From Father Steven - May 18, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • May 16, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

This Jubilee year has been incredible! We have a new Archbishop, a new Pope, a new Deacon, and a new Priest! So many blessings have already come our way—and there are still many more to come!


Among the priests here, we often say—jokingly but sincerely—that all the amazing “craziness” is part of the Jubilee grace. We’ve had countless hours of confessions, nearly 100 children receiving their First Communion, and over 100 people preparing for Confirmation. We’ve celebrated two ordinations and have more than 20 couples getting married this season—and the number keeps growing!


The Jubilee Talks have been nothing short of amazing. The speakers and topics have truly inspired us. This is a special year of grace! We’ve seen people return to the faith, others being healed from deep wounds of the past, and so much more. We could almost write a book—and it’s only May!

This weekend’s Gospel reminds us of Jesus’ command: “Love one another.” We were created out of love and for love. I once said in a homily that our spiritual DNA isn’t made of A-T-C-G—but L-O-V-E. Yet, we all know that love can be hard to live out. Past wounds, grudges, fears, and the inability to forgive can hold us back. But Christ wants to help us overcome those obstacles! He wants to lift every barrier that keeps us from reaching out to others. As the Psalms proclaim, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds. And as Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke: “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Lk 4:18). Christ wants to help us be free—from anything that keeps us from fully living our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God.


That’s why I want to invite you to our UNBOUND Conference, happening next Saturday, May 24th, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This powerful ministry helps break spiritual bondage that can lead to sin, restoring peace and freedom in our lives. Sometimes, forces beyond our understanding keep us stuck in harmful patterns. But as Scripture tells us, “For freedom, Christ set us free” (Gal 5:1)! Jesus offers that freedom through deliverance—a mighty work of God that floods the soul with His love and mercy. It brings us into a deeper encounter with the Father, through the Face of Christ’s mercy and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is where we belong.


If you’ve been seeking a closer relationship with God, this may be the step you’ve been waiting for. And even if you feel you don’t need this in your own life, you likely know someone who does. Invite them! We’re still in the Easter season, a time to proclaim the Resurrection of Christ to the world—especially to those closest to us. There is a registration cost for the conference, but please don’t let that be a barrier. If financial assistance is needed, reach out to the parish office. We’re here to help.



Christ is passing by—and He wants to touch your life. He wants you to be free, to be healed, and to be joyful, even amid life’s struggles. Take full advantage of this Jubilee Year! Come to Adoration (daily from 6–7 PM), join our Wednesday Talks (7–8 PM), and go to Confession. Let’s give God another chance to work in us!

