November 1, 2023 marks Norm's 25th anniversary as Director of Music Ministries for the parishes of St. Joseph the Worker, having served for thirteen years at Word of God Parish, then nine years at St. Maurice Parish before being named Director of SJW at the foundation of the parish in 2020. Prior to his tenure at Word of God, Norm served in Protestant churches in Pittsburgh's North Side and North Boros, and since 2009, has been choir director at Temple David Synagogue in Monroeville.
Norm's career highlights include:
Norm also serves as the coordinator for Liturgical Ministers at SJW; scheduling Greeters, Altar Servers, Lectors, EMHC and Sacristans for service at all of our weekend and weekday Masses.
Norm lives in Forest Hills with his four-legged best friends, Simon and Garfunkel.
Church Musician
Karen Humphrey began playing daily masses at St. Helen’s Church in East Pittsburgh in 1965 at the age of 12. She continued throughout high school. In 1973, Karen became the main organist and choir director at St. Helen’s. She remained in that position until the church closed in 2014. In 2015, Karen was asked to be a part-time organist at Good Shepherd Parish and substituted regularly at St. Colman’s Parish. Both of these churches were part of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in 2020. Karen continued to play at both parishes as assistant to Norm Chapman, and is honored to continue in the rotation for the parishes of St. Joseph the Worker.
Professional Career
Karen graduated from Carlow College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 1974 and Duquesne University in 1978 with a Masters in Music Education. Karen was employed by the General Braddock School District for one year and the Franklin Regional. School District for 37 years. Teaching Elementary and Middle School General Music was so fulfilling. Highlights include over 30 musicals, hundreds of concerts, hosting Westmoreland County Chorus three times, and creating grants to enhance the music curriculum. Karen retired in 2013.
Fun Facts
After years of keeping the Slovak traditions alive at St. Helen’s Parish, Karen joined the Western Pa Slovak Day Committee in 2016. She quickly became the Secretary of the group and was asked to cantor the Slovak Day Mass at Kennywood. Since then, she has cantored the mass each year, and last year, put together a Slovak choir to sing at the annual mass. Love haluski and ceregi! Not to be outdone, Karen’s Scottish grandfather asked her about learning to play the bagpipes. In 1980, she took him up on the offer and started lessons. She was quickly a member of the MacDonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh and began competing in solo competitions. She met her Canadian husband, Mark, at a Scottish music workshop. Mark moved to Pittsburgh and continued to be the Lead Drummer in bands in PA and Ohio. Married in 1989, it soon became a family affair when Karen’s son, Colin, born in 1994, learned to play the Scottish snare drum. All three were in the Balmoral Pipe Band of Pittsburgh and
later in the Durham Regional Police Pipe Band of Ontario, Canada. All three continue to enjoy Celtic music!
Kelly Thompson began ringing in 1991 when she was a student at Good Shepherd School. After a couple of years, she took up as a teaching assistant for new ringers, helping them to learn how to read and count music as well as basic handbell techniques. She spent 8 years as a member of the Good Shepherd Bell Choir before she went to away to Seton Hill College in the fall of 2003. While at Seton Hill, she rang with the Seton Hill ringers for four years as well as continuing to come home to sub for the various bell groups. In the Fall of 2002, she was asked to take over responsibility for the newest handbell group of sixth grade ringers under the supervision of Herb Dillahunt.
After graduating from college, she moved away from home to accept a teaching position in Virginia. When she returned home, she was part of a small group of young adults who convinced Mr. Dillahunt to start the Alumni bell group, a group of advanced ringers that wanted to continue ringing bells beyond high school. She spent five years ringing both positions 7 and 11 with that group. When Mr. Dillahunt left Good Shepherd Parish in 2015, Kelly stepped up to take over leadership of the bell choir. Under her direction, the bell choir was continued to act as music ministers at Good Shepherd Parish, playing for masses and special events throughout the year.
During COVID, with the help of several sets of bells, the bell choir was able to continue ringing together while still social distancing. They were able to create several socially distanced music videos with the help of Norm and his creativity with video and audio editing skills. They even presented two livestreamed concerts during COVID.
Currently, the bell choir still plays for liturgies at various churches at St. Joseph the Worker Parish. They also act as a social outreach group that travels throughout the Pittsburgh area to play for a multitude of senior citizens groups, retirement homes, and other public events like the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival.
When she is not in front of the bell tables, Kelly is a full time English teacher with the Clairton City School District, teaching junior and senior English classes.