CONWAY — Father George Spangenberg, CSSp, the new pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway, plans to use his experience in pastoral work, the military and education to lead the church to growth and expansion.
Father Spangenberg has been a priest for 31 years, having grown up north of Pittsburgh. He describes his priesthood over the years as one third pastoral work, one third military and one third education, both as a student and a teacher.
He attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he studied philosophy and English. After graduation, he began his novitiate training in Glenwood Springs, Colo.
He then attended graduate school at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Continuing on the path to ordination in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, Father Spangenberg spent a year in east Africa. He was ordained in 1976 in Detroit and began his first pastoral assignment in the New York City borough of Harlem.
“I went from a rural jungle in Africa to an urban jungle in Harlem,” he said.
After New York, he once again moved, this time to a rural area of North Carolina where he served as pastor to four small country parishes.
From there he began his teaching career. He taught English and history for three years at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, Pa.
Father Spangenberg said he decided to join the study of God with the study of history by obtaining a master’s degree in historical theology. He then taught at St. Francis De Sales School in East Chicago.
From there, he was called once again to serve in pastoral work and served at St. Mary Church in Pittsburgh, the church of his baptism.
“My mother was the choir director and for seven years I could look up in the balcony and see her there,” he said.
In 1992, Father Spangenberg joined the United States Navy and Marine Chaplain Corps. For the next 10 years, he served at various duty stations attached to Marine Corps units. His military service took him to Japan, Korea, the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia and locations within the United States, including Virginia, Washington state, and Hawaii.
“In Arkansas, I’ve been surprised by the how many people have had prior military service,” he said. “I think it really adds to the quality of people. They really know what service means.”
For the past three years, Father Spangenberg has served as a fundraiser and development officer for the Congregation of the Holy Ghost.
Now, he has returned to pastoral work as the pastor of St. Joseph Church.
Since this is the first time he has lived and visited Arkansas, Father Spangenberg has much to learn about the state, the community and the parish.
“My short-term goal is really a preoccupation with listening and learning from the people here,” he said. “I’m discovering the joy and efforts of the people and the long, rich history of St. Joseph.”
Looking to the future, Father Spangenberg said he wants to continue to grow and expand the church.
“We can always grow,” he said. “There is opportunity to reach the unchurched as well as continue to minister to the growing Hispanic population.”
His goal in pastoral work is reflected in the words of St. Augustine: to build the city of God within the city of man.
He said building a faith community is a primary purpose of a parish and he hopes to continue that long tradition started in 1878, when the Spiritan priests first came to Conway.
