Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Fr. Dunn remained focused on Jesus
Fr. Dunn remained focused on Jesus
by Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published March 21, 2008
Detroit — Jesus Christ was never far from the mind and heart of Fr. Lawrence Dunn, and he would make Jesus the focus of every relationship, said his friends and family members.
"Friendships with him, and even acquaintanceships with him, were not superficial experiences," said Fr. Dunn's friend and classmate Fr. Joseph Gagnon. "He would take an interest in people's lives and their families, and how things were going — but never far from the conversation was the question of coming to the Lord and the central importance of that issue in people's lives." Fr. Dunn died March 13 in Florida, following a long illness. He was 72 and had served as a priest for 46 years.
Those who knew him described Fr. Dunn as someone with a love for his fellow man who was focused on Jesus.
"He was a very spiritual person," said his brother, Martin, with whom Fr. Dunn lived shortly before his death. "When he would give a homily, it was centered on Jesus."
Fr. Dunn was born May 3, 1935, in Detroit, one of eight children born to Charles and Josephine (McGovern) Dunn. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 3, 1961, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.
He later received master's degrees in divinity and theological studies from St. John's Provincial Seminary.
During his priestly ministry, Fr. Dunn served as an associate pastor at St. Clement Parish in Romeo from 1961 to 1964 and Most Holy Trinity Parish in Detroit from 1964 to 1968. He ministered from 1968 to 1972 at Our Lady of Lourdes Mission in Recife, Brazil; Cardinal John Dearden had established the mission in 1965 upon request from the Vatican.
In 1972, Fr. Dunn returned to the archdiocese. After serving for eight months as administrator of St. Alexander Parish in Farmington Hills, he was made pastor of St. Roch Parish in Flat Rock and served there until 1976.He then was administrator of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Port Huron — where he also served in ministry to the Spanish-speaking Northern Vicariate — from 1976 to 1981, and associate pastor at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in St. Clair Shores from 1981 to 1984.
Fr. Dunn was pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Yale from 1984 until 2001. From 2001 to 2003, he was pastor of St. Mary Burnside in North Branch and of Sacred Heart Mission in Brown City. He also served as chaplain at Yale Community Health Center. Fr. Dunn attained senior priest status in 2003 and moved to Florida.
Martin Dunn said his brother still stayed active in the priestly ministry after becoming a senior priest, celebrating Mass in Florida at a local parish, then at an assisted living facility as long as he physically was able.
Even just before his death, Fr. Dunn made an impact on the lives of people in his assisted living facility.
"The last couple of weeks, we would be visiting him and the staff were constantly coming in to see him and describing how he had touched their hearts," Martin said. "He just had that touch with people."
Martin recalled Fr. Dunn's love for travel, and his passion for his Irish roots. He said they had traveled to Ireland together, recalling how they thought they'd saw two ghosts while visiting their old family homestead.
In addition to traveling, Fr. Dunn also enjoyed reading both spiritual books and novels, and listening to Celtic music.
Martin also said that Fr. Dunn would keep in touch with former parishioners, writing them letters from Florida.
Fr. Gagnon said Fr. Dunn took "a very personal interest" in those he met, and he was personable.
"He was a very happy person," Fr. Gagnon said. "His humor would be subtle and wry. He was always friendly."
Fr. Dunn is survived by brothers James, John and Martin; sisters Mary Ellen, Josephine Moone and Anne Martus; sister-in-law Mickey; and several nieces and nephews.
His funeral Mass was Monday at Sacred Heart Church in Yale. Condolences may be sent to Martin Dunn, 27043 Popiel Road, Brooksville, Fla., 34602.
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