Father Calkins sees Clarion Herald as evangelizing force

    Father Ronald Calkins, pastor of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Mandeville since 1995, has been appointed moderator of the Clarion Herald’s board of directors, succeeding the late Msgr. Crosby Kern, Archbishop Gregory Aymond announced Jan. 25.

    Father Calkins has served since 2009 as a member of the Clarion Herald board. Msgr. Kern, who died last November, had served as moderator since the early 1990s. The board helps set general policy for the Clarion Herald.
    “I look forward to working with Peter Finney and the staff of the Clarion Herald to continue to develop this very important ministry of the archdiocese, which is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with people of faith,” Father Calkins said. “I consider the work of the Clarion Herald to be a very important part of the evangelization work of the church.”
    Father Calkins, 61, was born in New Orleans and attended St. Agnes School in Jefferson and St. John Prep High School. He went on to St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict. After four years of studies at Notre Dame Seminary, Archbishop Philip Hannan ordained him to the priesthood on May 20, 1978.
    Father Calkins served as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Divine Providence in Metairie from 1978-83. He was associate director and then director of vocations for the archdiocese from 1982-86, vicar for Christian formation from 1987-89 and director of the CYO/Youth Ministry Office from 1987-94.
    He was parochial vicar at St. Andrew the Apostle from 1986-87. He was named pastor of Mary Queen of Peace in 1995.
    Father Calkins has served as dean of the West St. Tammany-Washington Deanery and twice has been a member of the Presbyteral Council and the Priest Personnel Board. He also was a chaplain at Ursuline Academy, chaplain of the Serra Club of Downtown New Orleans, Catholic chaplain of the Ulster Project of Greater New Orleans, chaplain of the Serra Club of West St. Tammany and chaplain of Legatus-Northshore.