From Father Steven - June 22, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • June 20, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, commonly known as Corpus Christi. This feast is a longstanding tradition of the Church, which began in the 13th century in Italy following the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto. On this special occasion, I would like to reflect on the Real Presence of Christ in the consecrated host.


Fr. Peter of Prague, a German priest, was on a pilgrimage to Rome. While celebrating Mass in a small chapel in Bolsena, he began to doubt whether Christ was truly present in the consecrated Bread. As he pronounced the words of consecration—“Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you”—the host began to bleed. Unsure of what to do and aware that Pope Urban IV was nearby in Orvieto, Fr. Peter brought the matter to his attention. The Pope listened to the priest’s account, granted him absolution, and sent emissaries to investigate. Once the facts were confirmed, the Pope ordered the Bishop of the diocese to bring the consecrated Host and the linen cloth, now stained with blood, to Orvieto. In a solemn procession attended by archbishops, cardinals, and other Church dignitaries, the Pope received the relics and placed them in the cathedral. The linen corporal, still bearing the bloodstains, is reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto to this day. Interestingly, Pope Urban IV had been involved in the Eucharistic Revival in Liège, Belgium, twenty years earlier—where the first celebration of Corpus Christi was ever observed. One year after the miracle of Bolsena, the Pope commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose special prayers and a Mass for the feast and instituted the Solemnity of Corpus Christi for the entire Church. Inside our church over the next few weeks, we are displaying information—in all three languages—about other Eucharistic miracles from around the world. These accounts can deepen our faith and help us to better appreciate the mystery of the Eucharist.


 “A Christian is not obliged to believe in Eucharistic miracles,” As Monsignor Raffaello Martinelli explains. “However, Eucharistic miracles can encourage us to understand, appreciate, and love the Eucharist… They can help a person discover the mystery, the beauty, and the richness of the Eucharist. We must never forget nor fail to mention that the Eucharist is the true, great, inexhaustible daily miracle. It is indeed true that the most important and astounding miracle is the one that takes place whenever the Eucharist is celebrated, during which Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist in a unique and incomparable way. He is present in a true, real, and substantial way—with His Body and Blood, with His Soul and Divinity. In the Eucharist, therefore, Christ is present sacramentally, under the appearances of bread and wine, whole and entire: God and Man (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 282). In making His Sacrifice on the Cross present and actual, He becomes our food and drink—uniting us with Himself and with one another, and becoming our viaticum on our earthly pilgrimage toward our eternal homeland.”


