PETER AND ISIDORE CLARKE O.P.
11th May 1957-11th May 1967
That’s what ordination to the priesthood meant to me then. That’s what it still means to me, sixty
years later.
On 11th May 1957 my twin brother, Peter, and I were ordained priests. We became servants of Christ, entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed -entrusted with the Ministries of Word and Sacrament. As ministers of the Word we had been called to proclaim the Good News of Salvation. As ministers of the sacraments Christ has empowered us to make His sacrifice on the cross present in every celebration of the Holy Mass. We have been called to be ministers of His Mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I have seen and personally experienced the peace which the Sacrament of the Sick has brought to me and to other sick people. Our calling is to love God and people and, with His help, bring them together. For me as a priest it has been my joy and privilege to help people to meet Jesus.
On 11th May 1957 my twin brother, Peter, and I were ordained priests. We became servants of Christ, entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed -entrusted with the Ministries of Word and Sacrament. As ministers of the Word we had been called to proclaim the Good News of Salvation. As ministers of the sacraments Christ has empowered us to make His sacrifice on the cross present in every celebration of the Holy Mass. We have been called to be ministers of His Mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I have seen and personally experienced the peace which the Sacrament of the Sick has brought to me and to other sick people. Our calling is to love God and people and, with His help, bring them together. For me as a priest it has been my joy and privilege to help people to meet Jesus.
But that is a daunting task.
Instinctively we say, “Why me?
Lord I’m not worthy.” But if God
had to wait until we became perfect, before He entrusted the priestly ministry
to anyone, He would never have any priests!
But He has entrusted His work to us
vessels of clay. We have His reassurance
that when He calls us to do something He always gives us the strength to carry
out His will -provided we pray for His
help. St. Paul even reassures us that
God choses the foolish of this world to confound the wise. We crazy twin
brothers adequately meet this particular requirement. Whether or not we’ve confound any of the
wise, God only knows!
Is being a priest a worthwhile, fulfilling life? Without hesitation both of us, after sixty
years, would definitely reply, “Yes, Yes, Yes!” Certainly, there are difficulties and
setbacks. But that is true of any worthwhile walk of life. We’ve been ordained to share in Christ’s
priesthood and to identify with Him in His sacrifice on the cross, made present
at every Mass we offer. For Christ and for us, that means self-giving and sometimes
painful self-sacrifice.
But what could be more worthwhile than being God’s ministers in
helping people on the road to salvation. And this causes me great concern. Peter and I, together with many other
elderly priests, are getting near the end of our lives. If you are to continue
to have Mass, Confession, and all the other mysteries of God, you are going to
need more priests. Today I take this
opportunity to urge you to pray for vocations.
I urge young men to ask themselves whether God is calling them to serve
Him and you in the priesthood. Do not
be afraid to say “Yes.” God needs you;
His people need you.
Finally, I want our Anniversary to be a day of thanksgiving. First of all, to God in calling us to the
priesthood, and then in supporting us throughout the ups and downs of our
ministry. Next, I want to thank all the
people who have helped us over the years -our family and friends, our Dominican
communities, and you, the extended members of our Dominican family. Without your support we could not have coped.
I have posted one of my paintings on Facebook. This is based on
the risen
Lord accompanying the disciples on the road to Emmaus and opening
their minds and hearts to the Scriptures. That is what He is doing for Peter and me, on
our journey through life. Through the Scripture He has touched our minds and hearts
and changed our lives. Though we’ve now been separated by the Atlantic for 58
years the Lord has always been with Twin Clarke Unlimited, drawing us close to
Him, close to each other. Skype helps us to be especially aware of being united
in the Lord. Now we can sing the breviary together, co-operate on sermons,
broadcasts and Newspaper articles. I
thank God and our parents for blessing me with a Dominican twin.
To Peter on our jubilee day, I say, “Thanks,
ower Kid!”
Before this becomes like an Oscar acceptance speech I better stop,
with the words from Psalm 115. 1, which have guided our priesthood and inspired
today’s celebration.
“Not to us, Lord,
not to us, but to your name give the glory!”
Isidore O.P.
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