Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Former Rochester Catholic Bishop Matthew Clark has died

Matthew Clark, the former bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
Provided
/
Diocese of Rochester
Matthew Clark, the former bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.

Former Rochester Catholic Bishop Matthew Clark has died. The announcement was made by the current Bishop, Salvatore Matano, early on Sunday morning.

Matano said that Clark died in his room early Sunday morning at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Motherhouse, following a period of declining health. Clark was 85.

It was just last Wednesday that the diocese had issued a statement saying that Clark’s condition was “quite serious.” Clark was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in 2019.

During Mass on Sunday at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Matano eulogized the former bishop, noting that even after Clark retired, he continued his ministry until his illness stopped him from doing that.

“He who so much enjoyed speaking with people could no longer communicate his message. He only could communicate his mind and his heart with the Lord who understands us in all our infirmities," said Matano."

Clark led the Rochester diocese for 33 years, retiring in 2012. Clark had the second longest tenure of any Catholic bishop in Rochester, ranking second only to Bishop Bernard McQuaid’s 41 years.

Clark was ordained a priest in 1962 in Rome for the Diocese of Albany. On May 27, 1979, Clark was ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II and then was installed as the 8th Bishop of Rochester on June 26, 1979.

A local expert on the Catholic Church and the papacy, Nazareth College professor of history, Tim Thibodeau praised Clark’s communication skills.

“I think his ecumenical outreach to different faith traditions and communities in Rochester really set a national standard for humanism," said Thibodeau. "I think he was a very good listener and took information and advice from a wide range of people, even those that he disagreed with.”

But Thibodeau also noted that Clark’s legacy ended on a sad note, when he had to give a deposition in connection with allegations of sexual abuse by members of the clergy.

“I think the saddest part of his legacy was the most recent, involving clerical sexual abuse, where he was deposed for three hours as part of a bankruptcy settlement involving the Diocese of Rochester,” Thibodeau said.

Public visitation will be held Sunday, Jan. 29, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and also Monday, Jan. 30, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park.

Evening prayers will be celebrated on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart.

The funeral Mass will be offered Monday, Jan. 30, starting at 12:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery will immediately follow the funeral Mass.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.