Fr. Clement Nordhus (1881-1971)

One of 12 children, three of whom became members of St. Benedict’s Abbey, and three who became Sisters at Mount St. Scholastica, Father Clement was born at Wildcat, that is St. Benedict, Kan.  He made his first vows as a member of our community July 2, 1910, and after studies at St. Vincent Archabbey was ordained priest May 25, 1916. 

Early on after ordination he served the mission at Perrin, Mo., but Father Clement spent the majority of his monastic life managing or helping manage the abbey farms and vegetable gardens.  He kept bees and prepared honey and candles for the community.  He incarnated “ora et labora” and was a sought-after confessor for many of our monks.

Daily he brought the newspapers to the Father’s recreation room and on Sundays the Prior entrusted him with the task of passing around the box of cigars to the priests gathered there after dinner.

Father Clement Nordhus passed away December 10, 1971.