Rev. Clarence J., Rivers, loving brother of Maxine E. Rivers of Washington D.C. Dear uncle of Christa Rivers (Enrique) Caceres and Sasha A. Rivers. Also survived by many cousins. Passed away Sunday, November 21, 2004 at the age of 73 years. Reception of the body and visitation will be held Friday, November 26, 2004 from 5 to 7:30 P.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 745 Ezzard Charles Dr. A second visitation will be Saturday from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial at The Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, Eighth and Plum Streets. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Elementary School, 745 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinci, OH 45203. Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Rev. Clarence J. Rivers was pioneer priest Broke color barrier in '56 By Rebecca Goodman Enquirer staff writer AVONDALE - The Rev. Clarence Joseph Rivers, the first African-American priest ordained in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died Sunday. He was 73. Father Rivers was a 'member of the presbyterate that few of us will ever forget,' said Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk. 'He was an iconic figure for the black Catholic community throughout the country.' An internationally known composer of American Catholic music, Father Rivers was a pioneering force in the Catholic liturgical movement of post-Vatican II. 'He believed that a worshipping congregation should participate in liturgies that were inspiring - not dull,' said his sister, Maxine Rivers of Washington, D.C. 'He spent his priestly life teaching Catholics how to be fully engaged in their worship during Mass.' Father Rivers' music was critically acclaimed by Raymond Ericson of The New York Times, Herbert Kupferberg of the New York Herald Tribune and Jack Mahler of Billboard magazine. Father Rivers also taught at St. Joseph School in the West End and Purcell High School in East Walnut Hills, where he directed the Queen's Men, a theater guild specializing in the works of William Shakespeare. 'To this day, former students from the years he taught at Purcell are in his close circle of many friends,' his sister said. Born Sept. 9, 1931, in Selma, Ala., Father Rivers moved with his family to Cincinnati when he was in elementary school. Although the family wasn't Catholic, his mother enrolled him in the fourth grade at St. Ann School because she recognized the value of a Catholic education. When the school offered to baptize him, his parents consented. Father Rivers was a sophomore at Elder High School in Price Hill when he decided to enter the priesthood. He transferred to St. Gregory Minor Seminary in Mount Washington. He held a master's degree in scholastic philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio and did graduate work in English literature at Xavier and Yale universities. He also studied speech and drama at the Catholic University of America and conducted graduate research in liturgy at the Institut Catholique of Paris. He received a Ph.D. in black culture and religion from the Union Institute. Ordained in 1956, Father Rivers was first assigned to serve at a white parish. He transferred to St. Joseph when the first congregation didn't want him, according to his sister. 'He really was a pioneer because he did endure a lot of racism in his early years,' she said. 'When he was ordained the first black priest in 1956, that was unheard of.' In 1963, Father Rivers electrified the Catholic liturgy with his 'American Mass Program.' The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra selected his composition 'The Brotherhood of Man' to perform at its third ecumenical concert. During the summer of 1964, at the annual meeting of the National Liturgical Conference, Father Rivers led the singing of the first English Mass after the Vatican Council. 'Music in the American Church has not been the same since,' his sister said. Through his three books - 'Soulful Worship,' 'The Spirit in Worship' and 'Freeing the Spirit' - as well as countless articles, Father Rivers fostered the African-American experience and culture in Catholic worship. The African-American Catholic hymnal - 'Lead Me, Guide Me' - was dedicated to him. Father Rivers was director of the department of culture and worship for the National Office for Black Catholics, and he was a member of the board of directors of the National Liturgical Conference. He narrated the ABC-TV civil rights documentary 'We Shall Be Heard,' and he appeared on television programs. His retirement three years ago didn't slow him down. 'Ha-ha, I'm retired on paper, but I have the same amount of work load,' he told his sister. 'He was so much in demand around the country,' she said. 'He would give talks on the art of soulful worship.' He also spoke about his dream: establishing a college apprenticeship program for the liturgical arts. He would have called his college the Lion of Judah, his sister said. 'Although small in physical stature, he had a presence that was larger than life,' his sister said. 'Once he entered a room or a gathering, you knew you were in the midst of someone extraordinary.' His death Sunday was a 'shock to everybody because he wasn't sick,' she said. In addition to his sister, he is survived by two nieces. Reception of the body, visitation and prayer service are 5-7 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church, 745 Ezzard Charles Drive, West End. Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m Saturday at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, Eighth and Plum streets, downtown. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Service

Friday, November 26, 2004 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM St. Joseph Catholic Church 745 Ezzard Charles Drive Cincinnati 45203, United States

Service

Saturday, November 27, 2004 11:00 AM St. Peter in Chains Cathedral 325 W 8th St Cincinnati 45202, United States