Mario Eduardo Dorsonville-Rodríguez

Mario Eduardo Dorsonville-Rodríguez (October 31, 1960 – January 19, 2024) was a Colombian-born American Catholic prelate who served as the bishop of Houma–Thibodaux in Louisiana from March 2023 until his death in January 2024. He was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Washington in the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland from 2015 to 2023.

Biography

Early life Mario Eduardo Dorsonville-Rodríguez was born on October 31, 1960, in Bogotá, Colombia, to Carlos Dorsonville and Leonor Rodríguez. He studied for the priesthood at the Theological Seminary of Bogotá where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 1981 and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1985.

Priesthood On November 23, 1985, Dorsonville was ordained a priest at the Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá by Cardinal Mario Bravo for the Archdiocese of Bogotá. After his ordination, Dorsonville served as associate pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Bogotá until 1986, then as chaplain of the National University of Colombia until 1987. That same year, he was appointed pastor of San Jose de Calasanz Parish in Bogotá. Dorsonville was also associate chaplain and professor of ethics at National University. He completed a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá in 1991. Today I am here to echo the Holy Father’s message: to recognize that we must at all times, but particularly at this moment of great global turmoil, recognize the most vulnerable and welcome them to the extent we are able. On September 29, 2021, during a homily, Dorsonville asked parishioners to become actively involved in helping Afghan refugees.

Bishop of Houma–Thibodaux On February 1, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Dorsonville as bishop of Houma–Thibodaux. He was installed on March 29, 2023. Dorsonville died at the Ochsner Medical Center in Kenner, Louisiana, on January 19, 2024, due to complications from liver disease at age 63.