From Father Steven - April 27, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • April 25, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

This weekend we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday—a feast that comes from Jesus’ own desire to make known the abundance of His eternal mercy, so that sinners may be reconciled with God and find peace in His love. At the same time, we are mourning the passing of Pope Francis, and praying for the Church during this time of transition. It is a moment both solemn and sacred, calling us to entrust our hearts to God’s providence.

 

Back in 1931, a Polish nun named Saint Faustina Kowalska began receiving visions of Jesus. In one of these visions, He appeared clothed in white, raising His right hand in blessing while His left hand touched His heart. From His heart flowed two rays—one red and one white. Jesus instructed her to have this image painted and shared throughout the world. This now-famous image, which we see in many churches and homes, has deep meaning: the white ray symbolizes the water of Baptism, which makes souls righteous, and the red ray represents the Precious Blood of Christ, which is the life of our souls. Together, they proclaim the great truth of our faith—that Christ suffered, died, and rose again to forgive our sins and offer us new life.

 

Yet, many do not ask for His mercy. Many live outside the grace God wants so eagerly to pour out. Jesus told Sister Faustina to record His messages in a diary, so the world would know how much He desires to give us His mercy. I once read that what saddens Jesus most is that so many reject His mercy here on earth, and so He cannot give it to them in eternity. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, if we choose to ask God for forgiveness, He will forgive us—completely and freely—because He is Mercy itself. But if we reject that mercy, God respects our freedom and allows us to keep our sins, which leads us to be judged by our own choices. Knowing this, Jesus asked that the Second Sunday of Easter be set aside as a day to honor His Divine Mercy, giving souls a special opportunity to return to Him. Scripture reminds us again and again that God’s mercy endures forever, and that He does not desire the death of a sinner, but that they be converted and live. This Sunday is a powerful reminder: Yes, we fall. Yes, we sin. But with God, there is always a second chance—a third, a hundredth, a millionth—if we only ask. God forgives as much as we are willing to ask for forgiveness. That’s why He gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a concrete way to receive His mercy.

 

In the Gospel this weekend, we hear Jesus say to Peter: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” With these words, Jesus entrusts the power to forgive sins to Peter and, through him, to the Church. Our bishops are the successors of the Apostles, and priests receive this sacred ministry at ordination. Confession, then, is not just a ritual—it is the ordinary way Christ offers us forgiveness.

 

Now, a few words about the death of Pope Francis. Like every pope before him, he served the Church to the best of his ability. Some may have admired him deeply, others may have struggled with certain decisions he made. But if God entrusted him with the care of the Church, then we, as the faithful, are called to support and pray for our shepherd. I believe his papacy was necessary—especially for those who felt forgotten or left on the margins. Pope Francis was known as the “People’s Pope” he made people feel welcome and loved. As we await the election of a new pope, let us pray earnestly. A conclave will soon gather the cardinals under the age of 80 in the Sistine Chapel, where they will vote for the next successor of Peter. This is a sacred and serious responsibility. Let us all unite in prayer for this process, and for the one whom God is calling to lead His Church. Pope Francis began his pontificate by humbly asking us to pray for him. That request remains just as vital now—for his soul, for his successor, and for all those in Church leadership. Bishops and priests face many challenges in shepherding God's people, including their own human weaknesses and the demands of the world we live in. So I ask you: pray for us, but especially pray for the man who will become our next pope. He will not be perfect, and he may not always make the decisions we expect. But as our shepherd, he deserves our prayers, our support, and our attentive hearts.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

 

