Bishop Matthew H. Clark passed away at the age of 85 on Sunday morning.
He was born in 1937 outside Albany and was consecrated as bishop of Rochester in 1979 at the age of 42, making him one of the youngest American Catholic bishops ever.
He was known for his unconventional approach, including his love for jogging and his efforts to welcome women into ministry.
Clark was remembered for his down-to-earth personality, as well as his historic 1996 agreement with Jewish rabbis in Rochester, the first of its kind in the United States. This agreement led to increased education about Judaism and the Holocaust in Catholic schools.
Bishop Clark also went on missions to Israel and Rome with Rabbi Alan Katz, where he introduced Katz to Pope Benedict.
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