Vale: Br Peter Clinch cfc

In February 2022, Brother Peter was elected the as the ‘world leader’ of the Christian Brothers. His appointment was for a six year period. Peter was the Oceania Province leader prior to this appointment.  Oceania Province is a cross-national entity as it spans five sovereign nations, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Timor-Leste. 

Those Virgilians who had the good fortune to have contact with Peter during his Hobart periods will remember him with great fondness.  What follows is a Memorial penned by Br Gerry Brady cfc   

MEMORIAM: BR PETER BERNARD CLINCH CFC ~ 17TH CONGREGATION LEADER

“I thank my God each time I think of you and when I pray for you I pray with joy.” ~ Philippians 13-4 

We are still coming to terms with the untimely and sudden death of our beloved brother, Peter Bernard Clinch who died suddenly on 28th January in the early hours of Sunday morning. The expressions of condolence and consolation have been extraordinary over recent days coming from Religious Institutes and their leadership, Edmund Rice Network people and Bishops. I have felt so supported through your loving tributes to Peter and your personal care of me as a dear and close friend. 

Peter grew up in Murrumbeena, in those days a working-class suburb. His father Kevin was a plumber, a forthright man who had a compassionate heart. His mother Joan was the home maker with whom Peter had a close relationship. In latter years Joan was confined to a wheelchair but it did not prevent her determination to get out and about. She had close associations with the Presentation Sisters and no doubt Peter was influenced by that Presentation spirit in his early life. He was close to his siblings Kathleen, Maureen (deceased), Stephen, Robert, Margaret and Michael and their spouses and children. There were regular gatherings of the clan which Peter looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed. It was also in this home environment he was inducted (some would say baptised) into his lifelong following of the Australian Rules Football Team, Collingwood, and attended games with his aunt Von. 

Peter’s education was at Christian Brothers College St Kilda and he was a dependable and serious student. He was taught for four of those years by Br Clem Barrett who also coached him in athletics. Peter still holds a College athletics record to this day. He entered the Juvenate at Bundoora to complete his form 5 and 6 years then proceeded to the novitiate at Mater Dei Lower Plenty where he was guided by Br Michael Borromeo Stallard as his Novice Master whom he lived in community in later years where both were involved with the refugee homework tutoring service in St Albans.

Such involvement reflected Peter’s deep commitment to those on the margins. It was in his postulancy that I first met this vibrant, energetic and dependable person. On occasions his raucous laughter would resound in the novitiate only to be reminded by the socius Br Leopold Griffin “Smile with your eyes Br Clinch!” 

Peter loved teaching and school life. He was sent to Ringwood then Austin’s Ferry in Tasmania, Pascoe Vale in Melbourne and had association with St Leo’s students during his studies at Yarra Theological Union. He ran an ordered and well-disciplined classroom where students knew where they stood with him while also knowing he had their back if they got into trouble. He organised trips to the Centre of Australia and to Tassie with classes and loved the interaction with young people. He had a way of relating to them that put them at ease while assuring them of his care for them. His ability to form relationships led him into pastoral work with senior students and later as Director of the Youth Spirituality Centre at Amberley his talents shone. He established a young adult community at Amberley and oversaw the construction of a house that was always “Clinch clean”! The friendships and interactions with those young adults of those years continues to today. 

Peter had the opportunity to become a Chaplain for a period at MacKillop Family Services as well as to refugees locked away in the Detention Centre in Melbourne. He visited them regularly and with his good friend Fr Peter Carrucan, ran religious services for them. When some were released into the community he took them under his wing working tirelessly to get them into housing and a job. He became a father figure to Navid and Amir and they are so saddened by his death. In quiet ways he would meet them for coffee and then hand over money he had saved for them to buy food and clothing. This was his deep commitment to the poorest of the poor. 

Peter often reflected on the influential period of studying theology at Yarra Theological Union. It was here he became grounded in theological reflection, scripture and contemporary religious education praxis. He would say this was his real formation time in his life. Another defining time for him was his experience at Loreto House Dublin preparing him to be a Formator. He came away from that time with personal insight, awareness of group dynamics and the role and responsibility of a leader. Later he spent time in Nemi, Italy in a Formators’ Program which he found very beneficial. These experiences proved to be foundational for his future call to leadership on Province Leadership Teams and later Province Leader and Congregation Leader. 

Peter’s leadership qualities influenced the vision and direction of the group. Not one to hold back, he would make clear what was needed but was always open to further discussion and consideration of other viewpoints.

here will be many stories shared of our beloved Peter Bernard Clinch. They will reflect on a large-hearted man, who could be direct and determined yet holding a vision that always took us beyond the current reality into a new way of thinking and seeing the world. His compassion for the poor and Earth were captured in the simplicity of his life. David Silva, his team member packed his room indicating there was hardly anything in his cupboard. Peter Bernard Clinch “we have loved you in life and let us not forget you in death” (St Ambrose). May you be at peace in the Divine and expansive love of a God you came to know so well. Rest in peace, my brother. 

Yours fraternally, Gerard Brady cfc Province Leader Christian Brothers – Oceania Province4

Peter Clinch on the right from his Hobart days with Rod Dilger (father of 5 Old Virgilians) and Br Ed ‘Snowy’ O’Donnell

A memorial service for Brother Peter is mentioned in the Calendar Section of this edition.