John Edward Gunn S.M. (15 March 1863 – 19 February 1924) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Natchez in Mississippi from 1911 until his death in 1924. He was a member of the Society of Mary (Marists)
Early life
The oldest of eleven children, John Gunn was born on March 15, 1863, in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, in Ireland to Edward and Mary (née Grew) Gunn.[1] From 1875 to 1880, he studied at St. Mary's College in Dundalk, Ireland.[2] He then attended the Marist House of Studies in Paignton, England (1880–1882) before furthering his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University (1885–1890). While in Rome, Gunn made his profession to the Marists on August 23, 1884.[2]
Gunn was ordained to the priesthood for the Marists in Rome by Patriarch Giulio Lenti on February 2, 1890.[3] After his ordination, the Marists assigned Gunn back to Ireland to teach at St. Mary's College. In 1892, the Marists sent Gunn to the United States to teach moral theology at the Marist House of Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1]
In 1898, the Marists sent Gunn to Atlanta, 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 his ledger 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]
Gunn later purchased for Sacred Heart an organ and 21 stained glass windows He installed confessionals, furnace, carpeting, and a choir and organ gallery; covered the two towers with copper; and added a second story to the rectory.[1] During his pastorate at Sacred Heart, he also founded and served as the first president of the Marist College, a secondary school in Brookhaven, Georgia. He also established a parochial school.[2]
Upon Gunn's arrival in Natchez that September, the diocese contained 75 churches, 46 priests, and 17,000 Catholics.[4] He then began extensive pastoral visits to all the parishes and missions throughout the diocese, which covered nearly 47,000 square miles.[2]
He received significant assistance from the Catholic Church Extension Society in Chicago, Illinois, and incorporated the diocese in 1918.[2] He became known as the "Chapel Builder." By the time of his death, there were 149 churches and over 31,000 Catholics in the diocese.[4] In 1915, during World War I, Gunn attended the installation of Bishop George Mundelein as archbishop of Detroit. At a banquet dinner in that city after the ceremony a German spy allegedly laced the soup with arsenic. Gunn and four others suffered from poisoning, but he survived.[4] Following the end of World War I, the Vatican considered appointing him as archbishop of New Orleans, but he refused the efforts.[4]
Death
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 at age 60.[4] He was buried beside his predecessor, Bishop Thomas Heslin.[1] In his will, 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".
