Click to View Our Priests in our Gallery
Reverend Joseph J. Schmit
Assignment Position: First Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 04/27/1922 to ?/?/1956
Assignment Position: Prosynodal Judge of the Matrimonial Court effective 04/14/1928 per Chancellor per Bishop of Cleveland
Rev. Msgr. Joseph J. Schmit was ordained in Cleveland on May 25, 1907 by Bishop Ignatius F. Horstman. Attended High School and College at St. Jerome’s College, Ontario, Canada, and finished his Theology course at St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland. His first appointment was as Assistant Pastor at Holy Trinity in Cleveland. In June 1917 he was appointed pastor of St. Paul’s Church in North Canton, OH, and in April 1922 he was appointed the first pastor and organizer of St. Clement’s Parish in Lakewood. December 23, 1934 he was made a Domestic Prelate with the title of Monsignor and also made Dean of the Clergy of the West-Side Cleveland Deanery. On June 2, 1948 he was made a Protonotary Apostolic, with the privilege of Pontificating on special occasions. Died: 11/12/1956.
Reverend Joseph Krispinsky
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 10/31/1923 per Chancellor per Bishop of Cleveland to 07/29/1924 per Bishop of Cleveland
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Warren effective 07/30/1924 per Bishop of Cleveland Joseph Schrembs
Reverend Francis J. McGlynn
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 07/30/1924 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives to 07/08/1931 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives
Reverend John J. Reynolds
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 10/01/1927 per Chancellor per Bishop of Cleveland Joseph Schrembs to 10/03/1938
The Rev. John J. Reynolds, who was assistant at St. Clement’s for eleven years, was appointed to take charge of St. Anthony’s Home for Boys effective 10/04/1938
Reverend John J. Tivenan
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 07/09/1931 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives to 10/05/1940 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives
On October 13, 1940 a farewell reception was tendered Father Tivenan who after nine years of faithful service and pronounced success in C.Y.O. work and the instruction of converts, now began his work as Chaplain in the Army and served till the end of the War. For additional information click: 1974
Reverend Andrew A. Prokop
Assignment Position: Temporary Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 08/01/1935 to close of the Congress per Chancellor per Bishop of Cleveland to 10/?/1935
Reverend William A. Bachman
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 01/03/1939 per Auxiliary Bishop per Bishop of Cleveland to 09/19/1943 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland
Assignment Position: Professor of Seminary of Our Lady of the Lake in Cleveland effective 09/20/1943
Reverend James B. Thornton
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 04/04/1939 per Auxiliary Bishop per Bishop of Cleveland to 06/16/1943 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Martha’s Parish in Akron effective 06/17/1943 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland
Reverend J. Leo Brennan
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/17/1943 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland to 10/?/1946
Reverend Victor J. Cimperman
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 01/05/1944 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland to 06/31/1946 per Bishop of Cleveland
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Mary’s in Collinwood effective 07/01/1946 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend William J. Murney
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/18/1941 to 06/17/1947 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Paul in Euclid effective 06/18/1947 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Walter A. Lechtenberg
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 07/01/1946 per Bishop of Cleveland to 03/18/1953 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph in Cuyahoga Falls effective 03/19/1953 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Joseph C. Dempsey
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 01/08/1947 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 11/18/1950 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Pastor of Saint Bernadette in Westlake effective 11/19/1950 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Willard F. Wiesler
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/18/1947 per Bishop of Cleveland to 05/22/1952 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of Holy Trinity in Cleveland effective 05/23/1952 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Allen F. Bruening
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 05/15/1951 per Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 12/11/1957 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Joseph in Collinwood effective 12/12/1957 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Father Bruening attended St. Ignatius High School and Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, Michigan, before enrolling at St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland. For additional information click: 1961 1974
Reverend Paul W. Hackman
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 05/23/1952 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 11/27/1958 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Paul in Euclid effective 11/28/1958 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Rev. Paul W. Hackman was ordained in Cleveland on May 3, 1952 by Archbishop Edward F. Hoban. After ordination he was named Assistant Pastor at St. Clement on May 23, 1952. Father Hackman graduated from Cathedral Latin High School and Notre Dame University. After spending six years in the business world he entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland. For additional information click: 1974
Reverend James A. Walsh
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 03/19/1953 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland to 03/09/1955 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Pastor of Saint Mary’s in Chardon effective 03/10/1955 per Archbishop-Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Leo A. Warth
Assignment Position: Second Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 12/20/1956 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961 Died 02/22/1963.
