Parish Staff

Fr. Kevin Elbert

Pastor

Fr. Kevin P. Elbert is the Pastor of St. Clement, St. James, and St. Luke in Lakewood.

Fr. Kevin P. Elbert was asked by Bishop Edward C. Malesic to become the Pastor of St. Clement and St. James effective 12/01/2023.

Fr. Elbert is a native of North Eastern Ohio having grown up in Middleburg Heights. After a life in the secular world as a lawyer and karate instructor, Fr. Elbert felt the call to the priesthood. He attended both Borromeo and St. Mary Seminary of Cleveland and after many years of prayer and study in seminary formation Fr. Elbert was ordained to the holy priesthood on May 15th, 2010. 

His first assignment was to the parishioners of St. Mary in Hudson, Ohio; where her served as Parochial Vicar. Fr. Elbert was then asked to continue this ministry at Holy Family Parish, in Stow. In the Summer of 2015, following his time in Stow, he was asked by Bishop Richard Lennon to become the ninth Pastor of St. Luke.

Fr. Patrick R. Schultz

Parochial Vicar

Father Patrick R. Schultz was transferred from Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Wadsworth to

  • Parochial Vicar, St. Luke Parish, Lakewood
  • Parochial Vicar, St. Clement Parish, Lakewood and
  • Parochial Vicar, St. James Parish, Lakewood

effective June 11.

In Residence Peter Paul Ibeagha

Hospital Chaplain
E-mail In Residence Peter Paul Ibeagha

Bishop Edward Malesic has assigned Fr. Peter Paul Ibeagha to be Hospital Chaplain at Fairview Hospital effective 03/01/2024.

Fr. Ibeagha will reside in residence at Saint Clement Parish. Father is willing to help with Masses at both Saint Clement, Saint James, and Saint Luke Parishes.

Click here to contact Fr Ibeagha

Deacon Thomas P. Bizon

Deacon
E-mail Deacon Thomas P. Bizon

I have just been assigned as your deacon. I was ordained in 2018 and served my first assignment at my home parish of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Brook Park. I’m excited to join the community here, and I look forward to getting to know all of you.

I am a lifelong Clevelander, growing up and still residing in Middleburg Heights. I attended Incarnate Word Academy, St Edward High School just down the road, and Case Western Reserve University. I have been working as an engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center for just over 37 years…and that is where I met Debbie, my wife. Our family consists of Debbie’s two daughters, four grandchildren, and one canine kid. On a day off, you can often find us spending family day at one of Ohio’s wonderful state parks.

From my four years in high school, I do have some familiarity with Lakewood and the parishes here. Lakewood Park is still one of our favorite places. I played my trumpet at St Luke for one of the holidays many years ago…and some friends of mine belonged to St James, so I’ve been there as well.

Mrs. Colleen Houk

Faith Formation

Click here to contact Mrs. Houk

Ms. Susan Simmons

Parish Secretary

Susan has been the Parish Secretary at St. Clement Church since August 2002.  A longtime resident of Lakewood that has 2 sons.  She enjoys greeting all the different people that come to visit the Rectory at St. Clement.  She considers it a great gift to serve the parishioners and staff of St. Clement Parish. She enjoys reading, cooking and spending quality time with her family.

Click here to contact Ms. Simmons

Ms. Janet Guetle, BME, MM

Director of Music

Janet began playing the piano and organ for church when she was fifteen. After high school,

  • She began musical studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois where she obtained a diploma in sacred music with a piano emphasis.
  • She went on to Wittenberg University  in Springfield, Ohio to obtain her Bachelor’s of music education with a piano and voice major.
  • She furthered her vocal training by receiving here master’s degree in vocal performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

She has received organ instruction from

  • Adrienne Hess at the Cleveland Institute of Music
  • David Boe and Haskell Thomas of Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Janet has two grown daughters, Elisabeth and Olivia, who both majored in cello in college. Daughter Olivia is on the musical staff of Fairhaven Church in Dayton, Ohio, where she plays cello weekly with the church orchestra.

Janet retired from teaching vocal and instrumental music in Mansfield City Schools in 2015.

Click here to contact Ms. Guetle

Mr. Frank Stasko

Maintenance

Click here to contact Mr. Stasko

Deacon Danny Bryan

Retired Deacon

Born 10-2-1951 in Columbus Ohio; fifth child of six.

Married to Gerilynn [Geri] on 8-25-1972 and have two children and three grandchildren.

Deacon Danny Graduated from Franklin University of Columbus in 1975 with a BSBA and Case Western Reserve University with a Master’s of Organization Development and Analysis in 1986.

He began his work career with Ohio Bell in 1970 as a lineman and moved through the organization in various capacities until retirement in 2000 as a Human Resource Manager. After retirement from Ohio Bell [AT&T] he volunteered for Freedom House a halfway center. The women’s annex was located at St. Clement for some time. His volunteer experiences lead him to take the exam for Chemical Dependency counseling. In 1995, Danny began teaching as Adjunct Faculty for Tiffin University.

In 2002, Danny started working as a counselor at Grafton Correctional Institution; in 2005 he became Director of Re-entry for the Center for Families and Children; and, in 2009, took on the direct service case management position with Community Re-entry. Danny hopes to become certified as a Life Coach with primary focus in the areas of personal and spiritual development.

Geri and Danny became members of the St. James community in 1977. They began formation for the Diaconate in September 2004 and Danny was ordained a Deacon to the Diocese of Cleveland in May 2008; appointed to St. James at ordination until closure and re-assigned to St. Clement in 2010.

As a deacon, aside from the ministry at the altar, he works as a member of the RCIA team and the Spiritual Development committee; assists in the preparation of engaged couples; and as needed, assists with funerals, baptisms, and weddings.

Danny and Geri both state they have “found a home at St. Clement” and Danny is also pleased to be able to reconnect with St. James.

Danny retire as a deacon, effective July 1, 2024.

Click here to contact Deacon Danny