January 27, 2025

Obituary – Father Ralph DiOrio, the “healing priest” from Worcester

REGIONAL
The Catholic Free Press, Worcester

Father Ralph DiOrio (photo courtesy The Catholic Free Press , Diocese of  Worcester)

WORCESTER – Father Ralph Anthony DiOrio Jr., 94, referred to as the “healing priest,” the founder and director of the Apostolate of Divine Mercy and Healing, passed away on Monday, Jan 20 at Life Care Center of Auburn.  He was a priest for 68 years.

Father DiOrio was born in Providence, R.I., on July 19, 1930. He was one of three children of the late Ralph Anthony DiOrio, Sr., and Ismalia “Mollie” (Pazienza) DiOrio. His closest relatives include his sister, Jude Ann DiOrio, a brother Louis DiOrio and his wife Mary, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and an abundance of other relatives and friends throughout the world.  

At age 15, Father DiOrio entered the minor seminary of the Missionary Fathers of St. Charles in Chicago, Ill. In 1949 he entered the Immaculate Conception Novitiate in Staten Island, N.Y., and professed his first religious vows on Oct. 7, 1950.  

Father DiOrio received a bachelor’s degree from St. Charles Seminary, and continued on to the Sacred Heart Seminary in Melrose Park, Ill., where he completed four years of sacred theology.  

He was ordained a Missionary Father of St. Charles on June 1, 1957, in Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, and served in parishes in Illinois, Ontario, Canada, Ohio and New York.  

In 1961, he was given the job of assistant master of novices at the Immaculate Conception Novitiate, located in Cornwell, N.Y., where he taught at nearby West Point Army Academy.

He came to the Diocese of Worcester on March 29, 1968 and served as associate pastor at the parishes of St. Anna, Leominster; Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Ann, Worcester; Our Lady of Loreto, Worcester; St. Bernard, Fitchburg, and St. John, Worcester.  

In 1972, Father DiOrio received a master’s degree in education and psychology from Fitchburg State College, along with supplemental training in social work psychology. He furthered his studies at the University of Ponce in Puerto Rico and at Worcester State University.  

After his incardination as a diocesan priest in 1973 he was named associate director of the diocesan Spanish-speaking apostolate.  

Father DiOrio established and directed the Apostolate of Divine Mercy and Healing, a non-profit charitable organization which continued for over 40 years.  

The highlights of Father DiOrio’s career are numerous and included an open-air service in India, where 250,000 were in attendance. Other services took him to Mexico, most of North America, Europe, India, the West Indies, the Leper Colony in Molokai, Hawaii, and the Pacific. He also drew large crowds to the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall and Las Vegas. His philanthropic endeavors helped build a Children’s Hospital in Alleppey, India and a chapel for the nuns in St. Lucia. He was fortunate to have had five encounters with St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Kolkata.  

Father DiOrio’s holistic ministry of healing has been recognized and promulgated throughout the world. Stories about his ministry have appeared in newspapers and magazines, on radio and on national television. He was also an author of 11 books, numerous pamphlets, and had an extensive media ministry and website.

In 1980 his biography, The Man Beneath the Gift, written with Donald Gropman, was published by William Morrow & Co.  

In 1992, Anna Maria College in Paxton, acknowledged him with an honorary doctorate in the humanities. Because of his religious and humanitarian work, he received numerous honors and awards.
 
Visitation will be at St. Joseph Church, 10 H. Putnam Road Ext., Charlton from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28 with a vigil service at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated by Bishop McManus on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 11 a.m. in the church. A private burial will follow.