From Father Steven - July 27, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • July 25, 2025

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Please see the letter below from Janet, one of our parishioners, who is a missionary teacher in the Caribbean.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

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Hello! My name is Janet, I’m 31 years old, and I’ve been serving as a missionary teacher in the Caribbean for the past two years. As I now prepare to begin my third year, I’ve been reflecting deeply on this journey—one that has transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined.


Before I answered the call to mission, I was in a season of searching—trying to find myself, questioning what my purpose was, and wondering what God wanted from my life. I felt like I was drifting, unsure of what direction to take. I had desires for meaning, for adventure, for something bigger than myself, but I didn’t quite know how to find it.


It wasn’t until I took the leap of faith to serve in mission that things began to change. Coming to the Island, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t know how I’d adjust to a new culture, to a simpler lifestyle, or to relying entirely on the providence of God. But I was willing to try. And it’s in that surrender that I found everything I didn’t even know I was looking for.


In teaching children and sharing the faith with them, I discovered my vocation. There is something so powerful and humbling about watching young hearts come to know God, and knowing He is using me—just as I am—to help plant those seeds. Every classroom moment, every CCD class, every small conversation has become a sacred opportunity to witness God's love and truth.


Mission life is not without its challenges. We live simply, depending on the generosity of others and trusting that God will provide for our needs. And He always does—but not always in the way I expect. Through this dependence, I’ve learned to see God in everything: in a donated meal, in the smile of a student, in the quiet strength that gets me through long days. I’ve learned that God’s plans are always better than mine, even when they take me far from what feels comfortable or easy.


The past two years have brought me a joy I didn’t think was possible. Not a fleeting kind of happiness, but a deep, steady joy that comes from knowing I am exactly where God wants me to be. I’ve grown spiritually, emotionally, and in my identity as a daughter of God. I’ve learned to let go, to trust, to live in the present, and to love more fully.


As I enter this third year of my mission, my heart is filled with gratitude and excitement. I know there are still challenges ahead, but I also know that God's grace will carry me through, just as it has from the beginning. This mission has become more than just something I do—it has become part of who I am.


Please keep me, the children I teach, and all missionaries in your prayers. May we all continue to say "yes" to God's call, whatever and wherever it may be.



With love and joy,
 Janet

 



From Father Steven - July 20, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • July 18, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are having a wonderful summer—visiting family and friends, enjoying beautiful places, and, above all, continuing your prayerful life with the Lord. It can be challenging at times to maintain our spiritual routine while on vacation. St. John Bosco exhorted young people to make time for recreation , not relaxation —there is a difference between having moments of fun and letting our guard down. Remember, the devil never rests; he is like a lion looking for someone to devour. A balanced life is always best: a little bit of work, a little bit of fun, and a little bit of prayer. Indeed, we should take advantage of the summer to do things we often don’t have time for during the rest of the year. On a separate note, in case you were not here last weekend, I announced that our Archbishop, Richard Henning, has extended my term as pastor for another six years. He is very pleased with what he hears about the parish, which is a reflection of your efforts and your prayers. I must confess that I, too, am very pleased to see the work that God is accomplishing in our community. There are many graces that God has bestowed on our people—many stories of individuals returning to the Church, receiving the sacraments after many years, and much more. One of the greatest privileges I have is witnessing God at work in people’s lives. Of course, we also share in the sorrows and struggles of our parishioners. But after these years, I can say that, counting both the joyful and the difficult moments, I am very happy to be your pastor. My primary duties are to teach, sanctify, and govern the parish. I have done my best to fulfill these responsibilities. I know I don’t have much to offer, so I kindly ask for your patience with my limitations. I too walk alongside you on this path of growing closer to the Lord. Mistakes have been made in the past, and there may be more in the future—hopefully fewer. Please continue to pray for me and for all priests. We truly need all the prayers we can get. Next week, I will accompany a group of 51 young people on a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. Fr. Gabriel will also be going, although with a different group. Fr. Victor will remain here with you, along with Fr. Cássio Dalpiaz, a longtime friend of mine from Brazil. He is a priest from Brasília and will soon be going to Portugal to complete his doctoral studies on the connection between Literature and Theology (he has done extensive work on the theology behind Tolkien’s writings). He speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Some of the youth going to Rome are children of immigrants who faced difficult times not long ago. Thank God their situation has improved, though some families are still dealing with immigration-related issues. These young people are struggling to cover the full cost of the trip, so they will be asking for donations after Mass. Lastly, I’ve invited some parishioners to share their testimonies in the upcoming bulletins. I hope these stories help convey some of the beautiful things happening in our parish and in the lives of our people. Let us continue to pray that more souls may choose the “better part”—that is, to love and serve the Lord. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - July 13, 2025

By 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