ROCKFORD—Father Phillip Kaim, S.T.L., pastor of Holy Family Parish, here, will also serve as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Religious beginning June 18.
Born in Hammond, Ind. to Tony and Joan (Judis) Kaim, he attended Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and the University of Connecticut before attending Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and Pontifical North American College in Rome where he graduated also with an S.T.L. (Licentiate in Sacred Theology) in 2004.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas G. Doran at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford, on May 17, 2003.
Father Kaim began service as a parochial vicar pro tempore for about three months at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Rockford, before S.T.L. studies in Rome (2003-2004). He then was parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Crystal Lake (2004-2006), part-time teacher at Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock (2004-2005) and Assistant Director of Vocations (2005-2007).
He served as parochial administrator at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (2006-2007), then served as a chaplain for the U.S. military (2007-2015).
Returning from service overseas, Father Kaim became parochial vicar at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Cary (2015-2016). He also began service on the Vrba-O’Brien Scholarship Trust Advisory Committee (2015-2020) and on the Presbyteral Council
(2015-2018).
Father Kaim became pastor at Holy Family Parish in Rockford in 2016. He has also served as administrator of St. Patrick Parish, Rockford (2018-2019), is on the Health Care Commission and the Lay Employee Pension Commission (since 2020) and has been vicar forane for the Rockford Deanery since 2022. He has served for several months each as administrator of St. Edward Parish-Rockford, at St. Mary Parish-Durand, and at St. Patrick Parish-Irish Grove.
