Greetings from all of us here at Our Lady’s Association in Perryville, Missouri, home of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal!

My name is Father Clayton Kilburn. I have been a Vincentian priest of the Congregation of the Mission’s Western Province for more than 44 years.

A little about me …

I grew up in Wilson, Arkansas. I am the only child born to Mary and Warren Kilburn. Raised in the Catholic faith, my devotion to Mary (and the Miraculous Medal in particular) began in high school. I loved serving at Mass as an altar server, but thought of marriage as my destiny rather than the priesthood. My discernment to the priesthood didn’t begin until I was 29 during my early career as an electrical engineer with an aerospace company in California.

Following my ordination in 1979, I served five and a half years as a missionary priest in Burundi, Africa. My next assignment, as an associate pastor in a culturally diverse California parish, lasted 10 years.

Between 1996 – 2019, I served as pastor of Saint Joseph Mission in Keams Canyon, Arizona. This remote parish in a remote diocese serves the Hopi and Navajo Native people on the adjoining reservation. It was my privilege to try to bring healing and reconciliation there, a place with a history of persecution between cultures and nations.

I took a three year leave of absence to care for my mother who was suffering with dementia. Following my mother’s passing, I was assigned to live at the Apostle of Charity Residence and to serve as a Senior Priest in Residence at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville, Missouri. After arriving here at 80 years old, I thought I was near the end of my career.

I was then approached by Father Pat McDevitt, Western Province Provincial. Father Pat invited me to return to serve as Spiritual Director for the Association of the Miraculous Medal.

He had no idea the blessing I considered this to be — a gift from Mary!

I didn’t hesitate in accepting, embracing this call. I am convinced that Our Lady needs the faithful members of AMM to bring her message to our sinful world. Desiring redemption for all souls, Our Blessed Mother is appealing to us to walk in Christ’s light so as to be a light in others’ darkness.

Wearing a Miraculous Medal is one of the easiest ways we bear witness to Jesus and Mary. With not even a word, when others meet us they can see immediately what is deeply important to us.

I look forward to continuing to build on my predecessors’ holy work at the Association of the Miraculous Medal. I am wholly convinced that it is by modeling Mary’s way that we become Jesus’ foremost disciples, disciples who salt the earth and light the world (Matthew 5:13-14). By our prayerful trust in God and loving kindness toward all, we shall draw closer to heaven itself.

As we go forth together in discovering what God desires next for Mary’s Association, may I ask for the favor of your prayers? Likewise, I pledge my utmost attention to upholding you and your intentions in my daily Mass and devotions.

You may reach me by email at: ammfather@amm.org. Should you visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal here in Perryville, Missouri, perhaps our paths will cross. If you’ve never had the occasion to visit us, now’s the time to do so.

May God continue to bless all our efforts to serve him and may he draw us ever closer to himself.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,