Fr. Kevin Clinton retiring after 45 years of service

On June 2, 1974 Father Kevin Clinton was ordained a priest at St. Paul Seminary, now 45 years later he will be holding his last Mass this Sunday, June 2, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague.

Fr. Clinton grew up in Le Sueur County and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1966. He noted with a grin he just has to walk across the street to be back in Le Sueur County. Fr. Clinton said he was a “farm kid” who grew up five miles outside of Cleveland. There was a priest in his family and his grandmother suggested he consider it. “Growing up I had been exploring it since then, but I had been exploring other things too,” he said. It was when he was a senior in high school that he seriously looked into becoming a priest. He realized after some serious thought, “This is something God wanted me to do.” He feels it’s not unlike any other human being who decides what they wanted to do. “This is where I landed after 45 years and it made sense, by the grace of God.”

He said that when he was ordained a priest he had priorities that first was to be a good priest, then be a good Christian, then be in touch and be a good human being. “After 45 years that order has reversed,” said Fr. Clinton. He explained that he has to be....

To see more on this story pick up the May 30, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times.