From Father Steven - April 20, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • April 17, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!!!

 

I pray that during these next 50 days of the Easter season, you may truly experience the resurrection of Christ in your life. The resurrection is not something magical, as though Christ waves a wand and suddenly we are converted. Lent is our preparation, a spiritual journey that leads us to the moment of Jesus passing through our lives at Easter.

 

According to the Gospels, on Easter morning only Mary Magdalene encounters the Risen Christ. No one else does at first. Over the coming weeks, we will hear different Gospel accounts of others meeting the Risen Lord in a variety of places and situations—reminding us that Christ reveals Himself in many ways, often when we least expect it.

 

We live in a world that doesn’t like to wait. We’ve grown accustomed to instant everything. It’s funny to think how different things were not so long ago—waiting through commercials on TV, or sending letters by mail that took days or weeks to arrive. Today, we can get deliveries within hours and watch any show, anywhere, anytime. Yet, when we read Scripture, we discover that God often calls His people to wait.

 

Abraham waited most of his life for God to fulfill His promises. Then he waited again to hear His voice. The Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert. Clearly, God is in no rush. He could have created the world in an instant, yet He chose to take seven days. After our Lenten preparation, now we enter the season of hope and anticipation—waiting for the Lord to appear. We don’t know when or how, but we trust that He will come. Let us not be like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who walked and spoke with Jesus without recognizing Him.

 

Each year, Christ seeks to free us from the lies and chains of the enemy. We are often tempted to believe that we are not good enough, that we cannot forgive ourselves for past mistakes, or that a certain person will always remain a painful burden in our lives. The suffering we see around us can deepen that grief. The disciples, too, experienced this kind of “death” of the soul—sadness, confusion, even despair.

 

But in the midst of this brokenness, Christ appears. He comes to reveal that those things no longer have power over us. He breaks the chains of darkness. A better image might be this: Christ has flung open the doors of our prison cell—but we must choose to walk out. The Holy Spirit comes to give us the strength to take that step into freedom. The freedom to forgive. The freedom to see how valuable and loved we truly are. It doesn’t matter if we are “good enough”—God loves us as we are. He knows we have our struggles. I like to say, respectfully and with humor, that we are sometimes God’s “high-maintenance children.” Yet He loves us just the same!

 

So now that we have heard the news of the Resurrection—what do we do? Peter and John ran to the tomb. They left the place where they were and sought Christ. We are invited to do the same. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been coming to church regularly, or if this is your first time here in a while—the invitation is for everyone.

 

This Jubilee Year is a special time of grace. Come out of fear and into the freedom of the Risen Christ! Encounter Him in the many opportunities offered in our parish:

Daily Mass (Monday to Saturday at 7:30 AM), Adoration (6:30–7:30 AM and 6–7 PM), Confessions (6–7 PM), Jubilee Talks every Wednesday (7–8 PM), Tuesdays in Spanish, Thursdays in Portuguese Upcoming retreats: Unbound in English (May 24), Brazilian retreat (May 24–25), Spanish couples retreat (June 1), Join one of our many ministries—Cenacle, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Neocatechumenal Way, Bible Study, Friends of Faith, Bereavement Ministry—or serve at Mass as a catechist, lector, singer, or Eucharistic minister.

 

Maybe the wait is over. The Risen Christ is already here, waiting to encounter you. He will free you. He will give you new life. Come and see!

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven



 

