From Father Steven - December 15, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • December 13, 2024

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudette Sunday. It means “Rejoice.” It comes from the mass antiphon which quotes where St. Paul exhorts to the Phillipians, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.” However this season is not necessarily joy for some of us for different reasons. 

Every holiday we miss our departed loved ones in a special way. We remember that person used to host Christmas dinner, bring their special recipe or say those famous jokes and no longer is with us. It is ok to miss our loved ones. It means that we still love them, and St. Paul says that love never ends. Maybe someone is struggling during this time with illnesses, family issues, or personal difficulties. It is extra hard to feel sad while everyone is jolly happy. It is also a stressful season with all the preparations, last minute shopping, anxiety about Christmas dinner and relatives, and traveling. Then, how can we rejoice? 


This Sunday the Lord comes to fill our hopes. The difficulties in life that weigh us down often brings a sense of failure. As if we were not good enough or were not able to fulfill our obligations. In a world that we are taught to succeed, failure can be devastating. That is why St. Paul invites to REJOICE IN THE LORD. Only in God there is hope for everything!!! The world only brings us anxiety and stress, while Christ, King of Peace, brings us comfort. In the first reading we hear how the people of Israel, while in exile, saw a glimmer of hope. The hope of the coming of the Messiah. In the song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” which I invite you all to carefully look at the lyrics, calls for the people to rejoice, because the Lord is coming. Today I say the same to you! If you are struggling for whatever reason, Rejoice, because the Lord is coming to save you! He is coming to rescue us from our failures, sins, frustrations, sadness, and everything else that makes us lose hope or despair. 


The color ROSE, not pink, wore this weekend, signifies that the sun is almost out. It is the sign the Messiah is almost here we say. However, if we carefully look at the rise of the sun, it is already here. We just cannot see it yet. The same is with the Lord. It is not a matter that the Lord will come. THE LORD IS HERE! We just can’t see him in his fullness just yet. The announcement of the coming of the Messiah at the end of times speaks of his triumphant return. However, He is with us. Then we can rejoice, because the help that we had for so long is here. We are no longer alone in our struggles. This is the reason for us to rejoice. THERE IS A WAY OUT OF ALL THAT TROUBLES US. The Lord announces that our captivity in this sadness is conquered. It is only a matter of time. Even the pain of the separation of our loved ones that cannot be with us for Christmas for whatever reason, the Lord announces that soon will be over. We shall be reunited with our loved one soon, whether in this world or in eternal life. Do not look at your pain right now, but rather look up to the Lord. The pain passes, but not the Lord. 



I invite you this week to say a special prayer for our brothers and sisters who are struggling these days. May the Blessed Mother console them and strengthen them on their journey. 

