Meet the Chaplain: Fr. Fred Klotter - Louisville Chapter

Longtime Louisville native endorses Legatus’ spiritual strength

Father Fred Klotter is the first chaplain to serve Legatus’ Louisville Chapter, which just chartered on February 7. Father Klotter, 56, a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville for 21 years, is also the current pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Louisville, Kentucky. He recently spoke with Legatus magazine staff writer Brian Fraga.

Fr. Fred Klotter

How did you become acquainted with Legatus?

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz asked me at the end of last summer if I’d be interested in doing this if he got a chapter started, and I said yes. We had our first meeting in October, and we got our requisite number of members to start, so I’m kind of excited about it.

Had you heard much about Legatus beforehand?

I had heard of it, but I really had no idea what it was. I didn’t have any background on it, but since then I’ve discovered that two of my priest friends in other cities are chaplains of the chapters in their towns, so there is some camaraderie there.

What are your impressions of Legatus so far?

I think it’s a spiritually strong and worthwhile thing to do. Somebody asked me recently what’s the purpose of the organization or what kind of projects are they going to take on. I said, “Well, really they’re just there for their own spiritual development.” I think it’s great to take time out in our busy lives to work on spiritual development.

How did you discern your vocation to the priesthood?

In my first life as I say, I was an accountant at a bank. I had a calling experience in my late 20s, so I pursued what I felt I was called to do.

Did your later calling catch you by surprise or did you see it coming?

I had felt it for some time, but it was never really clear to me, at least until it crystallized in my late 20s.

Does your accounting background come in handy in your priesthood?

It helps me immensely in running the parish.

How do you balance your responsibilities as a pastor?

This is something that’s always in flux. It’s sort of being judicious in deciding what you’re going to focus on and what you are not, because you can’t focus on everything.

What other priestly assignments have you had?

I was the pastor of another parish here in Louisville. Before that, I did two years of graduate school in Rome, getting my license in canon law. Before that, I was doing some ministry in rural Kentucky where I was a sacramental moderator for three small rural parishes.

Where did you grow up?

I’m a Louisville native. In fact, my parish is probably only about three or four miles from the house I grew up in.

What are your hobbies?

I sing in a choral group here in town called the Louisville Master Chorale. I enjoy that a lot. I work out and I like to eat, so those two things hopefully balance themselves out. Not always,
but sometimes.