Joseph Thomas Dimino
- January 7, 1923
- November 25, 2014
- 91 years
About Joseph Thomas Dimino
Joseph Thomas Dimino, 91, American Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop for the Military Services (1991–1997).
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Full Biography
|Joseph Thomas Dimino (January 7, 1923 – November 25, 2014) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services USA from 1991 to 1997. Dimino previously served as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese from 1983 to 1991 and as a chaplain in the US Navy from 1953 until 1977.
Biography
Early life
Dimino was born in New York City on January 7, 1923. He attended Cathedral College, in Queens, New York, and St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York on June 4, 1949. After his ordination, Dimino served several parish assignments as parochial vicar:
- St. Joseph's in Spring Valley, New York, from 1949 to 1952
- St. Teresa's in Sleepy Hollow, New York, in 1952
- St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan from 1952 to 1953
US Navy
In 1953, Dimino entered the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. At that time, American Catholic priests serving as military chaplains were in a vicariate that was under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of New York. His service included the post of chaplain of the Catholic church at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, an American naval base in Japan from 1959 to 1961. During his naval service, Dimino received the National Defense Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the China Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
Dimino attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning a Master of Religious Education degree in 1962. After retiring from the Navy in 1977, he was appointed chancellor of the vicariate for the military chaplains. While chancellor, he participated in the creation of the Archdiocese of the Military Services to replace the vicariate.
Archbishop of the Military Service USA
On March 29, 1983, Dimino was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Military Services and titular bishop of Hyccarum by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on May 10. 1983, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan from Cardinal Terence Cooke, with Archbishop Joseph Thomas Ryan and Bishop Louis Edward Gelineau serving as co-consecrators. Following Archbishop Ryan's retirement on May 14, 1991, Pope Paull II appointed Dimino as the second archbishop for the Military Services.
As archbishop, he served over one million U.S. Catholics in all the armed forces, the Department of Veterans Affairs and those in government service overseas, and their dependents. In January 1993, Dimino he expressed his opposition to allowing LBGT persons to serve in the military to President Bill Clinton, saying that admitting gay men would have "disastrous consequences for all concerned."
While archbishop, Dimino added his support to a campaign started by Pope Paul II to eliminate the use of land mines. He made this statement:
Military necessity and the need to protect one's troops...are not the only or even the overriding considerations in judging the morality of the continued use of antipersonnel landmines...A renunciation of U.S. use of landmines...could contribute to efforts to achieve an international ban on these weapons.
Retirement
Pope Paul II accepted Diminos resignation as archbishop of the military services for health reasons on August 12, 1997. He went to live in a community run by the Little Sisters of the Poor order in Washington, D.C. Joseph Dimino died on November 25, 2014, in Washington.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Thomas_Dimino
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Joseph Thomas Dimino's archived record and the sources above.
1.Where was Joseph Thomas Dimino born?
- A.Washington, D.C.
- B.Queens, New York
- C.New York Citycorrect
- D.Yonkers, New York
Joseph Thomas Dimino was born in New York City on January 7, 1923.
Source: Early life section
2.When was Joseph Thomas Dimino ordained to the priesthood?
- A.March 29, 1983
- B.May 10, 1983
- C.June 4, 1949correct
- D.November 25, 2014
Joseph Thomas Dimino was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York on June 4, 1949.
Source: Early life section
3.Which institution did Joseph Thomas Dimino attend for his higher education in Washington, D.C.?
- A.Georgetown University
- B.Cathedral College
- C.Catholic University of Americacorrect
- D.St. Joseph's Seminary
Joseph Thomas Dimino attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Master of Religious Education degree in 1962.
Source: US Navy section
4.During which years did Joseph Thomas Dimino serve as a chaplain in the US Navy?
- A.1949–1952
- B.1991–1997
- C.1983–1991
- D.1953–1977correct
Joseph Thomas Dimino served as a chaplain in the US Navy from 1953 until 1977.
Source: Introduction
5.Which of the following medals was awarded to Joseph Thomas Dimino during his naval service?
