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Fr. Clemens celebrates 70 years of priesthood
By Mary Moore
The Catholic Sun
On the same day the Church of Phoenix ordained two new priests into the diocese, it also celebrated a record.
Fr. Clemens Hut became the first priest in the history of the Phoenix diocese to celebrate his 70th anniversary of priestly ordination. Fr. Hut, like the newly ordained Fr. John Lankeit, prepared for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.
With supporters from both the Diocese of Phoenix and his home diocese in Indiana, Fr. Clemens marked his seven-decade anniversary with a Mass at Christ the King in Mesa June 3, one of his former parishes.
The young Clemens grew up across the street from his home parish in Evansville, Ind., where he served as an altar boy.
He was ordained on June 2, 1936, at the age of 25 and continued to work in the Evansville Diocese at several parishes. He built St. Agnes Parish in 1949 and inventively paid it off using profits from crop acreage donated by local farmers.
Fr. Hut says his motto since his first year as a priest working with mentally ill in Indiana has been to “be kind to everyone I meet.”
Another retired pastor, Fr. Francis Zappitelli, has known Fr. Hut for 27 years, and served with him at Christ the King Parish for seven years. He affirms that his fellow priest kept his motto up.
“He is always a perfect gentleman and remembered everyone’s name, even if he had only met them one time,” he said.
The retired pastor of St. Daniel the Prophet in Scottsdale also recalled how Fr. Hut took measure of his audience and served them with efficiency, a model he has adopted in his own priesthood.
“He was very Catholic, very short and to the point. He said the 6:30 a.m. Mass almost every day and he’d make sure all the people got to work on time,” Fr. Zappitelli said. “He’d give them something to think about and have them out the door.”
Fr. Hut was granted a leave of absence from the Diocese of Evansville in 1959 when he began serving parishes in Arizona until his retirement in 1976.
After leaving Indiana, Fr. Hut served parishes in Arizona, including St. Pius X, St Jerome, St. Rose of Lima in Safford, Our Mother of Sorrows in Tucson, and Queen of Peace and Christ the King parishes in Mesa.
Fr. Hut now ministers to the sick among his neighbors at Friendship Village in Tempe, his home since 2004.
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Celebrating a half century of priestly ministry
Fr. John Bernbrock, SJ
Best aspect of priesthood: “The Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. I also love one-on-one counseling and am in Alcoholics Anonymous. God doesn’t choose the qualified. He chooses you and then qualifies you later.”
Most challenging aspect of priesthood: “To become better friends with Jesus, let Him know us better and know Him better. Prayer is really the key to life.”
Fr. John J. Hanley
Best aspect of priesthood: “While working in schools I had a wonderful relationship with students I taught or coached and as an administrator in parish life I loved saying Mass, hearing confessions, visiting the sick and providing counseling.”
Major influences: “My parents who were immigrants from Ireland had a deep devotion to the sacred heart, they were devout Catholics. Although they were supportive of my becoming a priest they never pushed in any way.”
Fr. Gregory M. Kotnis, JCL
Best aspect of priesthood: “The priesthood gives people possibility to be great. Do something good for others.”
Fr. John R. Becker, SJ
Best aspect of priesthood: “Saying Mass.”
Words of encouragement to Catholics: “Love God.”
Fr. Matthias A. Feit
Best aspect of priesthood: “Trying to help people grow closer to God, love God and understand him better.”
Words of encouragement to Catholics: “We are called to share in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. His life was not an easy life, His death was a very difficult death, but the resurrection is what it’s all about.”
Fr. Gerry LaPtatka
Best aspect of priesthood: “Whatever gift you have you use entirely for the honor of God. I think it’s better than work. I’ve enjoyed it.”
Words of encouragement to Catholics: “If it’s true that everything we do is for His honor and glory, then there’s no greater dignity than to be His instrument in whatever vocation He calls us.”
Also celebrating their 50th jubilee as a priest: Fr. Tiernan John O’Callaghan, OCarm, Fr. Robert J. Bliven, OSC, and Fr. Thomas E. Boyle.
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