Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral

About the Rector

What’s a “rector?"

In the life of the Church, the priest designated by the bishop to head up a parish community is commonly referred to as the “pastor,” or “parish priest.” The proper pastor of a Cathedral parish is the bishop himself. Ordinarily, though, he appoints a priest to head up the Cathedral parish and to carry out the normal parish operations… this guy is known as the “rector.”

Who have been rectors here at Ss. Simon & Jude?

Fr. Paul Smith founded Ss. Simon & Jude Parish in the early 1950s and guided the parish for decades… even when it was elevated to the rank of Cathedral in late 1969. Fr. Michael McGovern served a brief stint as the Rector. Msgr. Richard Moyer was named the Rector in the late 1980s. Msgr. Michael O’Grady served as the Rector here from 1990-2005.

Curriculum Vitae of Very Rev. R. Clements

  • Full name: Robert William Palmer Clements (Confirmation Name: Thomas Becket)
  • Birthday: July 20th
  • Place of birth: McNary, Arizona

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Finance and French, Arizona State University, June 1982
  • Master of Arts in Theology, St. John’s Seminary, 1990
  • Master of Divinity, St. John’s Seminary, 1990

Ecclesiastical Curriculum Vitae

  • Admitted to Candidacy for Sacred Orders: 8 December 1985
  • Instituted Lector: 29 December 1986
  • Instituted Acolyte: 22 July 1989
  • Ordained Deacon by Roger Cardinal Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, 10 March 1990
  • Ordained Priest by Most Rev. Thomas J. O’Brien, D.D., Bishop of Phoenix, 2 June 1990
  • Offered first Mass at Corpus Christi Parish, Phoenix, 3 June 1990
  • Parochial Vicar, St. Mary’s Parish, Chandler, 1 July 1990 – 30 June 1994
  • Diocesan Vocation Director and Director of Seminarians, Diocese of Phoenix,
    1 July 1994 – 30 June 1999
  • Adjunct Parochial Vicar, St. Gregory’s Parish, Phoenix, 1 July 1994 – 30 June 1997
  • Appointed Pastor, St. Mary’s Parish, Chandler, 1 March 1999
  • Appointed Vicar Forane, Tempe/Chandler Vicariate, 7 September 2000 – 1 July 2003
  • Appointed Dean, South Vicariate, 24 January 2005 – 30 June 2005
  • Appointed Rector, Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral, 1 July 2005