Congratulations to Jubilarian Priests

The Diocese of Bismarck offers congratulations to those celebrating significant anniversaries of their faithful ministry. This year, we honor: Fr. Marvin Klemmer (50), Fr. Joseph Chipson (40), Fr. Kenneth Phillips (25), and Fr. Glen Michael Millard (10). A Mass, with Bishop Kagan as celebrant, will be held on Wednesday, April 27 at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck. All are invited to attend.

Fr. Marvin Klemmer – 50 years
Retired, Bismarck

Father Klemmer was ordained by Bishop Hilary Hacker on May 29, 1966 at St. Mary’s in Bismarck. His first assignment was as an assistant at St. Patrick in Dickinson. He remained there until 1970 when he was called to the job of chancellor for the diocese, as well as assistant pastor at Christ the King in Mandan until 1980. During this time, he was also the vocation director for the diocese for 10 years from 1973-1983. In 1980, he became the pastor of St. Leo in Minot and served there until 1988. During this time, he also served as the ecumenical director (1983-2011) and vicar general (1993-95) for the diocese. In 1988, he was appointed the pastor of Church of the Ascension in Bismarck. During this time, he also served as vicar for priests for the diocese from 1998-2011 when he retired from active ministry. He resides in Bismarck at the Emmaus Place retirement facility.

Fr. Joseph Chipson – 40 years
St. Agnes, Kenmare

Fr. Joseph was born, raised and educated in India. He was ordained there on Feb. 29, 1976. He arrived at the diocese in 2008. His first assignment was as parochial administrator at Holy Trinity in Hettinger and Sacred Heart in Reeder and Sacred Heart in Scranton. He served there until 2012. He currently serves as parochial administrator at St. Agnes in Kenmare as well as the parishes of St. Anthony in Donnybrook and St. Joseph in Bowbells.

Fr. Ken Phillips – 25 years
St. Joseph, Beulah & St. Martin, Hazen

Fr. Phillips was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1991 by Bishop John Kinney at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck. His first assignment was for a short while as a substitute at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Stanley and St. James in Powers Lake. From there, he was assigned parochial vicar at St. Wenceslaus in Dickinson from 1991-1993. He then became pastor of St. Lawrence in Flasher, St. Theresa in Carson and St. Gertrude in Raleigh until 1998. He then served as pastor of St. Joseph in Dickinson until 2002. From there, he was assigned pastor of St. Bridget in Parshall and mission parishes of St. Elizabeth in Makoti and Sacred Heart in Plaza until 2003. He then served as pastor of St. Anthony in Linton and the mission parish of St. Michael in rural Linton until 2006. From there, he was assigned as pastor of Christ the King in Mandan until 2012. He also served the missions of St. Anthony in St. Anthony and St. Martin in Huff until 2009 when those became small parishes of Church of Spirit of Life in Mandan. He currently serves as pastor of St. Joseph in Beulah and St. Martin in Hazen.

Fr. Mike Millard – 10 years
Retired, Arizona

Fr. Millard was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 64 on January 26, 2006 by Bishop Paul Zipfel at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck. He was first assigned to Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Stanley and the mission parish of St. Ann in Berthold as parochial vicar for a short period before becoming pastor later than same year. He served there until he retired from active ministry in 2012. He currently resides in Arizona.