Clergy
Fr. Pat Rudolph
Pastor
Fr. Pat Rudolph was born April 2, 1959 at Camp Pendleton, California, the fifth of six children of Philip and Pauline Rudolph. He has four sisters and one brother. His mother, Pauline, passed away in 2007. His father lives in Tustin. Fr. Pat grew up in a Marine family. He attended five different elementary schools and two high schools. Fr. Pat graduated from University High School in Irvine in 1977, and from Cal State Fullerton in 1981.
In 1982, Fr. Pat entered St. John’s Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1988. His parish assignments include: Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Habra (1988 – 1992); St. Justin Martyr, Anaheim (1992 – 1995); and Holy Family Cathedral, Orange (1995 – 2000) In 2000, Bishop Brown asked Fr. Pat to be “on loan” to the Diocese of Las Vegas where he served the Parishes of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary and St. Peter the Apostle. In 2003, Fr. Pat was appointed Pastor of St. Irenaeus in Cypress. And, now in 2009, Bishop Brown has asked Fr. Pat to serve as pastor of St. Norbert’s in Orange. God has richly blessed him with this opportunity and Fr. Pat asks for your prayers as he journeys together with the parish community of St. Norbert.
Fr. Agustín Escobar
Parochial Vicar
Fr. Agustín Escobar was born in Medellin, Colombia, on April 18, 1954. He is the youngest of eighteen children; his holy parents passed away when they were just fifty-seven years old. Of the eighteen siblings, four are priests and two are nuns. Fr Agustín studied Philosophy in Navarra, Spain for two years and Theology in Colombia. He has been serving in the Diocese of Orange since 1996. Father says he is very quiet and loves silence, although he enjoys watching and playing soccer and other sports. In his quiet time he enjoys reading the Bible and books about Buddhism and eastern wisdom. Three years ago in India, he found the treasure of meditation, a great support for his personal and priestly life, and for all those in search of a deeper experience of God in their lives. Fr. Agustín is very grateful to Fr. Pat and Fr. Benedict and to the community of Saint Norbert for welcoming him with such kindly fraternity which makes this parish a piece of heaven in Orange County.
Fr. Benedict Yang
Parochial Vicar
Fr. Benedict Yang was ordained to the priesthood in June 2007 and was assigned to St. Norbert Parish as Parochial Vicar. Fr. Benedict attended the University of California, Irvine, for three years before entering Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon in 2000. He completed his seminary studies at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, CA from 2002 – 2007.
Fr. Benedict was born in Korea, the fourth of five children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Yang. The family immigrated to the United States in 1989. He attended Temple City High School. Fr. Benedict is fluent in English and Korean and proficient in Spanish as well. In his leisure time, Father enjoys tennis, basketball, hiking and camping.
Fr. Gordon Moreland
SJ, Sunday Asst.
Father Gordon Moreland, S.J. is a member of the Jesuit Order. He currently serves as the Director of the House of Prayer for Priests in the Diocese of Orange
Joe Esparza
Deacon
Deacon Joe Esparza is a fifth generation Californian born and raised in Orange County. He attended Catholic elementary schools and graduated from Holy Family School, Orange High School and Claremont McKenna College with a degree in History.
Deacon Joe and his wife, Barbara, have been married for 34 years and have one son Damian, who lives in San Diego.
Deacon Joe was ordained in the Diocese of Orange in 1999. His first assignment was Holy Family Cathedral, serving in the ministries of Baptism Coordinator, Funeral Vigils, Preaching, Marriages and various Sunday and Pontifical Liturgies with Bishop Brown.
He is thankful that his new assignment has been to St. Norbert’s and looks forward to meeting and serving the parish community.