Reverend Patrick J. Ferron
Assignment Position: Residence of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective ?/?/? to 06/12/1957 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Chaplain of Saint Augustine’s Academy in Lakewood effective 06/13/1957 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Reverend James E. Hughes
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/13/1957 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 06/11/1958 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of Saint Sebastian in Akron effective 06/12/1958 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Reverend William P. Lyons
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 12/12/1957 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 06/13/1962 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Matthew in Akron effective 06/14/1962 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Reverend James F. Whelan
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/12/1958 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 03/?/1963
Assignment Position: Plus Director of the Holy Name Society for West Deaneries effective 11/28/1959 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Bernard A. Blatt
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 11/28/1958 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 06/07/1961 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Pastor of Immaculate Conception in Cleveland effective 06/08/1961 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
For additional information click: 1961
Reverend Ralph Vincent Coletta
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/08/1961 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 06/08/1966 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Martin of Tours in Maple Heights effective 06/09/1966 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
For additional information click: 1974 Died 03/07/2023.
Reverend Edward J. Murray
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/13/1963 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 10/11/1967 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of Parish of St. Peter in North Ridgeville effective 10/12/1967 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Reverend Albert J. Meyers
Assignment Position: Residence of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood & Chaplain of St. Anthony Home for boys effective 09/12/1967 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives to 03/31/1970 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Dominic in Shaker Heights effective 04/01/1970 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Reverend Edward J. Seward
Assignment Position: Third Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 03/28/1963 and continue to serve in your position as Financial Secretary of the Diocese per Archbishop – Bishop Edward F. Hoban of Cleveland to 01/10/1972 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Diocesan Consultor per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of Saint John Bosco Parish in Parma Heights effective 01/11/1972 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
Reverend James E. Fortman
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/14/1962 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban to 02/26/1963 per Archbishop – Bishop of Cleveland Edward F. Hoban
Assignment Position: Administer of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 02/27/1963 until the appointment of a pastor to succeed the late Reverend Leo A. Warth per Vicar General – Chancellor to 09/25/1966 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland
Assignment Position: Pastor of St. Patrick in Thompson effective 09/26/1966 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend Thomas G. Montavon
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/09/1966 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland to 06/16/1970 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of Saint John Cathedral in Cleveland effective 06/17/1970 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend Charles F. Schirmer
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 09/17/1966 per Coadjutor Bishop of Cleveland to 11/?/1967
Reverend Richard R. Schnurr
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/09/1967 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives to 09/29/1969 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Malachi in Cleveland effective 09/30/1969 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann
Reverend Joseph A. Rogers
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/13/1968 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann to 06/26/1974 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Religious Education of Akron Catholic Schools effective 06/27/1974 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend John F. Anderson
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 09/30/1969 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann to ?/?/?
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend T. Gerald Waldron
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/17/1970 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann to 06/26/1974 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann
Assignment Position: Assistant Pastor of Saint Monica Parish in Garfield Heights effective 06/27/1974 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann.
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend Joseph A. Sweeney
Assignment Position: Fourth Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 01/11/1972 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann with installation 01/23/1972 to 12/18/1985 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives upon his sudden death in the Rectory
For additional information click: 1961 1974
Reverend William H. Severt
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/21/1974 per Bishop of Cleveland Clarence G. Issenmann to 04/30/1975 per Bishop James A. Hickey
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of Saints Cosmas and Damian Parish in Twinsburg effective 05/01/1975 per Bishop James A. Hickey
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend John J. Gorski
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/27/1974 per Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann to 06/26/1979 per Bishop James A. Hickey
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of Saint Peter Parish in North Ridgeville effective 06/27/1979 per Bishop James A. Hickey
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend David F. Fallon
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 05/15/1975 per Bishop James A. Hickey to 07/01/1977 per Bishop James A. Hickey
Assignment Position: Father of Diocesan Mission in El Salvador effective 08/01/1977 per Bishop James A. Hickey
Reverend Rudolph P. Polovich
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/29/1977 per Bishop James A. Hickey to 09/13/1978 per Bishop James A. Hickey via Chancellor Edward F. Weist
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of Saint Basil Parish in Brecksville effective 09/14/1978 per Bishop James A. Hickey via Chancellor Edward F. Weist
Reverend Francis M. Bednar
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/27/1979 per Bishop James A. Hickey to ?/?/1985
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Columbkille in Columbia Township effective ?/?/1985. Died 01/21/1999. Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Fondly remembered as a friendly and fun priest. For additional information click: 1974
Reverend John A. Adelaar
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 08/13/1979 per Bishop James A. Hickey to 07/08/1981 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives
Assignment Position: Prison Ministry in Summit, Wayne, Medina and Ashland counties effective 07/09/1981 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives
Reverend Bernard J. Tierney
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/28/1972 per Catholic University Bulletin to 01/15/1980 per Bishop James A. Hickey
Assignment Position: Retired of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 01/16/1980 per Bishop James A. Hickey to 10/24/1988 per Cleveland Diocese Director of Archives died at St. Augustine Manor
Reverend John F. Sutter
Assignment Position: Pastoral Minister (Deacon) of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 05/31/1980 per Bishop James A. Hickey to ?/?/?
