Fr. Norman Fischer: A Tribute
I was a nervous 19-year-old in New Orleans running the media for a Catholic Camp. You were supposed to be 21 to work there, but they must have been desperate to find someone willing to push all the buttons, and this was my first week on the job.
As I quietly sat in my first all-staff meeting, a young priest walked in the door with the biggest smile I'd ever seen, rapping about something ridiculous. (The guy had bars.) With joy radiating from him, my nervousness started to quell. He's always been enthusiastic, artistic, and passionate about youth ministry. He often joked about how he was fluent in Teenager.
17 years later, we've gotten to work together and collaborate (including this series for YDisciple). When mining for stories for the National Eucharistic Congress this past July, I naturally texted Fr. Norm to see if he had any leads.
He quickly texted back and told me he was just getting back from Rome, but I should reach out to Colleen, who told me the story of her reconversion. Little did he know that her story centered on Fr. Norm himself, and his joy in consecrating the Eucharist.
The News
I was so excited to show Fr. Norm the video, complete with a linocut print by Kim Rivera.
When I arrived in Indy, I got a text from Colleen. Fr. Norm had passed away in his sleep the night before, just a couple days before the National Eucharistic Congress.
I'm heartbroken that I never got the chance to show Fr. Norm the video--one girl's story about the power of a quiet witness. But I have no doubt that he now witnesses Christ face-to-face in Heaven. I'm honored to tell just a little piece of his story.
I pray that I can be as full of joy, gentleness, and radical love. And whatever grief you and I are going through, whatever loss comes my way, I hope that I can spread the joy that Fr. Norm showed a nervous 19-year-old.
Keep Spreading Joy,
Cory H.