From Father Steven - March 31, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • March 28, 2024




CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS ALIVE!

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Today is EASTER, the most solemn day of the year! We celebrate Jesus, who was crucified on Good Friday, and mourned on Holy Saturday. But today we celebrate with the angels that CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS ALIVE!

 

In the beginning, we read in Genesis, there darkness. But God created light. Today, sin may seem to reign over the earth, a new light appears. Christ's resurrection is like a new creation. St. Paul says, "the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ offers us new life! One of the hardest things about sin is the disappointment we feel when we fail again. Despite our promises and desires to change, we often find ourselves stuck in the same patterns. We hurt people we love and feel terrible about ourselves. We keep promising to change, but we fall back into the same sins. We feel defeated. We just accept it as a condition of our lives. But today is different! Jesus' death pays for our sins, and His resurrection gives us new life! He breaks the chains of sin that have held us captive. Jesus is Alive! He comes to meet us today!

 

The Gospels tell the story of women and disciples who find Jesus' tomb empty with Jesus’ burial cloths on the ground. A large stone blocked the entrance. In our lives, there may be big obstacles that keep us from living the life God wants for us. Whether it is a sin or a trauma, we cannot get past them. Instead, we adapt ourselves to live enclosed in a tomb. But today, God removes the stone! He offers us the chance to move from death to life with Christ. Like Jesus we can rise from darkness of sin to the light of love. What seems impossible for us is possible for the Risen Lord. Today Christ enters into our tombs, and opens the way for us. He conquers death, and comes to take us to Passover from death to Life, from darkness to light, from sin to grace. Courage Brothers and Sisters, Pharaoh was defeated, the Red Sea was opened, let us take the opportunity to leave behind all our slavery and fears!

 

Easter is a celebration of freedom! You are invited to join us in a special retreat on April 20th with Deacon Joe Cooley here in the parish. The "Unbound: Freedom in Christ" conference offers us an opportunity to experience true liberation and healing in areas of our lives where we still struggle. These sins, habits, trauma, and bondages are the devil’s door to tempt us to think and act as though we were still slaves held in bondage. Deliverance is removing the power of the lies so that we can hear the voice of our Father that has always been speaking deep within. Freedom is to live as a beloved child of God. It is where broken humanity is healed. This is what we celebrate on Easter! Join us on this adventure as we enter deeper into freedom together. It has changed the lives of many people beyond what words can express and I am confident the Lord wants similar for you! You can sign up at the parish office or directly at the website https://housesofmercy.regfox.com/apr-20-2024-unbound-freedom-in-christ-conference. The cost is $40 per person (second family member is $20, and third is free). You can also sign up using the QR code on the eighth page of the bulletin. Note that this conference is for individuals and families but may be too much teaching for small children. Parents can learn and teach their younger children. The prayer that you will learn is appropriate for all ages.

 

 

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