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BRONX TIMES REPORTER,6 MAY 14-20, 2021 BTR
Father Norton
leaving
St. Benedict’s
Father Stephen Norton is leaving St. Benedict’s. Photo by Jason Cohen
BY JASON COHEN
Born and raised in Boston, Father
Stephen Norton is a diehard Red
Sox fan. Yet, for the past 11 years he
has called St. Benedict’s Church in
Throggs Neck home.
However, like all good things, his
time here has come to an end. In July,
Norton is leaving the church for a six
month sabbatical as he studies for a
doctorate in ministry preaching.
He will miss the community, but is
ready for the next chapter in life.
“What I’m hoping to accomplish is
to be a resource for priests and others
in the Catholic Church,” he said.
“Preaching is so essential on Sunday.
The sermon should lift them up, especially
in this time with COVID-19 going
on.”
Norton, 61, came to the Bronx
in 2010 and quickly fell in love with
the neighborhood. The Father, who
has been involved with the Catholic
Church for 40 years, has been a priest
for two decades.
He graduated from Iona College,
was principal and later president,
of Kennedy Catholic High School in
Somers and taught at All Hallows
High School and Iona Prep.
According to Norton, many people
associate the Bronx with just fires and
crime. However, it’s much more than
that.
“The Bronx is a great tough place,
but it’s filled with wonderful people,”
he explained. “It’s really been a pleasure
to be in Throggs Neck.”
Whether it was seeing his parishioners
at the grocery store or talking
baseball, he loved his time at St.
Benedit’s. He noted he never switched
allegiances.
According to Norton, this past year
of the pandemic was the hardest of his
career.
“Each time I encountered families
and children in the parish it involved
a funeral,” he commented.
As he looks ahead to the next part
of his life, Norton has mixed feelings
about departing St. Benedict’s. While
he will miss the parishioners, he
knows this is an opportunity he could
not pass up.
“Hopefully I leave the people with a
positive example of a priest,” he said.
One person who Norton impacted
was Bob Nolan. Nolan, who is president
of the Northeast Bronx Senior
Center, which is part of the church,
told the Bronx Times he has gotten to
know Norton well over the years.
Nolan, of Morris Park, described
Norton as a “mensch” and a gem.”
“I am heartbroken as I have considered
Father to be a good friend,
outstanding Pastor and rising star
in the Church,” he said. “I really believe
that Father Norton has a bright
future in the Catholic Church.
They’re getting the Bronx has the
best to offer.”
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