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - May 11, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • May 9, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This Sunday, as we hear the Gospel of the “Good Shepherd,” I invite you to reflect on another figure who cares for us with great devotion—our mothers. Mother’s Day offers a special moment to recognize their love and sacrifices. Yet, we don’t always take the time to truly appreciate them. Mothers are often like the Blessed Virgin Mary—not in the spotlight, but always present, working behind the scenes. They are attentive to the needs of others, making sure those around them are cared for. Their love goes beyond their immediate families and often extends to the broader community. As Mary “intercedes for us now and at the hour of our death,” so too do mothers, always watching, guiding, and supporting in ways seen and unseen. On this Mother’s Day, may we take time to be truly grateful. For those whose mothers are no longer with us, we carry them in our hearts. For those who are still among us, let’s show them our love, gratitude, and support. They don’t ask for much—just to be loved in return. Let’s also remember mothers who are struggling, offering our help through prayer, support, and respect. While they may not be perfect, they often give their all. We lift them up in prayer, asking our Blessed Mother to strengthen and bless them in their vocation to care for and sanctify their homes.  This week, Bishop Henning gathered all the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston for a meeting. He began by sharing his personal journey to Boston, speaking honestly about his initial hesitation and his trust in God’s call. He arrives without a fixed plan, choosing first to listen, observe, and learn. When asked about his vision for the future of the Archdiocese, he simply said: “to preach Christ crucified.” Bishop Henning aims to visit every parish within three years to better understand the local Church before making major decisions. He emphasized the vital role of priests, recognizing both their dedication and the challenges they face. His goal is to support—not replace—the pastoral work already being done. He stressed the importance of unity, fraternity, and mutual support among clergy. He also noted hopeful signs of spiritual revival, especially among young people. He encouraged improved communication, including greater engagement through social media, parish bulletins, and promotion of The Pilot . He addressed concerns about parish finances, real estate, and the burden of taxation, announcing plans to form a commission to oversee real estate matters. Recognizing the concentration of authority, he expressed his intention to delegate more responsibility moving forward. Other priorities include addressing the cost of Catholic school tuition, strengthening the seminary, forming an Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, and reviving parish-based philanthropy. He emphasized the importance of safe environments in our parishes to protect both children and adults. On political matters such as immigration and legislation that contradicts our faith, he promised to address these thoughtfully—not through direct confrontation, but in ways that can be more effective and pastoral. He concluded by inviting feedback from clergy and encouraging them to support one another in joy and unity as they serve the mission of Christ. Brothers and Sisters, we each have our own mission, and we also share in Christ’s mission to love and to save souls. Let us encourage and help one another, especially those most in need of God’s mercy. May our Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us and care for us all. Happy Mother’s Day! God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - May 4, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • May 2, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This is a joyful weekend for our parish family! Our children will be receiving their First Holy Communion, our seminarian Javier will be ordained a deacon, and we are awaiting the election of our new Holy Father. Every time we celebrate First Communions, we are reminded of the beauty and significance of this sacrament. As we reflect on the many blessings of Pope Francis’s pontificate, I am reminded of a homily he once gave on the Feast of Corpus Christi. In it, he spoke of the “stupendous gift” of the Eucharist, warning us not to fall into the habit of receiving Christ in a passive or mechanical way. Can you imagine the joy of Japanese Catholics who received the Eucharist for the first time after more than 200 years? Or the martyrs who risked everything in places where having a priest was forbidden? We are encouraged to receive the Eucharist as if it were our first, last, and only time. This quote is often attributed to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, though surely many saints lived with this awareness in their hearts. It is truly a profound and special gift to receive Jesus Himself in the Eucharist. We rejoice with the children who will receive their First Communion this weekend— congratulations! We are also thrilled that our seminarian, Javier, will be ordained a deacon. As you may know, the diaconate is one of the final steps before priesthood. Javier will be ordained as a transitional deacon, which differs from a permanent deacon (who may be married). During this year, he will serve at the altar, visit the sick, baptize children, bury the dead, and carry out other duties as he prepares for priesthood. God willing, he will be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston next year—just like Mateus. Speaking of Mateus, I encourage everyone to attend his priestly ordination . Archbishop Richard Henning will ordain him on the morning of Saturday, May 17 , at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Our parish will be providing buses to make it easier for everyone who wishes to attend. Please see the next page for more details. This is a rare and grace-filled opportunity to witness the miracle of a man being conformed to Christ in the priesthood. We are blessed to have walked with them on their journey. Finally, many of you are following the news of the upcoming papal conclave . The conclave will begin this Wednesday, with all cardinals under the age of 80 gathering at the Vatican. They will begin with the celebration of Mass, invoking the Holy Spirit to guide their discernment. After taking an oath of secrecy, they will begin voting. A two-thirds majority is required for election. The cardinals cast their ballots in the Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo’s Last Judgment . As each one votes, he prays: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected.” If no one is elected, the ballots are burned and black smoke appears. When a candidate receives the necessary votes and accepts the call, white smoke rises from the chimney, and he chooses a papal name. Soon after, he will appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to be presented to the world.  I invite you to pray for the cardinals —that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit—and for the man whom God has chosen to lead His Church. Do not be misled by media speculation, which often distorts the sacredness of this process. I strongly discourage watching films like The Conclave , which falsely portray the Church as purely political. This is not a game of power—it is a work of the Spirit. God will give us the shepherd we need in this time, even if we don’t yet know who that is. Our Archbishop has invited us to “pray fervently that the Holy Spirit might guide the Cardinal Electors in their discernment of the next Holy Father.” He also asks that we “pray each day for the man who will be elected and assume the burden of the office of Supreme Pontiff.” He is Peter in our midst, weak, poor, like all of us, but with the heart decided to love Christ as he can as we hear in this weekend’s Gospel. God Bless, Fr. Steven
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