From Father Steven - December 14, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • December 12, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… I hope the nativity scene, the trees, the lights, the gifts, and the Christmas carols are helping you prepare for the big day! If not, hurry up with your preparations! This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday , which translates to “ Rejoice Sunday .” This expression comes from the Introit (entrance antiphon) of the Mass: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” The priest wears rose (not pink!) as a sign of the sun that is just about to rise on the horizon, representing the imminent coming of Christ. Although we are living through one of the darkest times of the year, we know that the Light is coming. Sin and suffering have an end. We are almost there. The first reading speaks of how everything dead, feeble, or broken will be transformed—and will rejoice. St. Paul cautions us to be patient. The Lord is near, but not yet. We are very close, and if anyone is not ready, there is still time! A couple of weeks ago, we heard St. Paul’s exhortation: “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Rom 13:11–12) However, not everyone rejoices at this time of year. I want to acknowledge all those who struggle during this season. For some, this will be the first Christmas without their father, mother, husband, wife, child, sibling, or another loved one. Whether they are far away, estranged, or have been called home to the Lord, not being able to celebrate such an important moment with them is very hard. Instead of laughter, there may be tears. Instead of a house full of people, there may be only a few—or no one at all. There are also people who must be away from their families this Christmas. I ask each of you reading this letter to say a prayer for them this weekend. In your Christmas gatherings, when you pray or say grace before the meal, remember them. If you know someone who has recently lost a loved one or is separated from their family, please be especially considerate. A small gesture can go a very long way. I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank all the people who worked so hard these past days with the Novena, the Consecration to Mary, and the celebrations of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. They did a fabulous job organizing everything, decorating, and cleaning up. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! And thank you as well to all of you who participated in these events—it would not have been the same without you. Finally, next week we are preparing for our Immaculate Conception Christmas Concert! It will be an opportunity for the whole parish to come together and celebrate each other’s cultures. Children and adults from all three communities are preparing to share their Christmas joy with us. I invite you all to come. It will take place Sunday, December 21 at 3 PM . Feel free to bring others as well. We will have refreshments afterward.  …and don’t forget to keep Christ in Christmas!!! God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - December 7, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • December 5, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, The month of December is always filled with excitement as we prepare for Christmas. Even though the season can get a little busy—and yes, sometimes stressful—God offers us a beautiful time overflowing with grace. You’ve seen the saying, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” With all the wonderful events ahead, we will certainly keep Him at the center! As in the Christmas story, everything begins with Mary. This Monday, December 8 , we joyfully celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception , the patronal feast of our parish and of the United States. Because of its great importance for our faith, it is a Holy Day of Obligation , meaning we gather for Mass just as we do on Sundays. We will have our daily mass at 7:30am, then 12:10pm, and then the Trilingual Mass at 7:00pm followed by parish fellowship in Meehan Hall. At the evening Mass, those who have completed their 33-day preparation will make their Consecration to Mary —a beautiful milestone in their spiritual lives and a special moment for our parish family. (Reminder for all those doing the consecration to Mary: we will have an important meeting on Sunday, December 7, at 6:00 PM, regardless of whether you came on Wednesdays or completed the preparation on your own.) On Friday, December 12 at 7:00 PM We are very blessed and excited to welcome Archbishop Richard Henning , our shepherd and leader! He wants to come to the parish to meet YOU ! He is coming to celebrate the mass on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe , patroness of the Americas. During his first year in Boston, he has been visiting parishes and getting to know the people. Now that he is coming to us, we encourage you to be there to welcome him. We are preparing a wonderful evening for this special visit. Nearly 500 years ago, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego, bringing hope and unity to countless hearts. To prepare for this feast, the Archbishop has invited all parishes of the Archdiocese to pray a novena. Although we have already begun, you can join us every evening at 7:00 PM in the church. Come and join us! After this grace-filled week, we gather again on Sunday, December 21, at 3 PM for our Immaculate Conception Parish Christmas Concert ! Our children’s choir from each of our three communities has been joyfully preparing their songs, along with our parish choirs. We even have a special surprise in store! After spending Advent contemplating Mary’s faith, we now contemplate her beautiful “yes” —and through music, we quiet our hearts and adore the newborn King, even amid the rush of last-minute preparations. Finally, in this season of lights, lists, and long lines, let us not lose sight of the One we celebrate. Take a moment to slow down… recognize the wonderful things God is doing for us and through us. That is the greatest gift of all. Love is one of the few things that lasts forever. Let us give it generously—and receive it joyfully. May God fill your hearts with peace as we enter this blessed season together! God Bless, Fr. Steven