire to embody Pope Francis’ call to be a shepherd with the “smell of the sheep,” was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix on August 2, 2022.  

His personable approach to authentic encounter and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude have made a profound impact on one of the fastest growing dioceses in the U.S. — the diverse and vibrant 44,000 square miles that nearly 2 million Catholics call home.  

Growing up in San Diego as one of nine children in a faithful Catholic family, Bishop John attended local Catholic schools at St. Mary Magdelene parish and University High School, where he was a skilled wrestler. He went on to receive formation at St. Francis Seminary and the University of San Diego, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Additionally, he earned his Master’s degree in Divinity and Theology and Master of Arts degree in Liturgy/Church art and Architecture — which can be experienced in his engaging weekly video series, Word and Art — from St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, Calif. He still loves to visit home and catch some ocean waves. 

Bishop John has an immense heart for mental health ministry as a survivor of suicide loss. His older brother, Tom, died by suicide when Bishop John was in eighth grade. He lost his sister, Therese, and brother-in-law, Joe, to suicide while he was in seminary, and his sister, Mary, died by suicide in 2022. This inspired Bishop John to found the historic diocesan Office of Mental Health ministry, one of the first of its kind in the United States, to break the stigma, draw the community together and educate, accompany and advocate for those struggling with their mental health.   

Bishop John’s coat of arms contains details that point to his heart and mission. The gold portion of the shield was chosen in tandem with the shield of the Diocese of San Diego carrying the same color, pointing to his roots. The pierced, Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a reminder that the Lord’s heart continues to bleed and beat for us, the Church, and we are meant to be sent forth from His heart to bring the Good News to the peripheries. The two moon crests and the blue background are part of the Dolan crest, honoring his family heritage.  

Bishop John’s motto, “Abide in My Love” (John 15:9), is the heartbeat of his role as shepherd. He leads people of good will from an interior prayer life to intentionally encountering those outside of themselves — like blood that pumps forth from the heart to bring life to the whole body — and in a spirit of ecumenism, attentive listening and spiritual accompaniment, he desires every person to know they have a seat at the table.  

Birthday: June 8, 1962
Ordination to priesthood: July 1, 1989
Ordained Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego: June 8, 2017
Ordained Bishop of Phoenix: August 2, 2022 

Bishop John’s Notable Initiatives: 

• December 2022 – Established the diocesan Office of Mental Health Ministry. One of the first of its kind in the U.S., the initiative has gained international traction, including from the Vatican. Bishop John has also been a national guest speaker on the topic of mental health ministry and his efforts have been covered by America Magazine, Vatican News and Focolare Media. He also co-authored Responding to Suicide; A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders and When a Loved One Dies by Suicide: Comfort, Hope, and Healing for Grieving Catholics. 

• October 2023 – Announced the development of Nazareth Seminary, built upon the original Nazareth House opened in 2019, as an innovative approach to seminarian formation, moving away from an institutional model toward a family-style setting, which allows for integrated formation and fraternal community life for the future priests of the Diocese of Phoenix. 

• October 7, 2024 – Shared his first pastoral letter announcing his historic seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization entitled, TILMA – Testifica, oh Iglesia, a la Luz del Misterio del Amor (Testify, o Church, to the Light of the Mystery of Love), which will culminate in Dec. 2031, celebrating the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Diocese of Phoenix. 

• March 2025 – Personally welcomed more than 1,300 candidates and catechumens during the celebration of four Rite of Election liturgies through the diocese over a series of two weeks. Rite of Election is an integral part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), and these were the largest Rite of Election gatherings and the most participation by parishes in well over a decade.

• April 2025 – Launched a Synod of Young Adults — emphasizing “Your Voice. Your Story. Your Church” — to foster a culture of evangelization that will engage young adults on relevant issues, with a special emphasis on young people in parishes, those who have left the Church and those who consider themselves on the margins or “nones.” 

• Within his first three years as Bishop of Phoenix, Bishop John has launched four new podcasts: A Seat at the Table, Life Talk, Prep Rally and TILMA; he has also launched three new weekly series: Christ in our Neighborhood, Mental Health Minute and Word and Art; additionally, he has expanded the weekly televised Mass airtime to two hours, featuring the above content with viewers.  

Bishop John’s Notable Trips: 

• August 2023 – As a member of the USCCB subcommittee on the Church in Africa, Bishop John made his first-ever trip to Africa with visits to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya during a 12-day trip.  

• May 2024 – A pilgrimage to Lourdes led by the Sovereign Order of Malta allowed Bishop John the opportunity to accompany ill and suffering faithful from the diocese to the miraculous waters where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. 

• August 2024 – To learn more about Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), an international program founded in 1954 by Phoenix native Fr. William Wasson, Bishop John visited a NPH school in Honduras. He also visited an NPH high school in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in April 2025. The program has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of the most vulnerable children and young adults.

• December 2024 – Bishop John traveled to Nogales, Mexico, to celebrate Las Posadas along the U.S.-Mexico border with Kino Border Initiative. 

• March 2025 – Bishop John made his first- ever pilgrimage to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He carried with him the intentions of the Diocese of Phoenix and entrusted TILMA, his seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization, to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the inspiration for the historic initiative.  

Bishop John’s Notable Recognitions: 

• March 2025 – Bishop John was named an “Unsung Mental Health Hero” at The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Valley of the Sun affiliate’s 9th Annual Giving Breakfast in Phoenix.