He made profession as a member of the clerical Congregation of the Passion on August 15, 1949, when he was 19 years old.

In 1976, Dorsey was elected to the General Council of the Passionists worldwide, and re-elected in 1982.

On March 20, 1990, Dorsey was appointed by John Paul II as the third bishop of the Diocese of Orlando.

Dorsey resigned as bishop of Orlando on November 13, 2004, upon reaching 75 years of age.

[citation needed]Norbert Dorsey died after a long battle with cancer in Orlando, Florida, aged 83.