Pascagoula-born Josephite Father William Norvel, 13th Superior General, Dies at 90

By Terry Dickson

The Very Rev. William Norvel, S.S.J., a Pascagoula native who became a pioneering leader among Black Catholic clergy in the United States and later served as the 13th Superior General of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, died Sunday, March 8, 2026. He was 90. Father Norvel was remembered not only for his leadership in the United States but also for mentoring young men in Nigeria, helping to nurture a new generation of priests to continue the Josephite mission.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1965, Father Norvel spent more than five decades serving Black Catholic communities across the United States as a pastor, teacher, author, and liturgical leader.

Born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, he maintained strong ties to his hometown throughout his life, including serving as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.

In 2011, Father Norvel made history when he was elected the 13th Superior General of the Josephites, becoming the first African American to lead the religious community of priests dedicated primarily to ministry among African American Catholics.

He was widely known for his leadership during the Black Catholic Movement, helping to foster the incorporation of African American spiritual traditions into Catholic worship. Father Norvel traveled extensively across the country, assisting parishes in establishing gospel choirs and strengthening vibrant liturgical life.

He also helped shape the landmark hymnal Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal, a resource that continues to enrich Catholic worship today.

Father Norvel’s ministry extended internationally as well. He helped establish a Josephite house of formation in Nigeria, where he guided more than 40 seminarians during his seven years there, helping to prepare priests who continue to serve in the United States and abroad.

One of the seminarians he mentored there was Father Joseph Benjamin, who first met him in 2000 at the Josephite formation house in Nigeria.

“He was more than a teacher,” Father Benjamin said. “He was a father, a mentor, and a guide. He made everyone feel welcome and made each person feel important.”

Father Benjamin said Father Norvel’s influence was also felt in parish life, particularly through liturgical music and youth ministry.

“He helped bring gospel choirs into the Church and was instrumental in shaping the hymnal Lead Me, Guide Me,” Father Benjamin said. “He touched lives not only here in the United States but also in Nigeria.”

Father Benjamin also recalled spending his first vacation in Pascagoula at Father Norvel’s invitation.

“The people welcomed me as one of their own,” he said. “From that moment, Pascagoula became like a home to me. I spent every vacation there until I was ordained.”

Father Kingsley Ogbuji, S.S.J., pastor of Corpus Christi–Epiphany Parish in New Orleans, said Father Norvel played a pivotal role in his own vocation and early formation in the Josephite community.

“Father Norvel was actually the Superior General when I entered the Josephites,” Father Ogbuji said. “He personally welcomed me into the community, and I came to know him as a man of great warmth, humility, and a truly good heart.”

He recalled one of his earliest experiences with Father Norvel as especially formative.

“Shortly after I joined, he took me on a trip from Washington, D.C., down through the South,” he said. “As Superior General, he personally drove me to Josephite parishes in places like New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama. Along the way, he didn’t just show me the parishes—he shared their history, offering details and stories about each one.”

“That experience really ignited a fire in me to become a Josephite,” Father Ogbuji said. “His focus was always on the poor and those who are struggling, and he was constantly thinking of ways to support and uplift them. That is the man I came to know in Father Bill Norvel, and I remain deeply grateful for his leadership of the Josephites.”

Father Dominic Njoku, S.S.J., pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, said he first encountered Father Norvel during his own formation.

“I first got to know Father Norvel in 2012 when I was admitted to the formation program,” Father Njoku said. “He was there—very humble—speaking to us about the community and the great need to serve.”

Father Njoku recalled a moment that left a lasting impression during his philosophy studies.

“One experience that really stayed with me was when he came back to visit us,” he said. “He attended one of our choir rehearsals, where I was singing the Responsorial Psalm. For the first time—and I think the only time—a superior or formator asked me, ‘Can I correct you?’ I was surprised, and so were the other brothers.”

After the rehearsal, Father Norvel offered gentle guidance.

“After I finished, he gently offered his correction,” Father Njoku said. “It completely shifted the tone and improved the sound. That moment left a deep impression on me.”

He said Father Norvel’s humility defined his approach to ministry and leadership.

“He was a very humble man, always ready to listen,” Father Njoku said. “He never turned anyone away. Whenever brothers came to him with questions or needed clarification, he was always willing to help, pouring out his heart in his mission.”

Father Njoku also offered words of consolation to Father Norvel’s family.

“To his family, I know this is a difficult time of grief,” he said. “But I encourage them to reflect on the good he was able to do—how he served God and saw Christ in those he ministered to. He traveled to many places, both within this country and beyond, all for the sake of Jesus.”

“I hope that brings them some consolation: that he served Jesus faithfully, and now he is with Him,” Father Njoku said.

Andrew “Jackie” Elly, former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver and a parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Pascagoula, remembered Father Norvel as a powerful spiritual leader and community builder. Elly himself had been the 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver—mirroring Father Norvel’s role as the 13th Superior General of the Josephites.

“He was a dedicated man of God and to his mission as a priest,” Elly said. “He was strong in that he fought for African American participation in the Church. I remember conversations with him when he visited—back in the early ’70s, when we still had the old church. He came and brought gospel music to St. Peter’s. He created the gospel choir and introduced songs and hymns we had never heard before, and he got more people involved. To me, he was a galvanizer.”

“Wherever he went, he brought people together, and people supported him in most places he went,” Elly said.

Elly also recalled a story Father Norvel shared from his early priesthood.

“I remember a story he told me about when he first became a priest,” Elly said. “His first assignment was in Natchez, Mississippi. He spoke out in favor of the African American community, and he had to leave in the middle of the night because he was afraid someone—like the Klan—might harm him.”

Elly said Father Norvel served as a role model for many.

“I think he’s a role model,” he said. “While we only had one other person go into the priesthood—Bishop Fisher—he was still a role model. He also inspired several nuns. Wherever he went, people felt the Spirit. That’s what he gave to this parish—the Spirit.”

He also remembered Father Norvel’s determination in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“I remember after Hurricane Katrina, when he came back,” Elly said. “I was one of the first people to see him. A cousin of mine and I were looking at the damage to the church when he arrived, looked around, and said, ‘Jackie, we’ve got to get this ready for church Sunday.’”

“We took chairs out of the rectory and set them up between the destroyed church and the rectory, and we had Mass outside,” Elly said. “He was determined not to miss a beat, and we never missed a Sunday. After that, we moved to the east side of the church under a big tent, because more people came than you could imagine. When people heard we were having Mass, they came.”

In a statement, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III said Father Norvel’s ministry left a lasting impact on the Church.

“Father William Norvel served the Church with deep faith, dedication, and pastoral care,” Bishop Kihneman said. “A native son of Pascagoula, he was a source of great pride for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and for the many communities he served throughout his priesthood.”

Bishop Kihneman also noted Father Norvel’s role in mentoring future clergy.

“Father Norvel also played an important role in the formation and mentoring of priests, including assisting in the formation of priests from Nigeria who would go on to serve the Church in the United States and beyond,” the bishop said. “His leadership, commitment to uplifting African American Catholic spirituality, and dedication to forming future priests will continue to inspire the faithful for generations to come.”

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

Pascagoula, Mississippi
March 26, 2026
Viewing: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM
Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church
1715 Telephone Rd
Pascagoula, MS 39567

Burial will follow at Gabriel Cemetery, located next to the parish.

In Lieu of Flowers
Donations may be made in Father Norvel’s honor to support the continuing mission of the Josephites and the apostolate he faithfully shepherded and loved. www.wesharegiving.org.