Retired in Residence - Monsignor Norm Prieb

I was born in Kearney, Nebraska, the oldest of five children of Earl and Pauline Priebe. My early years of elementary school took place in Marion, Kansas where I attended the local public school. I remember that a few Catholic families banded together to build the first Catholic church in Marion, named St. Mark, where I was privileged to serve Mass each morning. My later attendance of Catholic schools and serving Mass with faith-filled priests was a primary inspiration toward entering the seminary. My parents were the greatest inspiration by their deep faith and love for the Church. My sense of vocation was that I wanted to help people by my life, and I thought the greatest way I could help people was in their relationship with God.

My seminary years were spent at Our Lady Queen of Angels High School in San Fernando, St. John’s College and St. John’s Theology in Camarillo. My greatest memory at St. John’s was the experience of the Second Vatican Council which coincided with my theology years. It was a wonderful time of seeing the working of the Holy Spirit to renew the Church. I was ordained to the priesthood on April 29, 1967 at St. Vibiana Cathedral in Los Angeles, by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre. The vision and teaching of the Second Vatican Council guided the unfolding of priestly ministry for my classmates and me, and in a special way the renewal of the liturgy of the Church. The Council’s call for lay men and women to fulfill their baptismal call and take an active role in Church life was also a major emphasis for my work, and a most exciting aspect of my priestly life.

My assignments as Associate Pastor were to St. Charles Borromeo Church, North Hollywood (1967 – 1972); St. Joseph Church, Pomona (1972-1975), where I also taught at Pomona Catholic High School; Church of the Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills (1975-1979); Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Pasadena (1979-1984); and St. Monica Parish, Santa Monica (1984-1991). I received my first assignment as Pastor to Church of the Holy Angels, Arcadia (1991-2003); and then Pastor of St. Jerome Church, Los Angeles (2003-2015). 

My great enjoyments have been in working with youth, parents, seniors, with children in the parish schools and religious education programs, and with interfaith groups.  I believe that celebrating the Eucharist and being present in the sacrament of Reconciliation were of the greatest importance for those I served. On days off, I have enjoyed the “great out-of-doors,” jogging, hiking, occasional movies, visiting with my family, time with brother priests, reading and music. I enjoy sports (perhaps too much), watching Notre Dame, the “Cornhuskers” of Nebraska, some NFL and the Dodgers. I play a little golf, with very humbling results!

St. Dorothy welcomed me as a “retired priest” in June of 2015. I have enjoyed my years here, serving with the people of this wonderful parish. I was privileged to walk a portion of the Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2016 and lead a pilgrimage tour of the Holy Land in 2018. I am grateful to the wonderful parishioners of St. Dorothy!