By the time this issue of the 'Voice' goes to print, most OLPH parishioners will have had an opportunity to meet our new associate priest, Father Norm Supancheck. Many of our parishioners from the Hispanic community already know Father Norm, as he has been celebrating the 5:00 pm Spanish Mass, at OLPH, for some period of time now.

     Father Norm was born in Long Beach in 1942, and comes from a large family, having three brothers and three sisters, all of whom are native Californians. His father came to California from Nebraska, and his mother from Winnipeg, Canada. His parents settled in Long Beach, and remained in their first home throughout their married life. Father Norm's father has passed away, but his mother is still living, and resides in that same home in Long Beach. When asked about his brothers and sisters, Father states that "half have stayed close to home, but one sister is a nun, and is on assignment in Grand Rapids, Michigan, another sister lives in Redding, California, and a brother lives in Washington State."

     Father Norm speaks with fond respect of his parents, and their early life in Long Beach. His mother studied at Queen of Angels Hospital, and earned her nursing credentials, and subsequently worked in that profession. His father was in business for himself, and owned a sheet metal shop. While Father Norm was growing up, he learned the sheet metal trade while working in his father's shop. Father states, "I worked in the trade until I entered the priesthood, at which time I took a cut in pay."

     Father Norm received his early formal education while attending St. Barnabas Grade School, in Long Beach. Once he received his calling, he attended Queen of Angels Junior Seminary for four years of training. His education continued while attending St. John Seminary College, in Camarillo, followed by postgraduate work at St. John School of Theology. Father Norm was ordained in 1968, and celebrated his first Mass as a newly ordained priest, at St. Barnabas in Long Beach.

     Father Norm notes that he has spent all of his years as a priest assigned to parishes which are relatively near his place of birth. His first assignment was at St. Isabel Parish in East Los Angeles, and he was there for two and a half years. In 1970, Father was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Placentia. He was there for five years, and was reassigned to East Los Angeles, in 1975, at Resurrection Parish.

     From 1980 to 1988 Father was given the responsibility, by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, of 'Campus Ministry' at California State University, Los Angeles, and at East Los Angeles College. From 1988, until his recent move to OLPH, he has been assigned as Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fillmore, and San Salvador Church in Piru. Along with this, he has been celebrating Mass at Val Verde, and since last July, has been celebrating the Spanish Mass at OLPH. Father Norm is "excited" about having an opportunity to work more closely with the Spanish speaking community at OLPH.

     Father Norm is proficient in the Spanish language. He developed his basic knowledge of the language while attending an intense language course at Montezuma New Mexico Seminary. The course lasted for one month, and instruction was given sixteen hours a day, seven days a week. During the instruction period, the students were only allowed to communicate in Spanish. Father states that, "This instruction gave me an excellent base in the language, and since then I have worked much with Spanish speaking communities, extending my knowledge of the language."

     Father has taken on other and varied priestly assignments throughout his career. He has conducted youth retreats throughout the United States, South Africa, and Hawaii. These retreats are usually initiated by various archdioceses in the United States, and other countries, and experienced priests, like Father Norm, are contacted to actually supervise or conduct the retreat. Father Norm is also experienced at working with marriage encounter groups, and has worked with many of these throughout his career.

     Father Norm also has other interests and hobbies, one of which is amateur rocketry. While in college, he was involved in a school/student project to build and test fly a rocket of their own design. The project was never completed to the flight test stage, but Father feels strongly that had the rocket flown, it would have achieved some records. He also enjoys riding motorcycles, but has slowed down somewhat on this hobby since he had a bad accident in 1983. He still rides though, and is in the market for a bike presently. Father Norm is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, is presently a fourth degree knight, and has been a member since the early 1970's.

     Father would also like to share his favorite verse with the members of his new congregation, a congregation that he perceives as very good, and very active, and he is enthusiastic about this to support the continuation and growth of faith:

"I have come to give you life, and to give you life in the fullness." John 10:10
 
 

Copyright © 1997 Ted Spatrisano