Reverend
Reverend O.Praem.
d. March 1, 2017
d.February 26, 2017
Reverend Francis Dorff, O.Praem., age 82, born in in Philadelphia, PA, to Milton and Mary (Donohue) Dorff, a member of the Norbertine Community of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, Albuquerque, NM, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on February 26, 2017. Father Dorff is survived by his Norbertine Community, a whole host of nieces and nephews, and by countless people who have benefitted from his wise and listening heart.  He was preceded in death by his parents and twelve brothers and sisters.
In 1957, Father Dorff graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI with a B.A. in Philosophy and Classics.  He received an S.T.L. from the Gregorian University in Rome (1961), and an S.T.D. from the Institut Catholique in Paris (1965), and did post-doctoral fellowships at Union Theological (1967), Berkeley (1974), and the University of Chicago (1978).
He taught philosophy and theology at St. Norbert College (WI), Rosemont College (PA), and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  He was the Founder-Director of the Institute of Religion and Culture and the Emmaus House of Prayer as well as Vocation and Formation Director at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, PA.  For many years he offered workshops and retreats in the Intensive Journal Method developed by Dr. Ira Progoff.  He is the author of eight books and many articles.
Fr. Dorff moved to New Mexico in 1988 and served as a spiritual director and teacher in the Renewal Program for Priests sponsored by the Paraclete Fathers in Jemez Springs, NM.  He became a member of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey in the late 1990s where he lived a deeply contemplative life in a hermitage, and continued to write, do spiritual direction, and guide meditative writing retreats at the Norbertine Spirituality Center.
Reception of the Body, Vespers of the Dead, and a Vigil will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, 5825 Coors Blvd. SW, Abq.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 3, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Abbey Church with Abbot Joel Garner, O.Praem., presiding.  Burial will follow immediately in the Norbertine Abbey cemetery.  Memorial gifts can be contributed to the Norbertine Seminary Education Fund.
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Thank You
the Gabaldon Family and Staff
Reverend Francis Dorff, O.Praem., age 82, born in in Philadelphia, PA, to Milton and Mary (Donohue) Dorff, a member of the Norbertine Community of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, Albuquerque, NM, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on February 26, 2017. Father Dorff is survived by his Norbertine Community, a whole host of nieces and nephews, and by countless people who have benefitted from his wise and listening heart.  He was preceded in death by his parents and twelve brothers and sisters.
In 1957, Father Dorff graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI with a B.A. in Philosophy and Classics.  He received an S.T.L. from the Gregorian University in Rome (1961), and an S.T.D. from the Institut Catholique in Paris (1965), and did post-doctoral fellowships at Union Theological (1967), Berkeley (1974), and the University of Chicago (1978).
He taught philosophy and theology at St. Norbert College (WI), Rosemont College (PA), and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  He was the Founder-Director of the Institute of Religion and Culture and the Emmaus House of Prayer as well as Vocation and Formation Director at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, PA.  For many years he offered workshops and retreats in the Intensive Journal Method developed by Dr. Ira Progoff.  He is the author of eight books and many articles.
Fr. Dorff moved to New Mexico in 1988 and served as a spiritual director and teacher in the Renewal Program for Priests sponsored by the Paraclete Fathers in Jemez Springs, NM.  He became a member of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey in the late 1990s where he lived a deeply contemplative life in a hermitage, and continued to write, do spiritual direction, and guide meditative writing retreats at the Norbertine Spirituality Center.
Reception of the Body, Vespers of the Dead, and a Vigil will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, 5825 Coors Blvd. SW, Abq.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 3, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Abbey Church with Abbot Joel Garner, O.Praem., presiding.  Burial will follow immediately in the Norbertine Abbey cemetery.  Memorial gifts can be contributed to the Norbertine Seminary Education Fund.
to sign the guest book please scroll down
Thank You
the Gabaldon Family and Staff
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