January 22, 2023
From The Rochester Catholic Diocese:
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
MEMORANDUM
To: All Priests, Deacons, Religious and Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Rochester
From: The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester
Date: January 22, 2023
Re: Notification of the Death of Bishop Emeritus Matthew H. Clark
I regret to inform you that this morning, January 22, 2023, His Excellency, The
Most Reverend Matthew H. Clark, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Rochester, died in
his room at the Sisters of Saint Joseph Motherhouse, following a period of declining
health. Bishop Clark was 85. Funeral arrangements for Bishop Clark are pending.
Born on July 15, 1937, Bishop Clark was ordained a priest on December 19,
1962, in Rome by Archbishop Martin John O’Connor, for the Diocese of Albany, New
York. On May 27, 1979, Bishop Clark was ordained a bishop by Pope Saint John Paul II
and subsequently installed as the eighth Bishop of Rochester on June 26, 1979, where he
served for over 33 years until his resignation was accepted on September 21, 2012, in
accord with canon 401 §1 the Code of Canon Law.
United as a diocesan family, we now accompany Bishop Clark with our prayers,
especially at Holy Mass, asking the angels and the saints to receive his soul and present
him to the Eternal High Priest, Our Savior Jesus Christ. Kindly also pray for Bishop
Clark’s family and friends who mourn his death and pray for him; may they be consoled
by our faith in eternal life – a kingdom of light and peace where we will behold the face
of God.
Eternal rest grant unto Bishop Clark, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon
him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
O God, who chose your servant, Bishop Matthew H. Clark,
from among your Priests and endowed him
with pontifical dignity in the apostolic priesthood,
grant, we pray,
that Bishop Clark may also be admitted to their company for ever.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reign with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
