Born at Montmirail (Drôme), September 21, 1821
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, November 5, 1846
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, November 7, 1847 (no. 179)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, August 20, 1848
Died at Nancy, March 15, 1855.
Eugène Dorey was born at Montmirail, in the diocese of Valence, on September 21, 1821. On November 5, 1846 he entered the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier where he made his oblation on November 7, 1847. After a year of theological studies at the major seminary of Marseilles, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on August 20, 1848.
The day after his ordination, he was appointed master of novices at Nancy, a novitiate opened the preceding year during a vocation recruitment tour conducted by Father Léonard Baveux. In an August 22, 1848 letter, Bishop de Mazenod presented Father Dorey to Father Dassy in these terms: “I am sending Father Dorey to Nancy. He is a distinguished young man. He will replace Father Santoni in his function as Master of Novices. He made his apprenticeship at l’Osier and will spend some time with Father Santoni who will complete his formation. […] Father Dorey makes up for his youth in the priesthood with a great spiritual maturity, very good judgment and an exemplary piety.” (Letters to the Oblates of France, 1843 to 1849, Oblate Writings I, vol. 10, no. 986, p. 232) Father Dorey remained Novice Master until the closure of the novitiate at the beginning of 1850. Father Dassy who usually saw only the faults of the Oblates in his community never ceased praising the qualities and the virtues of the Master of Novices.
Father Dorey was sent as professor and spiritual director to the major seminary of Ajaccio at the beginning of the 1850 academic year. He remained at Ajaccio until the beginning of the summer of 1853. Father Magnan, the superior of the seminary, immediately recognized his worth. On November 25, 1850, he wrote to the Founder: “Father Dorey is excellent both as director and as a religious and I would like to make the most of his talent. This worthy priest will do us all good, I think.” Father Magnan often wrote Bishop de Mazenod and never ceased praising Father Dorey in every aspect. However, he felt sorry that his health was not very good.
In August of 1853, Father Dorey was appointed superior at Nancy. In several letters, Father Magnan expressed his regret at Father Dorey’s departure from Ajaccio. On December 26, 1853, he wrote that “this void will not be filled for a long time.” During the summer of 1854, an epidemic of cholera broke out in Nancy. The priests devoted themselves to ministering to the sick. In a letter of September 1, the Founder urged his priests to be careful. During Lent of 1855, Father Dorey took the place of Father Jeanmaire as prison chaplain where an epidemic of typhoid fever was raging. Father Dorey who was in poor health never let up ministering to the sick prisoners in the three prisons of the city and the hospital. He, in turn, was struck down by this illness and died on March 15, 1855. The following day, Father Conrard wrote to the Founder: “The example of the virtues he practiced will be the most precious heritage that he has left us.”
Forty priests, some seminarians and many of the faithful took part in the funeral celebrations. Father Jeanmaire wrote: “In less than two years, Reverend Father Dorey, without making a lot of noise, was able to gain the esteem, the affection and the sorrow of the clergy and the people in his passing.” In a March 19, 1855 letter, Bishop de Mazenod wrote to Father Conrard: “What news… I am overwhelmed. … What a blow after so many others! I have to drink the chalice to the dregs. May God give me strength to put up with it. If I were more virtuous, I would rejoice to see our little family provide heaven with such a large number of elect; for all our men die in the Lord’s peace in the midst of the most holy ministry, mostly the victims of their charity, true martyrs of this first of the virtues…” From Ajaccio, Father Magnan wrote that upon hearing the news of Father Dorey’s death, Bishop Casanelli d’Istria cried: “Heavens! What a loss for your Congregation! Everyone in this part of the country was hoping to see him again.” Father Magnan added: “As for myself who had the opportunity of getting to know him intimately, I would dare to say that I saw no faults in him and I do not know whether I ever met a priest and confrere of whom I could say more good than about him. Always in fine fettle with regards to his work and for God, he was unusually active, constantly forgetful of self, never paying any attention to his health. He had a humility that set his talents, his acquired knowledge and good education in bold relief. Oh, how I loved that priest! I do not recall having mourned any one of my confreres so deeply …”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
