Recently Departed Carmelite Priests and Brothers (continued)
The Reverend Matthew Michael
Sprouffske, O. Carm., died at the
Country West Villa Care facility in
Arcadia, CA, on Wednesday, January
19, 2005.
Father Sprouffske was born in
Los Angeles, CA, on January 23, 1927,
the son of Frank and Mary (Keelin)
Sprouffske. The family also included
a brother, Robert, and two sisters,
Sr. Mary Ellen, CSJ and Pauline.
Visitation for Rev. Matthew Sprouffske O.Carm., took
place on Sunday, January 23, at St. Raphael Church, in Los
Angeles. A Mass of Christian Burial followed the visitation
there. Rev. Augustine Carter, O.Carm., was the homilist.
Interment took place on Monday, January 24, at Holy Cross
Cemetery, in Culver City, CA.
Michael attended St. John the Evangelist School and
Nativity Grade School, both in Los Angeles. He also attended
the former Mt. Carmel High School in Los Angeles before
joining the Carmelites of the New York Province of St. Elias
to study for the priesthood. He made his profession to the
Carmelites in Auburn, NY on Sept 8, 1951 and his solemn
profession three years later to the day. He was ordained to
the priesthood at the Aylesford Priory in Kent, England on
July 18, 1954.
His first assignment sent him to his home town of Los
Angeles where he served for six years as teacher at Mount
Carmel High School there. He also served as teacher and
later as Vice-Principal of Crespi High School in Encino,
councilor, teacher and fund raiser for Mt. Carmel High
School in Los Angeles where he later became Principal
there. He also served as pastor of St. Raphael’s, in Los
Angeles, after which he became the full-time chaplain at
St. John of God Retirement Center in Los Angeles. He also
engaged in counseling and retreat work.
|
