Irishman brings healing ministry to diocese
By RENEE WEBB, Globe associate editor
Posted April 18, 2002

Joe Dalton of Dublin once traveled the world as a renowned opera star. Today he continues his travels but does so out of a devotion to doing God's work through a healing ministry.

The Irishman will proclaim a message of healing and reconciliation at two parishes in the Diocese of Sioux City later this month. Joe Dalton: A Gift of Healing will be presented at 7 p.m., April 29, at St. Patrick's in Sheldon and 7:30 p.m., April 30, at St. Boniface in Sioux City.

Father John McGuirk, pastor of the Sheldon parish and organizer of the visit, pointed out that Dalton is known to be a good speaker and his message is in keeping with the church. The presentation comes with the approval of Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo as well as the Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Martin Drennan.

"Parishes have asked him back time and time again," said Father McGuirk, who heard great things about Dalton from several priests in the United States. "That is a clear sign when they are willing to have him return to a parish."

In addition to a successful professional singing career with the Dublin Opera Company, Dalton was the manager of the Irish International Telephone Exchange. Despite his professional success, he suffered from severe depression for over 30 years having been molested at the age of 12. He constantly asked for God's help.

His life was changed forever in the mid-1970s when he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. The depression was gone. He began to attend Catholic prayer meetings and share his testimony. As Dalton shared his story, people claimed they had been healed. As the word spread, more people came to him for healing prayers.

In time, his gifts and calling developed. Dalton felt more and more called to full-time ministry. He eventually left his job with the Irish government and his singing career that offered both monetary and social rewards.

With seven children, Dalton and his wife, Pat, relied on God. Times were tough in the beginning, but since then his healing ministry has taken root and spread over the years.

Dalton leads parish missions, healing services and retreats and speaks at charismatic conferences and Life in the Spirit Seminars in Europe, the United States and in other parts of the world.

"Healing ministries are rare," explained Father McGuirk. "One of the things this does is allows the gift of healing to be expanded and enable people to open up to it."

In Sheldon and Sioux City Dalton is expected to offer a presentation telling his personal story of healing and explaining how the Holy Spirit heals. During this time he will pray over the large group. A free-will offering will be taken followed by individual prayers of healing.

Dalton has stressed the fact that it is Christ who does the healing through his intercessory prayers.

While people tend to be attracted to physical healing, Father McGuirk said the healing service will place great importance on conversion of the heart and healing of the spiritual and emotional being. This, in turn, will open people up to physical healing.

Dalton appears to have greatest success in his prayers for people with back problems and arthritis.

"Healing services, I find, seem to give God permission to pour out his love over people," said the priest. "If people are open, they leave the Masses very happy and glad they were there."

Masses of healing and evangelization are held in Sioux City on a monthly basis and in Sheldon every third month.