FATHER RAY DUNMYER
Priest in Residence
We are happy to welcome Father Ray Dunmyer to Prince of Peace as a retired priest in residence. He comes to us from St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Montevallo, where he was the Pastor for the last thirteen years.
His favorite verse in Scripture is John 15:9. In that passage, Jesus speaks to the disciples at the Last Supper, as well as to you and to me: “As the Father loves me, so I love you. Live on in my love”. Father Ray believes that this is the essence of our faith -- that we receive God’s love, that we live in that love and that we share that love with all people.
Father Ray was born in Birmingham, attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School, and graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School. He earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of the Arts in Theology degrees from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA. He did further graduate studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh,
earning a Doctor of Ministry. He did additional post-doctoral studies while on sabbatical at North American College in Rome.
During his 45 years as a priest in the Diocese of Birmingham, Father Ray has served in parish ministry, campus ministry, and hospital ministry. He has also served the diocese as Director of Vocations, Director of Campus Ministry, and as Department Head for the Department of Pastoral Services. In addition, he has served on the Presbyteral Council and the College of Con sultors as well as on a number of other committees for the diocese. He currently serves on the Diocesan Property Committee and on the Board of the Defined Benefits Program for Retired Priests.
In addition to his service to our diocese, he has also published articles in several periodicals including The Priest Magazine, Living Prayer, and Catholic Digest. Father Ray has offered retreats, workshops and parish missions in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, too. Throughout his ministry, Father Ray has held a special interest in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. He belongs to several ecumenical groups, and he has participated in a number of interfaith groups and events including the “Interfaith Conversation” held here at Prince of Peace in January, 2017 with Rabbi Jonathan Miller, Imam Dr. Sameh Asal and Sister Mary McGehee, OSB. In his spare time, Father Ray enjoys travel and athletics. He is blessed with three wonderful sisters and brothers-in-law, four nieces and three nephews.