The following story first appeared in the Winter 1999 issue of Glenmary Challenge.  
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Father Daniel Dorsey
25 Years Since First Oath
By Jean Bach

While attending Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tenn., during the turbulent early 1970s, Dan Dorsey was looking for something to give his life to. His accounting major didn't seem to be the right path. He was introduced to Glenmary, and it seemed to be a perfect fit for him. He made his first profession to Glenmary 25 years ago.

Missionary life has been challenging and rewarding, he says, but it's the challenge Father Dan emphasizes. "You can't simply rely on being a priest—you have to be willing to go out and make things happen."

He got his chance to live that missionary life soon after ordination with his first assignment in Morehead, Ky. There he learned "that after all of the training, I really could do it (be a priest)." After spending time in Rome for further education and then serving as novice director for seven years, he received his first pastorate in Arkansas: St. Mark in Monticello and St. Luke in Warren. During those nine years,  Arkansas became "home" and parishioners "family," he says.

But he just didn't serve the Catholic community in Arkansas, he served the entire community. He was president of the Drew County United Way board of directors and of the County Ministerial Association and Oasis Homeless Shelter. He also worked at the Senior Citizen Center in Monticello delivering Meals on Wheels and helped establish a Boys and Girls Club in Monticello.

In 1993 he was named "Man of the Year" by the Drew County Chamber of Commerce.

In 1995  Father Dan was one of 22 Arkansans recognized by the state's Martin Luther King Jr. Commission for promoting racial harmony. When he first arrived in Monticello, he says, "I just started going to the black churches when I had a day off."

Another challenge was serving the Latino community—in Spanish. He celebrated a Spanish liturgy at St. Luke each weekend and ministered to the growing Latino community in the Monticello and Warren areas, while working to develop his fluency in Spanish.

This summer, his ministry took another turn when he was elected first vice-president of Glenmary and moved to Glenmary headquarters in Cincinnati. It's a new role, one he hopes to "bring wisdom and strength to, especially during these challenging and changing times."

He says he misses parish life though, "especially the diversity and the constant contact with families, young people and children." He plans to keep a hand in Spanish ministry, helping out in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the neighboring Diocese of Covington, Ky., and keeping up his study of the language.

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