John Dolan was born on June 8, 1962, in San Diego, California, to Catherine and Gerald Dolan, the seventh of nine children. Dolan attended the School of the Madeleine in San Diego and University of San Diego High School. After graduating from high school in 1981, Dolan decided to become a priest. He enrolled in St. Francis Seminary, a house of formation on the University of San Diego (USD) campus.[1][2]
On July 1, 1989, Dolan was ordained a priest at San Rafael Church in Rancho Bernardo, California, for the Diocese of San Diego by Bishop Leo Maher.[1][3] The diocese assigned Dolan as an associate pastor at St. Michael’s Parish in San Diego. He was transferred in 1991 to Santa Sophia Parish in Spring Valley, California, to serve as associate pastor there.[1][4] He was named director of vocations for the diocese in 1992.[4]
Dolan was appointed pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Oceanside, California, in 1996. He left St. Mary in 2001 to serve as pastor for one year at St. Michael's Parish in San Diego. In 2002, Dolan become pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Chula Vista, California. After 12 years at St. Rose, Dolan was transferred in 2014 to be pastor at Saint Michael's Parish in Poway, California. Bishop Robert W. McElroy named Dolan as episcopal vicar for the clergy in 2016.[5]
Dolan has lost three siblings and a brother-in-law to suicide. In 2022, he established an office for Mental Health Ministry in the diocese.[9] In 2023, Dolan spent 12 days in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, visiting charitable projects that received USCCB financial support. [10]
Dolan serves as chaplain to the National Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and is the co-editor of two books written by the association on suicide: