Father James E. Dorson
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Father James E. Dorson, Tuesday, April 5, 10 a.m., at Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Virginia Beach. Father Dorson, 83, died Monday, March 7.
A native of Olean, New York, Father Dorson graduated from St. Paul High School, Portsmouth, before attending the Congregation of Holy Cross seminary in South Bend, Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Notre Dame before completing graduate studies at the Washington Theological Coalition.
Following priesthood ordination in 1977, Father Dorson served as associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament, Norfolk until late 1978. His next four assignments were pastorates: Holy Family, Virginia Beach (1978-1991); Holy Angels, Portsmouth (1991-1996); Star of the Sea, Virginia Beach (1996-2002) and St. Thomas More, Lynchburg (2002-2008).
While he retired in 2008, Father Dorson served as temporary administrator of Shepherd of the Hills, Quinque, and Holy Infant, Elkton, (2009-2010), and Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Hot Springs (2017-2018).