From Father Steven - July 13, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • July 11, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

This weekend we will hear the story of the Good Samaritan. We all know the story—but do we act as the Good Samaritan?

There are some stories in the Bible that we are so familiar with that we could almost recite them backwards. The danger of becoming too familiar with a story is that it no longer impacts us. We can become numb to the message of Jesus. I would like to offer three thoughts to help us meditate on this Gospel passage.


First, the geography is very important. The story takes place on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Therefore, all the characters had just been in the presence of God in the Temple in the Holy City. To bring this into our daily context, it would be as if people had just left Mass. After praying to the Lord, they encounter a victim. Can you imagine—after listening to the commandment of love, they are given the opportunity to put it into practice, but they bypass it?


Second, the characters in the story are not horrible people. According to Jewish precepts, if someone touched a corpse, they would become ritually impure. Perhaps they didn’t want to defile themselves. Maybe they didn’t have time to return to Jerusalem to go through the rite of purification. Or perhaps they thought the victim was already dead, or they were simply in a rush. In other words, there could have been a “reasonable” or “justifiable” excuse not to help the needy person.


Third, the Samaritans were not on good terms with the Jews. Due to a historical event long ago when the Israelites were taken into exile, their rivalry had deep roots. It would be like the Red Sox and the Yankees, or Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland—they really didn’t like each other. That is why the Samaritan is called “good.” Since Samaritans were generally viewed negatively, this one stood out as “good.” However, this hostility did not stop our Samaritan friend from helping his neighbor. Though they all believed in the same God, not all acted like God. Jesus tells us that all the Law is summed up in love of God and neighbor. We can all know what is right and wrong, like the characters in the Bible. The real question is: do we excuse ourselves like the priest and the Levite, or do we act like the Samaritan?


As we approach the Lord at Mass this weekend, let us not be mere consumers. Quite the opposite—let us be re-energized and do what the Lord has done for us. As we witness Christ giving His life for us in His Body and Blood, let us do the same. “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). This command “is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out,” as we hear in the first reading.


Finally, I would like to highlight a couple of things. This Sunday, 7/13, some parishioners will be holding a fundraiser for a group of 50 pilgrims who will attend the Youth Jubilee in Rome this summer. They will host a ticketed Spanish Rock Concert at 3 p.m., either in Meehan Hall or in the parking lot (donations can also be sent to the parish office).


We are also promoting the Catholic Fest event next weekend. There will be food and games in the parking lot. We’ll also have Sean Forrest, a singer and missionary, sharing his amazing witness from 2–3:30 p.m. (in the church). I hope you can stop by on Saturday, July 19th, from 11 a.m. to

6 p.m.



Let us not miss these opportunities to support our parish—and to love one another!

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - August 31, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • August 29, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Labor Day weekend usually marks the end of summer. Schools are back in session, traffic returns to normal, and we settle into our regular schedules. It is also important that we bring our spiritual lives back on track. After a long stretch of work, difficulties, and challenges, summer often gives us the opportunity to slow down a bit. Even some of our daily tasks get set aside during these months. We may travel to visit family, or they may come to see us. In other words, we step away from our routines—and our prayer life can also be affected. That is why it is so important to return to the practices we should live by every day. To begin, it is always good to make a thorough confession after the summer, so that whatever may have happened during those months will not weigh us down as we move forward. Missing Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation (such as August 15th, the Assumption of Mary) is a mortal sin. We know the Ten Commandments (putting other things before God, taking His name in vain, not honoring Sunday as a holy day, dishonoring father and mother, harming others—even through actions, thoughts, or words—sins against chastity, stealing, lying, coveting another’s spouse or goods). Along with these are the seven capital sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. These sins can become like extra weight that we grow accustomed to carrying, often without realizing that they drag us down and hold us back. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that mortal sin “destroys charity [love] in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to Him” (CCC 1855). The consequence is the loss of grace and love in our hearts. If mortal sin is not forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation—which requires repentance and the firm resolve not to commit that sin again—it can lead to eternal separation from God in hell (CCC 1861). St. Paul warns us that “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord,” bringing judgment upon themselves (1 Cor 11:27–30). Let us take advantage of this Jubilee Year, in which God pours out special graces to be forgiven and to forgive. Here at the parish, confessions are available Monday through Friday from 6–7 pm, and Saturdays from 1–3 pm. If you prefer, you may also call the office to schedule an appointment outside these times. Or, if you wish, you can seek out another priest and arrange a time with him. What is most important is that we confess our sins and reconcile with God. We can also return to the daily habits of prayer. From the moment we open our eyes, we are called to praise God, as the psalms remind us. Praying the Angelus or the prayer to our Guardian Angel is a wonderful way to begin the day. Picking up a spiritual book during the day helps us lift our thoughts to heaven. At some point, it is also good to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament—whether in adoration or simply sitting in the church—and to pray the Rosary with our Blessed Mother. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is another beautiful way to stay connected to God. At the close of the day, we should give thanks for the blessings received and ask forgiveness for any failings. And of course, let us never forget to pray before meals. Whenever possible, try to attend daily Mass. It is one of the greatest opportunities to draw near to the Heart of Jesus. Not only does it bring us salvation, but it also strengthens us in our love for one another. Finally, I would like to share that I will be away for two weeks for some rest and spiritual formation. During this time, Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Victor will be available for any needs. If there is an urgent matter, please speak to them or contact Lee Ann. Although I will be away, I will continue to pray for each of you every day. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - August 24, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • August 22, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, There are moments in life when God sends us a messenger—not just to speak to us, but to pierce our hearts, to awaken our souls, and to remind us that His mercy is stronger than any hatred, pain, or loss. This is one of those moments. We are blessed with a rare opportunity at Immaculate Conception Parish to hear firsthand the extraordinary testimony of Immaculée Ilibagiza. Her testimony is not just a story—it is a living proclamation of the Gospel. From the darkness of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when almost everything she loved was taken from her, she emerged not hardened by bitterness, but transformed by the supernatural grace of forgiveness. For 91 days, she hid in a bathroom no bigger than a closet, praying the Rosary until her heart was remade in the image of Christ’s mercy. When she finally stepped out, she chose not vengeance, but love—echoing the very words of our Lord on the Cross: “Father, forgive them.” In a world starving for compassion, reconciliation, and true faith, Immaculée’s witness is a rare light. Her story will challenge you, move you to tears, and ignite in you a deeper hunger for holiness. On the night she comes to Immaculate Conception Parish, God will be speaking to us through her. This is not just an event—it is an invitation from Heaven to encounter Christ’s mercy in a new and life-changing way. Come. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Fill the church. And leave forever changed. It will be on Thursday, September 4 th , doors open at 5:30pm. We ask you to register ahead of time either online or calling the parish office with a $10 cash donation. This week we are also hosting the Encounter School of Ministry. It is a summer intensive course that summarizes 4 quarters into 4 evenings. Drawing from the richness of our Catholic heritage, we seek to teach, equip, and activate disciples to demonstrate the love of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in their sphere of influence. The presenters will be Deacon Joe Cooley, Kasia Intrieri, and Mike DelVecchio. Come immerse yourself in the Holy Spirit! Get a survey of the Year 1 Encounter school curriculum and whet your appetite for more of what the Lord wants to do through you, with you, and in you! It's perfect for anyone desiring to attend the Encounter School during the year but unable to do so due to distance or schedule. It is also ideal for those discerning their enrollment in the school but needing further discernment. Come join us! Become a revival! 6-9pm, August 25-August 28, 2025 -- Eucharistic worship begins at 5pm each evening WHERE – HOW TO REGISTER God Bless, Fr. Steven