From Father Steven - September 6, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • September 4, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you had a good, restful, and joyful summer. Unfortunately, it's over, so it's time for all of us to get back to our regular schedules — including our spiritual routine. I often recommend going to confession after the summer. Whether there was a Mass that was skipped, some feathers that got ruffled, or our tongue got a little too sharp, it's always good to go to confession. Another way to think of it: it's time for an oil change — but instead of oil, it's our sins that get removed, and new graces are put into our souls. God has prepared many wonderful graces for us this coming year, beginning with the Labor Day Parade. On Monday, the Lord is calling as many of us as possible to make His presence visible in town. As every year, IC Church will have a float to show everyone that God and the Church are very much alive. But if only a few of us show up, it defeats the purpose. You may have heard before about a person who came back to church because of the joy he saw among our people. This year's theme is the Eucharist. The Spanish community has prepared a float displaying a monstrance, with children dressed in white (some as angels). We urge as many people as possible to join us in this procession of our faith. Next Saturday, Richard Kerns, a longtime parishioner, will be ordained a permanent deacon at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. I've mentioned before how our parish is bearing much fruit through different vocations and missions. I invite those who are able to come and accompany him at this important moment in his life, and in the life of our parish. Then, on Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, he will serve and preach for the first time. There's no excuse not to be there to witness this special gift to our parish. Light refreshments will follow in the Hall. Also next Saturday, the Brazilian community will hold their annual festival in the parking lot in the late afternoon. There will be traditional food, entertainment for the children, and lots of fun. Since we are one parish, this isn't just their feast — it's ours too. They use a ticket system for food and children's activities, and there will be a booth at the entrance selling tickets. The following weekend, we will begin a series of talks for youth and adults. For many people, religious instruction stopped at Confirmation, and they haven't received any further formation in the faith since. These talks offer an opportunity to continue growing in faith through a itinerary of Christian formation. I will be leading the group this time, along with a team of parishioners. The talks will take place on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Hall.  Last but not least, the following weekend we will hold our annual Friends of the Poor Walk, sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul. This is their major fundraiser to help those in need in our parish and in the city of Marlboro. IC's group will be joined by St. Matthias' group for this event. It is not only our duty to help the needy, but a privilege to be part of it. With rising rent, utility, and living costs in Massachusetts, more families are in need of help — families that could be sitting next to you, your neighbor, or your children's friends. I invite anyone looking to help to join a group; this is a wonderful opportunity to put our faith into action. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - August 30, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • August 28, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I was very happy that I finally had the opportunity a month ago to speak about vaping addiction among the youth. Today, I would like to speak about addictions in general that affect and hurt our families, parish, community, and, above all, ourselves. First of all, it is important to understand that usually no one likes to have an addiction. Substance abuse is not something a person simply chooses to become trapped in. Rather, very often, it is the only resource that a person finds in their struggle. The other day, I was talking to a social worker at the hospital about how we have lost so many of our coping skills. We no longer have the resilience that we used to have in the past. Addiction is often more than a bad habit or a lack of willpower. For many people, it can be connected to pain, trauma, loneliness, or an attempt to cope with difficulties they do not know how to face in healthier ways. Therefore, it can often be understood as a cry for help from someone who is suffering. Once we understand that people may turn to drugs, alcohol, or other substances in an attempt to relieve their pain, we also need to recognize that repeated substance use can produce real changes in the brain and body. A person can develop tolerance, dependence, and powerful cravings that make stopping extremely difficult. This is why addiction cannot simply be reduced to a lack of willpower. What may have begun as an attempt to cope with pain can eventually become a dependency that is very difficult to overcome without help. Anyone who suffers from substance abuse does not need judgment, but love and compassion. As Catholics, we believe that love conquers all things. We also believe that for God, nothing is impossible. Therefore, if there is someone in your family, in your circle of friends, an acquaintance, or even a stranger, let us go the extra mile and be compassionate. Christ does not abandon the person who is suffering. He goes out of His way to bring love and consolation, like the Good Samaritan. He certainly suffers with that person. If Christ does this for us, how can we, as His disciples, do anything less for those who are suffering? The more involved I become in helping people here in Marlboro, the more I discover the many resources available through the city and other agencies. I will try to pull together a sheet with different resources in the community and leave them in the church for those who need them. If someone struggles with alcoholism, drug or medication abuse, or some other sort of addiction, YOU ARE NOT ALONE…and YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ALONE. God wants to help, and so do we. It is okay; we all have problems, and the solutions at times can seem so far from our reach that we give up. Maybe now is the time to get up and start walking back to the Father’s house, like the Prodigal Son. Maybe now is the time that, together, we will overcome the struggles that lead to addiction.  I invite everyone in our parish to join us for the Overdose Awareness Day ceremony here at the Immaculate Conception Church on Monday August 31 at 7:15pm. Let us come together to remember those whose lives have been lost (you may bring their picture), support those who continue to struggle, and pray for their families and loved ones. Always count with your prayers to you and your loved ones, God bless Fr. Steven