Reverend John F. Wessel
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 12/30/1980 Per Bishop Anthony M. Pilla to 08/01/1987
Current Assistant Position: Retired. For additional information click: 1961 1974
Reverend Joseph S. Mecir
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/27/1985 to 07/01/1987
Reverend Alfred H. Winters
Assignment Position: Fifth Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 04/10/1986 to 06/30/2007
Assignment Position: Administrator of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 12/10/2009 to 01/01/2010
Assignment Position: Pastor Emeritus (Retired) of St. Clement in Lakewood effective 06/30/2007 to 11/07/2015
For additional information click: 1974
Reverend Stanley J. Klasinski
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 07/01/1987 to 09/03/1991
Current Assistant Position: Pastor of St. Clare Parish in Lyndhurst
Reverend Edward N. Schwet
Assignment Position: In Residence of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 10/21/1989 to 06/01/1992
Current Assistant Position: Retired
Reverend John P. Seabold
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 02/01/1992 to 06/22/1993
Current Assistant Position: Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Grafton
Reverend Robert J. Jasany
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/22/1993 to 06/16/1998
Current Assistant Position: Pastor of St. John Nepomucene in Cleveland
Reverend Joseph R. Spolny
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/16/1998 to 06/10/2003
Current Assistant Position: Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish is Parma
Reverend John A. Ocilka
Assignment Position: Administrator of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 06/30/2007 to 10/30/2009
Reverend David A. Novak
Assignment Position: Sixth Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 10/30/2009 to 12/08/2009
Current Assistant Position: Retired
Reverend Joseph G. Workman
Assignment Position: Seventh Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 01/01/2010 per Bishop Edward Malesic to 05/22/2023 Leave of Absence per Bishop Edward Malesic to 06/30/2023 Resignation per Bishop Edward Malesic
Father grew up in Coventry Township, south of Akron. He attended St. Francis de Sales in Akron, OH, and graduated from Coventry High School. While pursuing a Math Education degree at Kent State University, he coached wrestling – a sport in which he actively participated during his youth. He graduated from Kent in December 1997, and entered St. Mary’s Seminary in 1998. Father graduated from St. Mary’s with a Master of Divinity Degree and was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland on May 15, 2004.
- Assigned to Saint Columbkille Church in Parma June 8, 2004 – June 3, 2008
- Assigned to Saint Augustine Catholic Church in Barberton June 3, 2008 – January 1, 2010
- Assigned to Saints Cyril & Methodius Parish in Barberton December 3, 2008 – June 30, 2009
- Assigned to Sacred Heart Of Jesus in Wadsworth June 30, 2009 – January 1, 2010
- Saint Clement Catholic Parish in Lakewood January 1, 2010 – May 22, 2023
- Saint James Catholic Parish in Lakewood July 25, 2012 – May 22, 2023
- Current Assistant Position: Parochial Vicar of Saint John Bosco Parish in Parma Heights effective 10/01/2023
Served as the Spiritual Support for Lakewood Catholic Academy.
Reverend Thomas P. Kowatch
Assignment Position: Associate Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 07/23/2012 to 01/10/2014
Current Assignment Position: Parochial Vicar of SS. Robert & William in Euclid effective 06/12/2018
Reverend Deogratias Meela Ruwaainenyi
Assignment Position: In Residence of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood and Hospital Chaplain at Fairview Hospital effective 06/10/2014 per Bishop Lennon to 09/04/2022 per Bishop Edward Malesic
Assignment Position: Administrator of St. Clement Parish and St. James Parish in Lakewood effective 09/05/2022 to 11/18/2022 per Bishop Edward Malesic
Assignment Position: In Residence of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood and Hospital Chaplain at Fairview Hospital effective 11/19/2022 per Bishop Edward Malesic to 06/30/2023 per Bishop Edward Malesic
Current Assignment Position: Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Parish in Avon and St. Mary Parish in Avon effective 07/01/2023 per Bishop Edward Malesic
Reverend John Chlebo
Assignment Position: Administrator of St. Clement Parish and St. James Parish in Lakewood effective 07/01/2023 to 11/30/2023
Current Assignment Position: Pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Rocky River
Reverend Kevin Elbert
Assignment Position: Eighth Pastor of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood effective 12/01/2023. Note: He is also the Pastor of St. James Parish in Lakewood effective 12/01/2023 and Pastor of St. Luke Parish in Lakewood effective 2015.
Reverend Peter Paul Ibeagha
Assignment Position: In Residence of St. Clement Parish in Lakewood and Hospital Chaplain at Fairview Hospital effective 03/01/2024 per Bishop Edward Malesic
Reverend Patrick R Schultz
Assignment Position: Parochial Vicar of St. Clement Parish, St. James Parish, and St. Luke Parish in Lakewood effective 06/11/2024