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven


From Father Steven - October 19, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • October 17, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, Imagine a world where billions of people have never heard the name of Jesus. Picture villages where people walk miles to attend Mass because there is no church nearby. Envision communities where faith is alive yet fragile—tested by poverty, isolation, or persecution. And imagine churches filled to capacity every Sunday, even when those attending know they are targets of terrorists simply because of their faith. These are places where preaching the Gospel and bearing witness to its truth is no easy task—where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or, at best, merely tolerated and pitied. Yet, for that very reason, these are precisely the places where our missionary outreach is most desperately needed. The absence of faith is often tragically accompanied by a loss of life’s meaning, a neglect of mercy, grievous violations of human dignity, the disintegration of families, and countless other wounds afflicting our society. Celebrated each year on the second-to-last Sunday of October, World Mission Sunday is the day when Catholics around the world unite to support the missionary work of the Church. Established by Pope Pius XI in 1926, it remains the only annual global collection that directly supports the 1,124 mission territories where the Church is young, struggling, or persecuted. On this day, every parish, in every diocese, in every country, joins in prayer and generosity to ensure that missionaries can continue their vital work—building churches, forming priests, supporting catechists, and serving communities in need. Pope Francis—before his passing—left us a powerful theme that resonates profoundly in this Jubilee Year: “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples.” In his message, the Holy Father reminds us that hope lies at the very heart of the Christian mission, calling every baptized person to become a “messenger and builder of hope” in a world so often overshadowed by uncertainty and despair.  Today, there are many places where the Christian faith is regarded as absurd—something for the weak or the naïve. In such settings, other securities are prized: technology, money, success, power, or pleasure. But who will announce God’s love to them if not us? Christ Himself has chosen and commissioned us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded” (Mt. 28:19–20). Let us not be afraid to live our faith boldly. This does not mean parading it about like a political banner—no need to wield your rosary like a sword at the grocery store—but it does mean standing firm for what we know to be true: the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death, and the enduring dignity of every human person. As Jesus prayed before the great events of His life, let us also begin with prayer—both personal and communal. This Wednesday, we will have an opportunity to come together from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for adoration, praying for peace in our world. From there, let us become missionaries of love and hope first in our own homes and among those nearest to us. And finally, let us set the world ablaze with the fire of God’s love—through our words, our deeds, and perhaps even a smile that makes others wonder what divine secret we’re keeping—just as St. Ignatius inspired Francis Xavier on his journey to the Far East. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - October 12, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • October 10, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, I write to you this week to share a powerful and life-changing devotion that has brought countless blessings to individuals, families, and entire communities throughout the centuries—the Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary . This spiritual practice is more than a simple act of piety; it is a profound commitment to grow closer to Jesus through His Mother, Mary. Why consecrate ourselves to Mary? As Catholics, we believe that Mary plays a unique role in the plan of salvation. She is not only the Mother of Jesus but also our spiritual Mother, given to us by Christ Himself as He hung on the Cross (John 19:26–27). Just as she nurtured and guided Jesus in His earthly life, she desires to nurture us in our spiritual lives, always pointing us to her Son. When we consecrate ourselves to Mary, we are not worshiping her—we are entrusting ourselves to her motherly care and guidance, allowing her to form us into better disciples of Christ. As St. Louis de Montfort, one of the foremost promoters of Marian consecration, beautifully put it: “To Jesus through Mary.” He taught that by giving ourselves entirely to Mary, she gives us entirely to Jesus, in the most perfect and pleasing way. This consecration is a voluntary act of love. It is a renewal of our baptismal promises, made with Mary as our model and advocate. Many saints and popes, including St. John Paul II, who took “Totus Tuus” ("Totally Yours") as his papal motto, have emphasized the transforming grace that comes from Marian consecration. St. Maximilian Kolbe called it “the quickest, easiest, surest and most perfect way to become a saint.” Practically speaking, consecration involves a period of preparation—traditionally 33 days—during which we reflect on Scripture, Marian devotion, and the call to holiness. Various methods exist. One of the most famous is by St. Louis de Montfort. Here in the parish we will use Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory which is spiritually enriching and accessible. There is a book which we will encourage people to purchase that will guide us through this process. If someone has any difficulty in acquiring this book, please contact the parish office. I encourage every member of our parish family, whether young or old, to prayerfully consider making this consecration. Whether you are seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus, struggling in your spiritual life, or simply looking for a way to grow in faith, turning to Mary is a sure path. She is a gentle, powerful intercessor who will never lead us astray. One could do this consecration by oneself. However, we are planning to begin a parish-wide preparation for Marian Consecration next month, starting on Wednesday November 5 th . All three communities will do this consecration together. It will conclude with an Act of Consecration during the Trilingual Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec 8 th . Additionally, Bishop Reed has also invited us to serve as one of the host churches for a special “Day of Prayer for Harmony in Our Nation and Peace in the World.” On Wednesday, October 22, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Immaculate Conception will be open for Eucharistic Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. What a blessing it is to welcome such a day of prayer! In a time marked by deep division in our nation and turmoil across the world, we are called to bring everything before Jesus, the Prince of Peace. As we sit in silence before the Eucharist, we are reminded that true harmony and reconciliation are possible—not through our efforts alone, but through Christ, who tears down walls of division and unites us, when we open our hearts to Him. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar throughout the day, concluding with Benediction at 7:00 PM in the Upper Church. Morning Mass will be held as usual in the Lower Church. In order to support this day of Adoration, we ask that at least two adorers be present for each hour while the Eucharist is exposed. I encourage parishioners to consider committing to one hour of prayer during this sacred time. To help coordinate coverage of 2–3 people per hour, an online sign-up is available through our website via Signup Genius, or you may call the parish office directly. While all are welcome to come and pray at any time, we rely on scheduled commitments to ensure continuous presence before the Blessed Sacrament throughout the day. God Bless, Fr. Steven