Brian Joseph Dunn

Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, Dunn was raised in the mining community of Buchans where he attended primary and elementary school before moving to the fishing community of Harbour Grace where he attended secondary school.

Dunn attended Memorial University of Newfoundland for one year before transferring to King's University College of the University of Western Ontario where he graduated with a BA in 1976. Dunn completed seminary formation at St. Peter's Seminary, graduating with a MDiv in 1979. Dunn undertook post-graduate studies and graduated with a JCL and JCD from St. Paul University in 1990 and 1991 respectively. He completed an MTh at University of Notre Dame in 2006.

Dunn was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Grand Falls on 28 August 1980, where he served as a Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor) at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Grand Falls-Windsor from 1980 to 1985.

Dunn then served as Pastor of St. Gabriel's Parish in St. Brendan's from 1985 to 1988, and then as Pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Grand Falls from 1991 to 1996. He was subsequently Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Harbour Breton from 1996 to 1999, followed by the position of Pastor for both Holy Cross Parish in Holyrood and St. Peter and St. Paul Parish in Harbour Main from 1999 to 2002.

Dunn served the Diocese of Grand Falls as Vice-Chancellor (1980–1996), Chancellor (1996–2008), Member of the College of Consultors (1991–2002), Bishop's Canonical Advisor (1990–2008), Judge for the Marriage Tribunal (1990–2008), and Associate Judicial Vicar of the Marriage Tribunal (2002–2008).

Dunn has also served a lecturer with the Atlantic School of Theology (1992–1999) for the Diploma Program for Theology and Ministry, lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law at St. Paul University (2003–2004, 2007), and served on the faculty at St. Peter's Seminary (2002–2008) where he taught courses in Canon Law, Ecumenism, Ecclesiology, and Liturgical Law; he served as Dean of Studies from 2005 to 2008.