- A.Legion of Meritcorrect
- B.Purple Heart
- C.Navy Cross
- D.Silver Star
During his naval service, Joseph Thomas Dimino received the National Defense Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the China Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
Source: US Navy section
6.At which naval base did Joseph Thomas Dimino serve as a chaplain from 1959 to 1961?
- A.Naval Station Pearl Harbor, USA
- B.United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japancorrect
- C.Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy
- D.Naval Base San Diego, USA
Joseph Thomas Dimino served as the chaplain of the Catholic church at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, an American naval base in Japan, from 1959 to 1961.
Source: US Navy section
7.What position did Joseph Thomas Dimino hold immediately after retiring from the US Navy in 1977?
- A.Archbishop of the Military Services
- B.Chancellor of the vicariate for military chaplainscorrect
- C.Parochial vicar of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
- D.Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York
After retiring from the Navy in 1977, Joseph Thomas Dimino was appointed chancellor of the vicariate for the military chaplains.
Source: US Navy section
8.On what date was Joseph Thomas Dimino appointed as auxiliary bishop for the Military Services?
- A.August 12, 1997
- B.June 4, 1949
- C.May 14, 1991
- D.March 29, 1983correct
On March 29, 1983, Joseph Thomas Dimino was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Military Services by Pope John Paul II.
Source: Archbishop of the Military Service USA section
9.Who served as the primary consecrator for Joseph Thomas Dimino's episcopal consecration?
- A.Pope John Paul II
- B.Archbishop Joseph Thomas Ryan
- C.Bishop Louis Edward Gelineau
- D.Cardinal Terence Cookecorrect
Joseph Thomas Dimino received his episcopal consecration on May 10, 1983, from Cardinal Terence Cooke.
Source: Archbishop of the Military Service USA section
10.What role did Joseph Thomas Dimino serve from 1991 to 1997?
- A.Parochial vicar in Spring Valley
- B.Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York
- C.Archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services USAcorrect
- D.Chancellor of the military vicariate
Joseph Thomas Dimino served as archbishop for the Archdiocese of the Military Services USA from 1991 to 1997.
Source: Introduction
11.To which president did Joseph Thomas Dimino express opposition regarding LGBT individuals serving in the military?
- A.Barack Obama
- B.George H.W. Bush
- C.Ronald Reagan
- D.Bill Clintoncorrect
In January 1993, Joseph Thomas Dimino expressed his opposition to allowing LGBT persons to serve in the military to President Bill Clinton.
Source: Archbishop of the Military Service USA section
12.What specific type of weapon was the subject of the campaign Joseph Thomas Dimino supported?
- A.Nuclear missiles
- B.Chemical weapons
- C.Cluster bombs
- D.Antipersonnel land minescorrect
Joseph Thomas Dimino added his support to a campaign to eliminate the use of antipersonnel land mines.
Source: Archbishop of the Military Service USA section
13.Why did Pope Paul II accept the resignation of Joseph Thomas Dimino in 1997?
- A.Disagreement with the Vatican
- B.Transfer to another diocese
- C.Retirement age reached
- D.Health reasonscorrect
Pope Paul II accepted the resignation of Joseph Thomas Dimino as archbishop of the military services for health reasons on August 12, 1997.
Source: Retirement section
14.Where did Joseph Thomas Dimino live after his retirement?
- A.The Archdiocese headquarters in Virginia
- B.A rectory in New York
- C.A private home in Sleepy Hollow
- D.A community run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, D.C.correct
After retiring, Joseph Thomas Dimino went to live in a community run by the Little Sisters of the Poor order in Washington, D.C.
Source: Retirement section
15.On what date did Joseph Thomas Dimino die?
- A.May 14, 1991
- B.January 7, 1923
- C.November 25, 2014correct
- D.August 12, 1997
Joseph Thomas Dimino died on November 25, 2014, in Washington.
Source: Retirement section
16.Which parish was Joseph Thomas Dimino assigned to in 1952?
- A.St. Joseph's in Spring Valley
- B.Cathedral College
- C.St. Teresa's in Sleepy Hollowcorrect
- D.St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
Joseph Thomas Dimino served at St. Teresa's in Sleepy Hollow, New York, in 1952.
Source: Early life section
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