From Father Steven - March 29, 2026

Father Steven Clemence • March 27, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Here we are in the most holy week of the year! I hope you had a fruitful Lent, preparing your souls for this moment. I would like to share a brief reflection with you for each day of this upcoming week.



You might have noticed last week that all the sacred images and statues were covered. The Church recommends covering them after the Fifth Sunday of Lent to help us focus more deeply on Christ and to heighten our longing for Easter Sunday. When we walk into the church and notice that things are different, we sense that something significant is about to happen. These final days of Lent are meant to be a time of preparation for the Sacred Triduum, and these veils serve as a powerful reminder to get ready.

 

We begin Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday. The technical name for this Sunday is “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.” As you may recall, we proclaim two Gospels: one recounting the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem at the beginning of Mass, and another, at the usual time, recounting the Passion according to one of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, or Luke). These two passages are important, as they direct us toward Easter. They help us meditate on the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday with hearts that long for the Resurrection of Christ.

 

On Thursday, as we begin the Triduum, we celebrate the Lord’s Last Supper. Although it is often associated with the washing of the feet, there are two other essential elements to remember. The washing of the feet symbolizes fraternal love, as Christ loves and serves His disciples as His friends. At the Last Supper, we also celebrate the institution of the priesthood and the institution of the Eucharist. Not long ago, during the pandemic, we deeply missed receiving Communion. In this moment, we are reminded that Jesus gives us His Body and Blood as a gift to sustain us. During that time, we had to suspend the distribution of the Precious Blood, but now we are able to restore it. What better day to do so than the very day on which Jesus Himself instituted it? I encourage you to receive the Blood of Christ, not only because it is His desire, but also because the Church, especially since the Second Vatican Council, has affirmed that the faithful should have this opportunity. At the end of the celebration, we will process to the hall, where we are invited to keep vigil with Christ until midnight.

 

On Good Friday, when Mass is not celebrated, we gather for the “Celebration of the Lord’s Passion.” In this service, we listen once again to the Passion, and we venerate the Cross of Jesus, as well as reflect on our own crosses. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, though this is not always easy. On this day, we are invited to come forward to adore and kiss the Cross, trusting that Christ helps us carry our burdens.

 

Finally, on Saturday evening (8:00PM) and Sunday morning (7:30AM and 11:00AM—there will be no 5:00PM Mass), we will gather to proclaim the Resurrection of Christ. As we accompany Him to the tomb and mourn His death, we will also come together to proclaim to the world that God is not dead—He is alive and desires to share His divine life with us. Last week, we heard St. Paul exhort us to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. This is only possible if a new life is formed within us. That new life comes through the power of God, made present in the death and Resurrection of Christ. Just as God led His people from Egypt to the Promised Land, so too He desires to lead us into new life. Therefore, it is essential to approach these days with intentionality, striving to rise with Christ into a new life.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - March 22, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • March 20, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, As you may be aware, we are starting our next Bereavement Ministry on March 31st. This is the third session we are offering to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. The loss can be a recent one or one from years ago. We will be following the Catholic program called Seasons of Hope. I encourage you to participate to find support and comfort within our faith-filled community. God Bless, Fr. Steven ——————————————————————— Bereavement Ministry: Seasons of Hope to Begin As we mourn together, our parish bereavement team of Nancy Papp, Mark Vital, and Nancy Wells would like to personally invite anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one to attend Immaculate Conception’s next bereavement session which will begin on Tuesday evening, March 31st at 6:30 pm in the Lower Church and continue for six consecutive Tuesday evenings ending on Tuesday, May 5th. There are no stages to grief. We all experience grief in our own unique way, and healing is an intentional process, where we gather as a community of faith to become disciples of hope. It is through prayerful reflection, practical learning, and personal fellowship that we mourn. We will be following the Catholic program called Seasons of Hope . It is a 6-week program based on Scripture that focuses our faith on the spiritual side of grieving. Our mission is to support and accompany those going through the grieving process through Scripture, prayer, reflection, and simple activities. The program centers on Jesus Christ and is founded in the wisdom, traditions, and practices of the Church. It provides an opportunity for those who are grieving to be together, share their experiences, listen to God, and to each other, and be heard and comforted. St. John of the Cross, a Carmelite and Doctor of the Church, said: “In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened and instructed.” Fr. Mike Schmitz (many of you know him from his Bible in a Year podcast) was asked in an interview once about suffering. He responded: “God doesn’t always take the pain away. God doesn’t take the grief away. God doesn’t undo your loved one’s death. But with hope, our faith in God can console us.” Once again, we warmly invite those mourning to “come and be comforted.” Please call Lee Ann at the parish office to register. This program has helped hundreds of people mourn the loss of a loved one. We are delighted to bring this ministry to you again and hope and pray you will consider attending. Thank you and please keep us and those we serve in your prayers. The Bereavement Team: Nancy Papp, Nancy Wells, Mark Vital

