Memorial Dr. Joseph Clarke at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Ottawa On.
Celebrant Father Lindsay Harrison
Bloggers note:since the audio was of poor quality, see included text of eulogy by Deacon Scheer below;
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Eulogy by Deacon Scheer
Eulogy for Dr Joseph Clarke
Pronounced at Mass in the church of Our Lady of Fatima, Ottawa
Saturday, 15th March 2025
I am here by the permission of Father Harrison and by invitation of a pro-life physician who is a member of a local circle of pro-life physicians and health care professionals. We are come together today, some months after the death last year of Dr Joe Clarke and some years after the passing of his beloved wife, Glovanna, in November, 2021. Dr. and Mrs. Clarke each were very steadfast in promoting the sanctity of human life and our presence here today is a monument to their commitment.
The first time that mention was made to me of Dr. Clarke, I had yet to meet him. My memory of that first conversation was that it took place at an evening of recollection held in Ernesto Capparos’ apartment on Lees Avenue and sponsored by the Work. Someone there brought up a topic and this led to the remark, “Joe Clarke is a saint.”
The phrase stuck with me, in part because it was so spontaneous, but also because my own mother-in-law was frequently flattered with being told that she was saintly. This always provoked her and she would admonish whoever said that in her presence. “Don’t ever think of me,” she would say, “that I am a saint. I know my faults and I need and want people to pray for me when I am dead. Don’t discourage prayers for the dead.”
Glovanna told Father Harrison and me toward the end of her life how she had met Joe and they both were attracted to each other. They lived on different islands in the Caribbean and after their chance first meeting, when they each had returned home, each, independently but simultaneously, had recourse to the local parish priest. Each spoke of the other to their parish priests and each, independently but simultaneously, asked the priest to write to the other’s priest for an assessment. Mutual background checks, but on religious sincerity, not finances or temporal matters generally. The Faith was paramount for both.
A few weeks ago, Father Harrison and I were to make a pastoral visit to an old colleague of mine who was in palliative care in Almonte. An outbreak of a stomach ailment closed the facility to visitors at the moment we were to set out. Foiled in that
plan, we instead had lunch together and discussed today’s upcoming Mass. “Can you give me something that I can use in a eulogy for Dr. Clarke,” we each asked the other. We both realized that, although we had had breakfast a few times with Glovanna and Joe, neither of us could follow much of what either had to say, both because, Joe especially, was very, very soft spoken and even when our old ears could hear his voice, that Caribbean lilt in his voice simply wafted away our ability to follow his theme.
At one time Dr. Clarke had his office in a medical building on Main St. in old Ottawa East, across the street from Saint Paul’s. Saint Patrick’s parish generally has priests in residence while they study at St. Paul’s University. Most of those priests were patients under care of Dr. Clarke. As well, because his pro-life positions were so deep and so well-known, a fair number of laity from the parish were also to be found in his waiting room. So much so that I suggested, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, to the then Rector, Father Richard Siok, that a confessional ought to be put into Dr. Clarke’s waiting room. The room often had both confessors and penitents waiting to see the good doctor.
Father Siok held Dr. Clarke in high esteem and this esteem was reciprocated. During his pastorate Father Siok would invite Dr. Clarke to dinner in the rectory during flu season. After the meal Father had Dr. Clarke give all the parish clergy their flu shots. As an aside to me on one such occasion, Father said to me, “I can’t afford to have any of these boys off sick. There’s too much to be done here.”
Most of us are aware of all the Masses Joe and Glovanna arranged for a pro-life medical centre in Ottawa. They worked tirelessly on that project and I am happy that the momentum for such a clinic has not faded away with the loss of such a dedicated pro-life couple.
Let us remember their souls today at this Mass and continue to support the project that was so dear to them both and all who joined them in that hope.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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