Father Conklin, who was ordained in 2024 and served as parochial vicar in Stillwater from July 2024 until March 2026, has been on leave for the past six months to discern his priestly vocation, the archbishop wrote in a letter that Father Michael Creagan, pastor of St. Michael and St. Mary, shared with parishioners Sept. 30.
“After confirming with Father Conklin that he does not intend to cease this affiliation, I have felt compelled to commence a canonical process to clarify the situation and his status,” the archbishop wrote. “At the same time, I have also informed Father Conklin that he is not to exercise any public priestly ministry.
“This is a painful situation that merits our fervent prayers for Father Conklin, for his family and for the parishes of Saint Michael and Saint Mary,” the archbishop continued. “Please know of my prayers for all of you and your loved ones.”
In July, SSPX leadership rejected Pope Leo XIV’s plea and consecrated four new bishops in Switzerland without the requisite papal mandate.
The Vatican declared that the July 1 action in Switzerland placed the SSPX bishops and priests in schism with the Catholic Church and resulted in the immediate excommunication of the consecrating bishop, the co-consecrator and the four newly ordained bishops.