January 22, 2024

Note: Bishop Barry C. Knestout worked with Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, 63, for almost 25 years when they both served the Church as priests and auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Washington. Bishop Knestout was ordained a bishop in 2008. Bishop Dorsonville was ordained a bishop in 2015.

(RICHMOND, VA.)  “I’m saddened to learn the news of Bishop Mario Dorsonville’s untimely death. I offer my prayers for his family, his friends, and the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

“As priestly colleagues and in our episcopal ministries in the archdiocese, we worked together on a number of projects for the pastoral care of the people of Washington. I knew him as a good friend, a faithful priest, a capable past director of the Spanish Catholic Center and Vice President for Mission of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. He was a dedicated auxiliary bishop of the Church of Washington.

“He is remembered with affection and his passing is a significant loss for the Church. He will be dearly missed.

“I ask all in the Diocese of Richmond to offer prayers for fellow Catholics in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux that Christ and Our Lady will sustain them and provide divine consolation during this time. May he rest in peace!”

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