05/24/2026
Holy Name and St. Mary Parish Family,
Tonight at 4:30 PM Mass I announced that I have received a new assignment from Bishop Kemme. When Bishop sent me to Winfield and Oxford four years ago, he told me I would get to stay for three to five years. About three months in, I started asking and begging the Lord for more, and soaking up all the time that I had here. In short, I have loved you and loved these parishes so much, and you have loved me so very well too. Incredible things have taken place in these four years. I have so much more to say and I will say it all before I leave, but for now just know how grateful I am to have received the gift and joy of being your Pastor, and for the ways you have helped me learn and grow into the priest that I am today.
Bishop has asked me to be the new Pastor at All Saints Parish in Wichita. It’s a multicultural parish in the southeast part of Wichita with a school and a rich history.
Your new Pastor will be Fr. Matthew Marney. Fr. Marney is 49 and has been ordained for almost 20 years. He is an experienced Pastor, serving at Christ the King in Wichita and Holy Spirit in Goddard. The last few years he has been a Senior Parochial Vicar in Hutchinson at Holy Cross. I know that you will love him well too and that he is excited for this new assignment.
These changes will take place on July 1st. My last weekend here will be June 27th and 28th. I plan on celebrating with you the great work of the Holy Spirit at Holy Name and St. Mary until then.
Please know of my prayers for all of you during this time of transition and please pray for me and for Fr. Marney. To be sure, this is one of the most difficult parts of being a priest and a people of God, but as you know the Parish is much more than a priest, it is the people of God who serve and worship Him in charity and in truth. May God continue to provide for our parishes for years to come as He always has and always will. Holy Name of Jesus, take care of everything!
To Jesus, through Mary,
Fr. Clay
