DiLorenzo returned to the United States to work at Saint Pius X High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania as a chaplain and teacher of theology.

He later served as chaplain and associate professor of moral theology at Immaculata College in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania.

[2] In 1994, Bishop Joseph Ferrario of the Diocese of Honolulu requested that the Holy See accept his resignation due to poor health.

Pope John Paul II appointed DiLorenzo as apostolic administrator of the diocese, while still serving in Scranton, on October 12, 1993.

[5] At the 2002 convention of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), DiLorenzo spoke in favor of tighter restrictions on priests accused of sexual abuse of minors.

The new policy, adopted by the USCCB, prohibited accused priests from interacting with parishioners, but allow them to remain in the priesthood.

[9] Upon his installation, DiLorenzo reactivated the diocese's liturgical commission and named Father Russell Smith parochial vicar at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in New Kent County as diocesan theologian, a post that had been vacant since 1998.

[10] As theologian, Father Smith would examine for conformance to Catholic teaching all draft documents and issue approvals authorizing the publication of all printed materials generated by the diocese.

DiLorenzo noted that these kinds of checks and controls were needed because, he alleged, some people in the diocese were used to living outside the traditional boundaries of Catholicism.

Bishop DiLorenzo forcibly retired Father Thomas J. Quinlan, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Virginia Beach for a history of using offensive language during mass.

But DiLorenzo responded that he is only 25 minutes away from the diocesan offices and that the move saved the diocese money: "Do I need to live in a three-story building by myself?

[15] DiLorenzo appointed Father Salvador Anonuevo, pastor of Saint Luke Parish in Virginia Beach, as the new center administrator.

Francis DiLorenzo died from heart and kidney failure on August 17, 2017, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, at age 75.