Welcome to
SACRED HEART
CATHOLIC CHURCH
406 s. hwy 37 Mount Vernon, TX
Diocese of Tyler
Pastor
Fr. Mark Dunne
Fr. Mark Dunne was born in Ireland in 1972. He received his early education at the local primary school in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. His secondary school education was at the local Carrick Vocational School. After graduating from the vocational school, he commenced his studies for the priesthood for the local Diocese of Elphin at St. John's College in Waterford City. Afterward, he was transferred to St. Patrick's College in Maynooth. In Maynooth, he completed his studies with a diploma in Pastoral Studies.
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After some time, he was invited by Bishop Edmond Carmody to come to the Diocese of Tyler. He arrived in May 1999 and began further studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston in August 1999. There he concluded in 2001 with a Master's in Theology. On September 8th, 2001, he was ordained a transitional deacon at St. Andrew's Church in Lufkin by Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio. Six months on March 9th, 2002 he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Corrada at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler.
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His first assignment was at St. Anthony's Church in Longview. Afterward, he was assigned to Holy Family Church in Lindale. Other assignments were at St. Mary's Church in Longview and St. Mathew's Church in Longview. His recent assignment was at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus in Union Grove/Gladewater while in charge of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Gilmer. He commenced his assignment here at Sacred Heart Church in Mount Vernon on July 1st, 2020.
Rev. Mark P. Dunne, a priest of the Diocese of Tyler and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Vernon, Texas, passed away on Aug. 4, 2023, in Tyler at age 50.
A Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Vernon on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m., with Bishop Joseph E. Strickland as the celebrant.
Father Mark was born on Aug. 19, 1972, in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Roscommon, Ireland, the son of Michael and Phyllis Dunne.
He studied for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary in Waterford and St. Patrick College in Carlow before coming to the United States in 1999 at the invitation of Bishop Edmond Carmody and completing his studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston.
Father Mark was ordained to the priesthood on March 9, 2002, by Bishop Alvaro Corrada, SJ, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler.
His priestly service included parochial vicar of St. Anthony Parish in Longview (2002-2007), administrator of Holy Family Parish in Lindale (2007-2011), priest-in-residence at St. Mary Parish in Longview (2011-2012), parochial vicar of St. Matthew Parish in Longview and administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Gilmer (2012-2013), pastor of St. Theresa in Union Grove and St. Francis of Assisi in Gilmer (2013 –2020), and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Vernon (2020-2023).
He also served as a member of the Presbyteral Council, dean of the Northwest Deanery, and chaplain at UT Health Center at Tyler.
He is survived by his brothers, Michel and Oliver, and his sister, Eimear.
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The Cathedral will stream the Funeral Mass on the Cathedral YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@iccathedral