(The Reverend) Father Joseph J. Klemas,
Associate Pastor

Father Joseph John Klemas was appointed as Associate Pastor at Saint Miriam in 2011.

Father Joe was born in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, the son of Polish descendants, Joseph and Marie Klimaszewski and attended a Catholic Polish grade school. (His surname changed to ‘Klemas’ while in minor seminary.)

At 14 years of age, Father Joe entered minor seminary at St. Charles Seminary in Catensville, Maryland and graduated in 1958. He then began major seminary at St. Charles Overbook in Philadelphia and was ordained to the Priesthood in May of 1964. He served as a Roman Catholic Priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg for 7 years.

Father Joe left active ministry in 1978 and married his wife of 40 years, Dorothy Dornberger Klemas, at the Chapel of the Medical Missionary Sisters in Fox Chase, Pennsylvania where they both worked as drug and alcohol counselors, specializing in family and group therapy. They left their positions in 1978 and entered graduate school at the Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, Missouri and began their private practice in Plymouth meeting.

Father Joe felt the call to return to active ministry after being involved with the parish of Saint Miriam and was incardinated by Archbishop Julius Licata in December 2011.

They have one daughter, Allison, and two grandchildren, Jack and Sam. They reside in Plymouth Meeting.