Liturgy Director
Deacon Ed Kleese is a 62-year-old permanent deacon in the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio. He and his wife, Diane M. Kleese, were members of St. Elizabeth Ann, and now St. Teresa of Calcutta. His family includes 4 married daughters, 1 married son, 5 granddaughters, and 5 grandsons. Ed is a petroleum engineer and a union member of Operating Engineers Local #66. Hobbies include taking autumn vacations with wife, Diane, up to New England, being with the children and grandchildren, raising sweet corn, and gardening. Deacon Ed felt a call to the diaconate in 2013 and was blessed to be ordained a permanent deacon on August 31st, 2019 at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown, Ohio. He currently diaconates along with his brother deacon, Robert Simmerly, at all the St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish churches. His ministries include funeral and prison ministry, and altar server instructor. He is also the director of liturgy. His special spiritual devotions include those to the Sacred Heart and Blood of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary (along with the Rosary, Brown Scapular, and Miraculous Medal), St. Joseph, and St. Edward.
