February 26, 2026

OBITUARY: Father Henry Dorsch

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – Father Henry Lawrence Dorsch, 84, of the Ordination Class of 1968, died Thursday Feb. 18. He was a priest of the Diocese of Springfield for 57 years.

Father Dorsch was born in New York, N.Y. in 1941, the son of the late Lawrence Dorsch and Mary (Fischer) Dorsch. He attended Smith Academy in Hatfield, Mass., 1955-1959; the University of Massachusetts in Amherst 1959-1961; and the School of St. Philip Neri in Boston, 1961-1962.

Father Dorsch entered priestly formation at St. John Seminary in Brighton in 1962 and was ordained May 11, 1968 at St. Mary Parish in Northampton.

Father Dorsch served as assistant pastor at St. Brigid Parish in Amherst; Notre Dame Parish in Easthampton and St. Mary Parish in Northampton. He served as pastor of Annunciation Parish in Florence, 1984-1994. In 1994, he was named pastor at St. Mark Parish in Pittsfield. From 2003 to his retirement in 2019, he served as pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Southwick.

Father Dorsch was a faculty member at the former Cathedral High School in Springfield. He served on the Presbyteral council from 2012-2014 and from and 2024-2026. He served as the director of the Christian Life Center in Northampton. Father Dorsch was involved with the Board of Youth Ministry, helping to organize Teen Encounter Christ retreats. he was also the chaplain for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and worked to bring healing Masses to different churches. In recent years he helped with Life in the Spirit Seminars as well as with the Faith on Fire revivals held each summer. 

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his niece Marie LaPlante, and nephew Peter Brooks. He is survived by his sister, Mathilda “Millie” Brooks of Huntington, his niece, Linda Lastowski, his nephews, Michael and Christopher Brooks, and David Tatro, also several great nieces and nephews.

Public visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 27 from 9-10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Northampton, followed by Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m.