From Father Steven - March 17, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • March 15, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Every Easter Christ makes himself present in a special way, through his death and resurrection. The Jews celebrate the Passover feast not as a reminder of what happened in Exodus. Rather, they celebrate their own personal passage from slavery to freedom. We know that on the Passover night, the Hebrews were ready to leave Egypt. Now with Easter approaching, we need to ask ourselves, are we ready to do Passover? Are we ready to leave the slavery of our own sins to be able to join in the Resurrection of Christ?

 

In Theology we believe that grace is not magic. It requires the person to be open to it, to desire it, and to leave behind whatever is blocking it. God wants to bestow on us many graces. God wants to give His infinite love that we long so much without realizing. However, in order to do that, it is necessary to realize that we need these love/graces. This is the reason why God at times allows us to go through some sufferings, precariousness, difficulties. We need to be convinced that we need His help. The Jews believe that this is the reason why God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and sent him the ten plagues. Once the Israelites saw that, they were convinced that God was the only one that could help them in their sufferings. Then they cried out and God heard them. The first step of receiving God’s graces is to be open to it. Then, realizing our needs, we can cry out, that is, to desire to receive them. The third and last step is to remove whatever impediments that block God’s grace to reach out to us. This is the renunciation and rejection of sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the consequence of sin as turning away man from God. Then we need to turn back to God. Ultimately is a choice of our own (distorted) desire instead of doing God’s will. Thus, we need to reconnect with God, and reestablish the desire to do His will. The way we know for sure that God forgives sins is through the sacrament…because he said so.

 

Once I heard that God is always pouring graces upon us like the rain that drops from the sky. We are like containers that collect them. However, what is collected is according to the size of the recipient. If we have a small cup, we will collect very little. However, if we have a swimming pool size tank, imagine how many graces we could collect. There is a small “if” in there. If there are holes in the containers, as big as they can be, it won’t hold any water. Confession then comes to cover the holes created by sin. The sacraments and our will/desire for God are like enlarging the containers. Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters to seek the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) before Easter. To accommodate everyone, we will have three evenings of Penance Services (confessions) next week. These services will begin with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, scripture readings, and a brief reflection, followed by confession times. We will have additional priests to assist. The schedule is as follows:

 

· Monday: Spanish, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

· Tuesday: Portuguese, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

·  Wednesday: English, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (following the 6pm Taize Prayer service)

 

St Paul urges us to be reconciled with God…[because] now is the day of Salvation (2 Co 5:20, 6:2). He adds that we are children of the light, and not of the darkness (1 Th 5:5). The night is far spent, and the day is approaching. Christ the new light is coming to save us from our sins and give us a new life through His death and resurrection. Finally, St. Paul says, awake you who slumber (those whose sins are seen as sleeping) (Rm 13:11). It is now the time for us to leave behind our slavery to sin, to live for ourselves, to be open to the graces that God wants to give us, to open our hearts to receive His infinite love. Let us not harden our hearts as Pharaoh did. Let us go to Christ. “He who is in Christ is a new Creation. The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Co 5:17).

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - November 16, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • November 14, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, As we continue honoring the faithful departed during the month of November, I would like to speak about something that can sometimes feel uncomfortable or awkward—but is also very necessary: funerals. This week, I read an article in the National Catholic Register titled “Why Are Fewer Catholics Having Church Funerals?” It noted that over the past 20 years, the number of Catholic funerals in the United States has dropped by about 30%. The article went on to explain that many families now prefer holding funeral services at funeral homes rather than having a funeral Mass in church. One of the main reasons for this shift, according to the study cited, is that families of the deceased are often no longer religious. They may feel uncomfortable going to church, or they may not see the need for it. At times, the person who passed away was a faithful parishioner who attended Mass regularly. Yet when the moment of loss comes—with the grief, family tensions, and emotional exhaustion that follow—families often choose a simpler service rather than a funeral Mass. It is important, however, to understand the deep value of offering a Mass for someone who has died. From a psychological standpoint, it provides closure as we entrust the soul of our loved one to God. There is a beautiful prayer of commendation at the end of the funeral Mass, in which the priest commends the soul of the deceased into the hands of the Father. On a spiritual level, the value is even greater. The sacrifice of Christ made present on the altar has immeasurable power. To offer a Mass for the soul of a loved one has a profound effect—especially after death. In every Mass, Christ offers Himself for the salvation of souls. While a Mass cannot change the free choice of someone who rejected God, it can assist souls in purgatory on their journey to heaven. For that reason, it is vital that we not only pray for our departed loved ones but also have a Mass offered for them. Additionally, the graces of a funeral Mass extend to all who attend—especially to the family and friends who gather in faith and hope. A funeral Mass does not need to be complicated. In fact, simplicity often brings greater peace and focus. It is even recommended that each person plan his or her own funeral Mass in advance—choosing the readings and hymns, and letting loved ones know their wishes. This both expresses the person’s faith and eases the burden on the family, especially if they are no longer active in the Church. Our parish office can help you choose readings and music and answer any questions you may have. I would also like to mention that, technically, the words of remembrance is not part of the funeral liturgy. While the Archdiocese allows something brief at Mass, it is not preferable. The Mass is primarily an act of prayer and intercession for the soul of the deceased, rather than a time for praise or personal remembrance. Lastly, a quick word about cremation. Until relatively recently, the Church discouraged cremation because it could obscure the sign of our belief in the resurrection of the body. Although cremation is now permitted, the Church still requires that the cremated remains be properly buried. The same article I mentioned earlier noted the growing practice of scattering ashes or keeping them at home. While these gestures may come from love or sentiment, our faith teaches that the remains of the deceased should rest in consecrated ground—together with others who “sleep in Christ,” awaiting the resurrection. The word cemetery itself comes from the Greek koimeterion , meaning “dormitory”—a place of sleep, not of death. If you have the ashes of a loved one at home, please contact us; we will gladly assist you in arranging a proper burial. Here in our town, we are blessed to have three excellent funeral homes with compassionate and capable staff who can help you with any questions and guide you through the process. I hope this reflection helps you better understand the beauty and meaning of the funeral Mass—a sacred act of love, faith, and hope in the resurrection. 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