Father Kenneth Clem

Welcome! I am Father Kenneth Clem, pastor at Sacred Heart.  I have been in Ottawa since 2022, and, hopefully, for many more years to come. I am a quasi-local to the area; my family is from Burlingame, Kansas, and I grew up going to Mass at St. Patrick's in Osage City.  I remember coming to Ottawa for FFA, Scholar's Bowl, and other activities way back in high school. 

As many folks know, I greatly enjoy collecting and playing tabletop boardgames. But I also very much enjoy woodworking (especially lathe work) and any kind of art where I can make physical things with my hands.  

I was born and raised Catholic, but it was not until I attended college at Emporia State that I began to really engage in my faith.  I started studying psychology and working with folks with learning disabilities, but the Lord called me to start looking at the priesthood. So, after many years studying philosophy and theology at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, I was ordained a priest of our Archdiocese in 2019.

I look forward to getting to know you and how the Lord wants to work through our parish.

God Bless,

Father Kenn Clem