As we celebrate Mass this weekend, I invite you to reflect on the importance of what happens at Mass—and on the Mass itself. If what we believe is indeed true, then we are called to approach the Eucharist with deeper reverence and preparation. Let us consider arriving a bit earlier, taking time to meditate and prepare spiritually, dressing appropriately, and maintaining a posture of reverence during the liturgy. One essential way to prepare is through the Sacrament of Confession. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church §1385 teaches, anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must receive sacramental absolution in Confession before receiving Holy Communion, because receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin is a sacrilege. May this celebration be a true Eucharistic Revival—for our parish and for each of us personally.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - November 9, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • November 7, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, This week, I would like to talk about a sensitive topic: food insecurity and the stigma that comes along with it. We were raised saying that we should be self-sufficient and independent, but at times God has other plans. Most parents wish that their children may have a good education, health, and a successful life. However, how do we measure success? Is it by the size of the house, the bank account or the 401K, or other accomplishments in life? None of the above! God measures us by humility, faithfulness to the sacrament, love! God’s only desire for us is salvation of our souls, that is, our holiness. It is important to set the parameters before we continue. It is not the first time that our country faces a difficult economic situation. I still remember the crisis of 2008. So many people were unemployed. Many families were unable to pay rent or mortgage, losing their houses. Many also did not have enough money to buy food. However, this reality is not part of a crisis, this is an ongoing issue that affects many families here and around the globe. Regardless of the reason for the financial instability, the point is that we always have had families that struggle to get to the end of the month. These families are not just those from Boston, downtown Worcester, or from another unprivileged condition. At times, they are people sitting next to us at mass, the parents of our children’s friends, or even someone who works, but does not get enough to sustain their families. It does not matter the reason for their struggle, what matters is that, this gives us an opportunity to help Jesus. You may remember the passage in which Jesus says that every time we clothe the naked we clothe him, and every time we feed a hungry person, we feed him. We do not know how much longer the government shut down will continue. We know that currently it is affecting families who are enrolled in food assistance programs. However, even if this gets resolved, we know that the struggle will continue. Therefore, what can we do? I will list a few ways in which we have to support one another. St. Vincent De Paul is a group from the Parish that assists people in various needs. They have boxes located in the exits of the church. By placing money in the poor boxes, we assist them in helping those in need. Here in town, we have the food pantry that also feeds many families. Although we can donate food to them, I was told that, if we were to donate money, they will be able to get even more food. I was told that the city, through the Mayor’s office, he is also able to provide some support. Here at the Parish we also have the community fridge located on the main street side of the church. There we can donate food. I’ve seen people who have cooked a meal and put it in several containers so that it’s easier for more people to have access to it. These are just a few ways to help those in need. You also can put money in an envelope and give it to the Parish office. We in turn will see who would be in the greatest need and give it to them. Jesus in the gospel teaches that when we give, we do not blow the trumpet. Instead, when we give we do it in secret, without letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing. God, who sees what we do in secret will reward us. Furthermore, we always give without counting the cost. Hasn’t God being generous to us? Let us then imitate our heavenly father. “Love one another as I have loved you.” This weekend we would like to thank all the men and women who serve our country: those who are serving and those who have served. Please keep them and their loved ones in your prayers as we commemorate Veteran’s Day. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - November 2, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • October 31, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, This weekend is a special one as we honor the Communion of Saints. We ask for the intercession of the Triumphant Church in heaven and pray for the Suffering Church in purgatory, especially as we celebrate All Souls’ Day. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the Church exists in three states: the Militant (or Pilgrim) Church on earth, the Triumphant Church in heaven, and the Suffering Church in purgatory. United in the Communion of Saints, the Triumphant Church intercedes for us, while we are called to pray and offer sacrifices for the souls in purgatory, helping them complete their purification and enter into the presence of God. Catholic theology teaches that when a person dies, he or she does not become a star or an angel, nor does the soul enter heaven immediately. Each person faces a particular judgment, which determines whether the soul goes to heaven or hell. Those who have loved God and their neighbor, dying in a state of grace—that is, remaining faithful to God until the end—are saved through Christ and destined for heaven. However, some souls must first undergo a period of purification before they can behold God face to face. I often explain it this way: when children play outside, they must wash their hands before sitting at the table. Sometimes the dirt requires extra scrubbing to be completely clean. I remember as a child my mother once used a brush so strong that it almost felt like my skin was coming off—it was painful. In a similar way, the souls in purgatory are cleansed from the remaining effects/consequences of sin. Some mystics describe this purification as a fire consuming their souls. This is why it is so important that we pray for the souls in purgatory and for our loved ones who have passed away. The greatest gift we can offer them is a plenary indulgence, which may be obtained each time we visit this parish, designated as a Jubilee Church. Another powerful act is to offer a Mass for their intention. The Sacrifice of Christ made present on the altar is the most effective prayer for the departed. You may contact the parish office to schedule a Mass intention. We ask for a $15 donation, allowing us to unite our prayer with a personal sacrifice—just as St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary offered two turtle doves at the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. We can also visit cemeteries and pray for the departed. In the United States, we honor the deceased on Memorial Day, but as Catholics, we especially remember the faithful departed on All Souls’ Day. Other ways to assist them include praying the Rosary, spending time in Eucharistic Adoration, and offering other devotional prayers for their intentions. We are also introducing the opportunity to honor the faithful departed (or the living) by offering liturgical memorials. Each weekend, the bread and wine, candles, and sanctuary lamp used in our liturgies may be offered for your chosen intention. A $50 donation is requested for each of these three memorials. Many parishes provide this beautiful opportunity, and we believe it will help strengthen our community’s prayer for the deceased. Additionally, we continue to keep the Book of Remembrance by St. Joseph’s Altar, where all submitted names will be remembered in prayer. However, nothing compares to the grace of offering a Mass or obtaining a plenary indulgence on their behalf. Some saints have said that when we help release a soul from purgatory, that soul will intercede for us before God for the rest of our lives. Let us, then, dear brothers and sisters, make it our mission to help as many souls as possible reach heaven. Each time we come to IC, let us take advantage of the plenary indulgence available during this Jubilee year. Remember, by going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, we may obtain one plenary indulgence per day for eight days as long as we and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father and visit the parish each day. In other words, with one confession and communion, you can receive multiple indulgences. As so many saints have interceded for us, let us now help the future saints—the souls in purgatory—on their journey to eternal joy. God Bless, Fr. Steven