From Father Steven - March 15, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • March 13, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last week we heard the terrible news from the Diocese of Providence regarding the abuse of minors by clergy. Any form of abuse of minors is always despicable. In this particular case, not only is there the problem of the priests themselves, which would be unacceptable, but it seems that there were also problems in the hierarchy/administration as well. Once I heard an expression that portrays well this issue: one is way too many. Every victim counts. It is very unfortunate that so many cases of abuse happened in the past, and even worse when they happened in the Church, where it should be a safe place for every person. For many years, anything related to abuse was always a big taboo that no one ever spoke about, much less reported. In 2002, the Boston Globe reported the systematic abuse that happened in the Archdiocese of Boston for decades. The Church has failed its people. Even if there were only one single case, one is too many. With the arrival of Cardinal Sean O’Malley, many rules and procedures were adopted to guarantee the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also changed their protocols to never allow any sort of omission of abuse. Mandatory training for all volunteers who have contact with children and yearly background checks for all volunteers are some examples of what was adopted. There was also some support offered to victims. However, there are more out there who have never reached out. The problem is far from its resolution. Although many changes have taken place in the Church, we must remain vigilant. Abuse remains a terrible reality in many parts of society—from schools to sports and other institutions—and the Church must always strive to be a place where children and vulnerable people are protected and safe. Nowadays, there is also a call to protect vulnerable people, such as the elderly and anyone with special needs. Although there is a policy that requires certain people to report any form of abuse to the authorities (mandated reporters), it is the duty of every person to protect their neighbor. I would like to plan a day or evening to offer training from the Archdiocese to everyone who would like to participate. There we can also explain all the efforts that are being made in the Church to promote a safe environment for anyone who comes to the parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston. On a related topic, for anyone who has suffered any sort of abuse, we also want to offer help. There can be a stigma that pushes victims away because of shame. A person can even feel guilty for having allowed such a thing. God is there to help us take things off our chest and from our souls. This can be expanded to other kinds of traumas that we keep only to ourselves. How many times have we heard in the past that people bring such things to their tombs? God is here to help us carry our burdens. We priests are also available to listen and offer whatever resources may assist anyone who is suffering. There is help that can be offered, whether through professional counselors, victim assistance, or independent resources. On the spiritual side, we do know that God heals our wounds, accompanies us in our journeys, and helps us carry our crosses. In moments like this, when human failures are so evident, we are reminded that our hope ultimately rests in Christ. Only He can help us live by His grace. Only He can console us when we are tired and burdened. Only He can bring us to green pastures to refresh our soul. Only He is the way, the truth, and the life. Let us then follow Him up to the Cross, because if we die with Him, we shall also live with Him. And if people need our help, let us not neglect their needs. Let us be there for them, to listen, or even hold their hands in their journey. No one should be left behind…no one.  God Bless, Fr. Steven