Fr. Barry Clayton has been the Pastor of St. Philip Neri (Osawatomie), Our Lady of Lourdes (La Cygne) and Sacred Heart (Mound City) since January of 2018.
Fr. Clayton grew up in the Olathe and Shawnee Mission areas. His parents are Christine and Mark, he has a twin sister Angie and a younger brother, Matt.
Fr. Clayton was Baptized at Prince of Peace in Olathe and attended grade school at St. Pius X in Mission where he received First Holy Communion and Confirmation. He attended high school at Bishop Miege in Roeland Park.
When he was in 2nd grade, the teacher asked the class to draw what they wanted to be when we grew up, he didn’t know what to draw. The kid next to him was going to be a zoo keeper and said he should too so that is what he put down in 2nd grade.
When he was a freshman in high school he wanted to have a family and be an electrical engineer. He was also invited to a priest discernment retreat by his Pastor. That idea gradually grew on him, into his senior year of high school. He ultimately decided to go to K-State and study electrical engineering. While at K-State, The St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center was helpful in his discernment process. Fr. Clayton eventually transferred to Conception Seminary College. After graduating there, he attended a seminary at Kenrick in St. Louis. He was ordained a deacon prior to his my final year at the seminary on May 22, 2010 (feast of St. Rita). He was ordained a priest on May 28th, 2011.
Fr. Clayton’s first assignment was to Holy Trinity in Lenexa as an associate priest for two years. He then became Pastor of Sacred Heart- Sabetha, St. Augustine- Fidelity, and St. James-Wetmore for four and a half years. Fr. Clayton was assigned to St. Philip Neri, Sacred Heart, and Our Lady of Lourdes in January of 2018.
He is grateful to God for being a priest and is grateful to serve the parishioners and all people of these communities. He appreciates everyone’s prayers and support.
