Pastoral Staff

Pastor

Rev. Brandon Kleckner

Brandon M. Kleckner is the son of Neal and Cathy Kleckner of Erie. He is a 2004 graduate of Villa Maria Academy in Erie, and earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy from Gannon University, Erie, in 2008. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2012. He also received the Omer U. Kline, O.S.B., Homiletics Award, chosen by the Rector’s Council, which is given to the fourth-year student who has most clearly demonstrated excellence in preaching during his fourth year of study.St. Joseph/St. Mary/St. Michael is his third pastorate since being ordained in 2012. He spent much of my priesthood in Clearfield as a Seminarian; then as a Deacon (where he would drive up from Latrobe every weekend throughout the school year); then his first priestly assignment was in Clearfield as a Parochial Vicar; then when his pastor got ill, he was named Administrator. After that run, he left for two years (100 weeks to be exact) to go to St George, Erie, as a Parochial Vicar. At the end of those 100 weeks, he got assigned, again, to St Francis in Clearfield to be their pastor, where he served for 5 remarkably rewarding years! In 2022 he got the call to go to St Michael Parish in Greenville with its mission of St Margaret, Jamestown. In August, 2025, Fr. Brandon was assigned to St. Joseph/St. Mary/St. Michael.

Parochial Vicar

Rev. Chijioke (John) Nwankwo

Fr. Chijioke John Nwankwo was born into the family of Late Mr. Bartholomew Ikechukwu and Angelina Elegachi Nwankwo on March 2, 1987. He has 4 siblings; 3 boys and 1girl. He attended Community Primary school Umuchukwu for elementary school and St. Dominic Savio seminary and St. John Bosco Seminary in Isuaniocha for high school. He studied philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu and Theology at Blessed Iwene Major Seminary in Onitsha. He was ordained a deacon on December 16, 2016 and ordained as a priest July 15, 2017 by His lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

He has worked at various places as a priest;

St. Andrew's Parish in Adazinnukwu as parochial vicar 2017-2019,

Regina Caeli Hospital in Awka as Assistant manager 2019-2020,

Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Igboukwu as a parochial vicar 2020-2022, and

St. Joseph Cathedral in Ekwulobia as Assistant Cathedral Administrator 2022-2023.

Fr. John was appointed as a pastor to St. Andrew's Parish in Ufuma from 2023 to 2025. He obtained his Post graduate diploma in Education from National Teachers Institute, Kaduna in 2019. He then received the call from the bishop, His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal OKPALEKE to come to the Diocese of Erie as a missionary.

Fr. John has as his priestly motto: 2 Corinthians 12:15. "To Pour and be poured out for souls". He believes his missionary footprints here in Crown, Lucinda and Fryburg will bear abundant testimonies. Amen.

Deacon

Deacon Mike Dittman.

Deacon Mike grew up in Clarion, Pennsylvania, where he attended Immaculate Conception Church and graduated from Clarion Limestone High School. He began his working life in the late 1970s as a draftsman, later serving as an engineering technician, and eventually purchasing a truck to work as a truck driver. His early years were marked by hard work and perseverance.

Deacon Mike later joined PennDOT, where he served until his retirement in 2015. That same year, he was ordained a deacon after completing a five-year, part-time diaconate formation program. In 2025, he joyfully celebrated his 10-year anniversary as a deacon.

Married for 30 years, Deacon Mike and his wife, Heather, have been devoted members of Crown Church since their marriage, where they raised their family within a strong and faith-filled parish community. Deacon Mike feels truly blessed to serve as a deacon and is honored to continue his ministry in the church they proudly call home.

Office
Phone: (814) 226-7288

Secretary email: secretary@stjosephlucinda.com

Business Manager email: business.manager@stjosephlucinda.com

St. Joseph School
Phone: (814) 226-8018
Fax: (814) 223-9620
E-mail: stjosephschoollucinda@gmail.com
Web Site: stjosephlucinda.com