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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  Msgr. Kern's memory honored, legacy continues

by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published April 25, 2008

Four to be honored Four to be honored This year's Fr. Clement H. Kern Foundation award dinner, May 8, will present the Fr. Kern Medallion award to: • Patrick J. Devlin, secretary-treasurer of Michigan Building Trades Council; active with Red Cross; and board member for Michigan Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Detroit Health Care Coalition. • Eleanor Josaitis, co-founder with the late Fr. William Cunningham, of Focus: HOPE; member of Madonna Parish, Detroit; dedicated to fighting racism, poverty and injustice. • Doug Ross, former state senator, gubernatorial candidate and founder of Michigan Citizens Lobby; now heads a charter high school in Detroit. In addition, special recognition of Genevieve Casey, former state librarian of Michigan and Msgr. Kern's biographer, is planned.

Detroit — This year is the 25th anniversary of the death of Msgr. Clement Kern, but his memory and legacy live on.

Besides the continuing ministry of Most Holy Trinity Parish to its neighborhood and the poor of the downtown area, his work is also continued through the Fr. Clement H. Kern Foundation.

The foundation will hold its 19th annual award dinner Thursday, May 8 at The Roostertail on the Detroit riverfront.

Msgr. Kern is best known for his many years at Most Holy Trinity Parish — six as an assistant pastor and 28 as pastor — where he earned a reputation for his concern for the poor and support for social justice.

While most of his many acts of charity were done quietly, helping those who came to the rectory door, he also sometimes made the newspapers for his support for causes — whether it be picketing with striking farm workers or Playboy "bunnies."

But Msgr. Charles Kosanke, president of the foundation, remembers another aspect of Msgr. Kern's ministry, when he served as pastor-in-residence at St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township after retiring from Most Holy Trinity.

"For those of us who were seminarians during those years, from 1977-1983, he inspired us in various ways – not only in his homilies and talks to the students, but also informally, from just living with us and our seeing his example," said Msgr. Kosanke, now rector of SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake.

Although Msgr. Kern was by that time a senior priest, Msgr. Kosanke said "he was probably the busiest priest at the seminary," constantly running off to help someone who had requested his assistance.

"Up until the day he died (in 1983), his whole life was dedicated to helping people in need. He was a model of a servant priest who put other people first," Msgr. Kosanke continued.

He said Msgr. Kern always emphasized "the extreme importance of human dignity" – that "everyone is equal in the eyes of God."

"He related to people of every level of society the same way, whether a corporate CEO or someone coming to him for help," Msgr. Kosanke added. Tickets for the dinner are $100 (or patron $125). For information, call James Amar (734) 459-7161.