Father Peter Clifford first vocalized his desire to become a priest when he was in sixth grade and a visiting missionary priest asked the students what they wanted to be when they grew up.
“It was certainly in my mind before that,” he recalled.
Father Clifford’s vocation came to fruition, and he celebrated 50 years as a priest this past March. In June, he will retire from the pastorate at St. John of Rochester in Fairport.
‘A beautiful experience’ helped introduce future priest to the Diocese of Rochester
Father Clifford grew up in Auburn’s St. Alphonsus Parish, where he attended the parish school as well as Mt. Carmel High School. He attended Auburn Community College for one year and graduated from St. John Fisher College with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1971. He also earned a master’s of divinity from St. Bernard’s Seminary in 1975.
He was ordained March 25, 1976, by Bishop Joseph L. Hogan at Holy Ghost Church in Gates. Prior to ordination, he spent six months working in the diocesan Office of Human Development. There, he created a program on Catholic social teaching, which he presented to students at the Catholic high schools in the diocese.
“It was a very beautiful experience of not only working with young people … but also learning the spread of the diocese and the work the priests would do,” Father Clifford recalled.
Father Clifford ministered for 50 years in parishes, diocesan administration
After ordination, Father Clifford was assistant pastor at St. Michael Parish, Penn Yan (1976-79); associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish, Ithaca (1979-81); and copastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Rochester (1981-91). Throughout those assignments, he also served as a volunteer firefighter. He was inspired to join the Penn Yan fire department by the example of his friend, Father William Michatek.
“I think I saw him doing this and said, ‘I think this is something I ought to do if I get a chance,’” Father Clifford recalled.
Following his assignment at St. John the Evangelist, Father Clifford served as director of the diocesan Office of Parish Support Ministry (1991-95). He returned to parish ministry in 1995, serving as pastor at St. Michael Parish in Newark until 2007.
He has been pastor of St. John of Rochester since 2007.
Walking with God’s people has been ‘an honor and a blessing’
Throughout his 50 years of ministry, it has been a blessing to be able to walk with parishioners through their times of both joy and sadness, Father Clifford observed.
“It’s clearly an honor and a blessing, a grace, to be able to celebrate the sacraments with the people of God,” he said. “I have been blessed with many, many people who I’ve come to know and remain in touch with and involved in their lives through the course of my ministry in parishes. Every one of my assignments was a blessing and a joy.”
Father Clifford said he is looking forward to continuing to minister to God’s people after he becomes a senior priest. He plans to reside at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Brighton, assist at local parishes and visit the ill in local hospitals.
Father Clifford will celebrate his 50th jubilee and retirement from his pastorate with a June 7 Mass of Thanksgiving at St. John of Rochester Church at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the parish center.
Tags: Holy Orders, Priests
