John Edward Gunn S.M | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Natchez | |
 The coat of arms of Bishop Gunn (designed byP. de Chaignon la Rose) | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Bishop of Natchez |
| In office | August 29, 1911 – February 19, 1924 |
| Predecessor | Thomas Heslin |
| Successor | Richard Oliver Gerow |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | February 2, 1890 |
| Consecration | August 29, 1911 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1863-03-15)March 15, 1863 Fivemiletown,County Tyrone, Ireland |
| Died | February 19, 1924(1924-02-19) (aged 60) Natchez, Mississippi, United States |
| Motto | Monstra te essem matrem (Show yourself to be our mother) |
| Coat of arms |  |
John Edward Gunn (15 March 1863 – 19 February 1924) was an Irish-bornprelate of theCatholic Church. He served asBishop of Natchez from 1911 until his death in 1924.
The oldest of eleven children, John Gunn was born on March 15, 1863, inFivemiletown,County Tyrone, in Ireland to Edward and Mary (née Grew) Gunn.[1] From 1875 to 1880, he studied at St. Mary's College inDundalk, Ireland.[2] He then attended theMarist House of Studies inPaignton, England (1880–1882) before furthering his studies in Rome at thePontifical Gregorian University (1885–1890). While in Rome, Gunn made hisprofession in theSociety of Mary on August 23, 1884.[2]
Gunn wasordained to the priesthood in Rome byPatriarch Iulius Lenti on February 2, 1890.[3] He then returned to Dundalk to teach at St. Mary's. In 1892, Gunn immigrated to the United States to teachmoral theology at the Marist House of Studies atThe Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1]
In 1898, Gunn was assigned toAtlanta, Georgia, to become pastor of the newly erected Sacred Heart Parish.[2] The parish was already in debt when he arrived, as evidenced by an entry he made in hisledger upon his arrival: "September 25, 1898. Cash on hand $0.00. Advanced by Father Gunn, $150."[1] In February 1899, he advanced the parish an additional $360 to meet expenses.[1] He later purchased an organ and 21stained glass windows; installedconfessionals,furnace, carpeting, and achoir and organ gallery; covered the twotowers with copper; and added a second story to therectory.[1] During his pastorate at Sacred Heart, he also founded and served as the firstpresident of theMarist College, and established aparochial school.[2]
On June 29, 1911, Gunn was appointed the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Natchez byPope Pius X.[3] He received hisepiscopal consecration on August 29, 1911, from ArchbishopJames Blenk, with BishopsEdward Allen andJohn Morris serving asco-consecrators, at Sacred Heart Church.[3] Upon Gunn's arrival that September, the diocese contained 75 churches, 46 priests, and 17,000 Catholics.[4] He then began extensive pastoral visits to all the parishes andmissions throughout the diocese, which covered nearly 47,000 square miles.[2]
He received significant assistance from theCatholic Church Extension Society, andincorporated the diocese in 1918.[2] He became known as the "Chapel Builder," and by the time of his death, there were 149 churches and over 31,000 Catholics in the diocese.[4] In 1915, while attending the installation of ArchbishopGeorge Mundelein at Detroit, aGerman spy allegedly laced the soup at a banquet witharsenic, poisoning Gunn and four others, but Gunn survived.[4] Following the end ofWorld War I, he was considered for theArchdiocese of New Orleans, but he refused the efforts.[4]
By January 1924, his failing health left him in critical condition.[1] John Gunn died on February 19, 1924, in Natchez, from a heart attack[4] at age 60. He was buried beside his predecessor, BishopThomas Heslin.[1] In hiswill, Gunn states, "In life and in death I am proud of three things: My Irish birth, my Catholic faith, and my American citizenship. I tried to translate my love for all three into service and sacrifice".
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Natchez 1911–1924 | Succeeded by |
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