September 19, 2025

From the Archives

Introduction

Father Clarence Witte was a native of Richmond who was ordained as a Maryknoll missionary priest in 1935. He served in Japan from 1947-1966, including a five-year term as the regional superior of the Maryknoll Fathers in Japan. Following his assignment in Japan, Father Clarence was sent to Bolivia to minister to Japanese immigrants. In 1976, Father Clarence returned to Japan, where he remained until his retirement and death in 2001.“From the Archives” has returned to The Criterion! In this latest iteration, the feature will include a trivia aspect. If you know the answer to the question, you can submit it to win a special “trivia expert” sticker. The answer to each question will be published the next time the feature appears in The Criterion.

In This Photo

Father Clarence Witte was a native of Richmond who was ordained as a Maryknoll missionary priest in 1935. He served in Japan from 1947-1966, including a five-year term as the regional superior of the Maryknoll Fathers in Japan. Following his assignment in Japan, Father Clarence was sent to Bolivia to minister to Japanese immigrants. In 1976, Father Clarence returned to Japan, where he remained until his retirement and death in 2001. (Click the photo to see a larger version)

Trivia Question

What event is Father Clarence Witte celebrating in this photo? Let us know your answer at bit.ly/ArchivesTrivia.

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