ABOUT US

Our mission is to continue Bishop Dorsonville’s legacy by advancing the work he started while he was here on earth. This includes bringing hope and necessity to the poorest communities and those without homes. Additionally, we advocate for hispanic immigrants and actively work to help them overcome adversity. Our mission also extends to promoting priest vocations, and support for seminarians. We strive to work with the same tireless energy that Bishop Dorsonville poured into his many ministries.

Formerly known as the DC homeless mission, the organization has been renamed to the Mario E. Dorsonville Foundation, in honor of the late bishop. The D.C. Homeless Mission was originally founded in 2013 by Bishop Dorsonville and is dedicated to serving unhoused individuals in the DC area. On a bi-weekly basis on Sundays, homeless mission participants visit various parks in the D.C. area, offering food, supplies, and friendship to those in need. Mission trip organizers bring an abundance of supplies for volunteers to distribute such as socks, coats, toothbrushes, hats, gloves, even tablets. We also serve hot chocolate and soup on cold days.

Mario E. Dorsonville was from Bogotá, Colombia and attended the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Bogotá. He was ordained to the priesthood on November 23, 1985 in Bogotá. Following ordination, he served in many roles within the Archdiocese of Bogota. Eventually, he came to Washington, DC and attended The Catholic University of America where he received a doctorate in ministry.

After receiving his doctorate in 1996, he served as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Bethesda, Maryland until 2004. Then, for the next ten years, he served as Vice President for Mission of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and Director of the Spanish Catholic Center. Additionally, one of the things he loved the most was serving as a mentor for newly ordained priests from 2010-2014 and as Adjunct Spiritual Director for St. John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Mario E. Dorsonville was named an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington by Pope Francis on March 20, 2015 and ordained to the episcopate on April 20, 2015. Bishop Dorsonville was a member of the Committee on Catholic Education and was Chairman for the Committee on Migration for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Pope Francis appointed Mario E. Dorsonville as Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana on February 1, 2023. He was installed on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.  On January 19, 2024, our beloved Bishop Dorsonville passed away due to health complications in the liver.