Brother James Aloysius Dorazio

Brother James Aloysius Dorazio, OSFS passed from this life on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, OH of natural causes. He was 88 years old and in his 66th year of religious life as an Oblate.

Brother James will be remembered by his brother Oblates, his family, and the many people he served in ministry as a man of faith, with a great devotion to prayer and the sacraments. He was also a cherished teacher and minister in the schools in which he served. He is most famous for running the bookstore, The Brother James Ram Center, named after him at St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, CA. Brother James provided everything from school supplies, clothing, snacks, to helium balloon birthday bouquets. He was a man of the earth and loved caring for his garden, especially his many rose bushes.

Brother James was born in Minersville, PA to Emidio and Mary (Martin) both deceased. He is predeceased by his brothers Louis, Michael (Marian) and Joseph, and his sisters, Phyllis Orlawsky, and Anna (Victor) Lepere. Surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Brother James attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School and Minersville High School. His graduate work took place at Catholic University, University of Utah, he Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Rome, University of Stockton, CA, Spring Garden Institute of Technology, and the Gregorian Institute of America.

Brother James entered the Oblates in 1954 and made his first vows on June 18, 1956. He professed his final vows on June 18, 1961.

While studying in Rome (1962-1963), Brother James lived at the Oblate Generate and assisted the Superior General, Fr. Buckley, OSFS. He also was the music director and director of the grounds at the Oblates Novitiate in Childs, MD (1956-1962) and Battle Creek, MI (1969-1972). His teaching experience occurred at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, UT, (1963-1969), St Francis High School, Toledo, OH (1971-1972), and St. Mary’s High School, Stockton, CA (1972-2018).

A colleague of Brother James from St. Mary’s High School wrote of him, “In the words of St. Francis de Sales, ‘A good vocation is simply a firm and constant will to serve Almighty God in the way and in the places to which He has called us. Let us be what we are and be it well! That is what God wills for us.’ Brother James Dorazio lived this and was an example to all of us.”

The funeral services will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 2950 Ilger Ave, Toledo, OH 43606 on Thursday, October 20, 2022. Visitation will take place from 2:00 pm to 3:20 pm. The Eucharistic liturgy will begin at 3:30 pm. Interment will be 9:00 am, Friday, October 21, 2022, at Resurrection Cemetery, 5725 Hill Ave. Toledo, OH 43615.

Donations in memory of Brother James may be made to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, P.O. Box 2868, Toledo, OH 43606, or our website at: www.oblates.org