From Father Steven - May 19, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • May 17, 2024

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Please see the letter below from Deacon Mateus. He was recently ordained a transitional Deacon and is preparing to be ordained to the priesthood next year. Deacon Mateus is assigned to our parish for a full year and we welcome him to Immaculate Conception.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

Dear Parishioners of Immaculate Conception,   

 

As you may have seen me in these past two weeks, I am Deacon Mateus Martin. On May 4th I was ordained a Transitional Deacon. Now, in gratitude to the Lord, I want to share with you a little about where I come from and how the Lord called me to the seminary. 

 

I am originally from Curitiba, a beautiful city in the southern part of Brazil. I am the youngest of six siblings, and I have 15 nephews and nieces back home. As the youngest of six children in a Catholic family, I grew up observing how my parents related to each other. Despite their occasional differences and challenges, they always forgave each other and moved forward together. On Sundays, they would pray Morning Prayer with us and teach us about the faith and its significance in our lives.   

 

As I grew older, my interest in the Church gradually faded. I thought my life revolved around my career as I pursued Mechanical Engineering until I attended the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. I was struck by the words of Pope Francis’ homily: “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 95:1). I asked myself: what does this new song mean? I understood it was not just about music but the song of my life. At that moment, I felt that my ears were attuned to listen to and sing this “new song”; it seemed that my entire playlist had changed.  I could understand that the song playing in my ears before was the song of me thinking only of myself. This powerful reflection awakened my desire to serve God, and I decided to pursue a life of service by entering the seminary. That same year, I arrived at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Boston and started learning English. Then, I pursued studies in Philosophy and Theology to prepare for the priesthood. 

 

During my formation at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, I have discovered many aspects of my life that were previously unknown to me. The Lord led me to discover that I am not alone, and that the mission in the Church He is entrusting to me is so much greater than I could have imagined. It is out of gratitude to the Lord, I felt compelled to serve others as He has served me. In fact, as part of my formation in the seminary, I spent four years in mission, starting in Hawaii and the Islands of Kiribati and ending in Louisiana and Laredo, Texas. These four years equipped me with many experiences that helped shape the mission I am living today. The Lord has given me the grace to find consolation in his word and to trust in his divine providence, even in times of doubt. Today, I can confidently say that He has always been by my side and has never failed me. The only thing I am sure of is that He already knows what is best for me and will provide everything I need in his own time.   

 

As you may already know, Cardinal Sean O’Malley assigned me to Immaculate Conception as a Transitional Deacon two weeks ago. This Parish has been the place that has always supported and nurtured my vocation. I have fond memories of celebrating Christmas, Easter and summer vacations at Immaculate Conception. Additionally, this is the Parish where I was assigned for my Neocatechumenal Way Community 11 years ago, which has been a cornerstone in my formation. They have known me since my first day in the seminary. The Ordination at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston on May 4th was a wonderful and joyous celebration, and my parents came all the way from Brazil to share it with me. I am grateful to the Lord for making that day so special for all those who participated. The joy I experienced was indescribable, and I look forward to celebrating Deacon Gabriel Hanley's upcoming priestly ordination. 

 

As the year goes on, I am confident that I will be blessed with countless moments of joy while serving as a deacon at Immaculate Conception Parish. I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the love, prayers, and support that you have offered me so far. Your encouragement means a lot to me, and I promise to do my best to serve you all with the help of the Lord. 

 

God Bless,

Deacon Mateus

 

From Father Steven - June 28, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • June 26, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are doing well in these beautiful summer days! Please see the letter below from Fr. Victor about his experience here at Immaculate Conception. God Bless, Fr. Steven ============================== It is hard to believe that 24 months have already passed since I arrived here in Marlborough. Transitioning from a small but active parish in the Virgin Island to this huge and multi-cultural community was a “big & holy” shock for me. Life on the island moved with a gentle rhythm, but not here in IC. What impressed me right on my first day was the daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament , an hour before the Mass. That means people start to come around 6:30 in the morning. It is not just a handful of 5-10, but an average of 30-50 people gathered every single morning is incredible. Even at the height of winter, maybe a third, but they still come. Again, astonishing are the number of couples receiving the sacrament of Matrimony . I am so happy & delighted to witness many weddings every month in our church. When I first arrived, the sacrament of confessions was 3 days a week. But last year during the Jubilee, the frequency was increased to 6. The schedule was adjusted after Easter, it is daily except Fridays & Sundays. Where are those penitents coming from? Being a multicultural community, we have Masses in English, Portuguese and Spanish. It is a great joy to be working with Stephen Hanley in OCIA [Order of Christian Initiation for Adults]. Through this ministry, I am reminded that everyone has their own unique faith experience and conversion stories to tell. I am so privileged to be a part in preparing them for the reception into the Catholic Church as well as the Sacraments of Confession, Eucharist and Matrimony. Truly, the Holy Spirit moves . I bring Holy Communion to our homebound brothers and sisters and administer the anointing of the sick when requested or necessary. Being with the sick together with their families reminds me what it means to be a shepherd with his flock through every season of life. Periodically, I also celebrate the Mass at five nursing and assisted living homes. This ensures our beloved elderly, isolated and frail residents are provided spiritual nourishment, strength and healing. I am grateful for our pastor’s vision of deep understanding of our community’s needs particularly to our seniors. Thus, the “Friends in Faith” was formed. Very grateful, as it came with 4 ladies: Margaret, Christine, Nancy and Delma equipped with their kindness, generosity, knowledge and expertise we began to “navigate” our way. We meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Activities vary, from getting to know the saints to topics that will enrich our faith. But most important of all is that we are able to interact with one another, build friendships, find some sense of belonging and family , and time to pray with someone and for one another. So far, we had 2 field trips, like a “mini-pilgrimage.” Last September Stephen H. organized an enriching trip aimed at tracing the early beginning of the Catholic Church in Boston. We visited many historical places and ended at the Holy Cross Cathedral. This June, we went to St. Benedict Abbey at Still River in Harvard, MA. Their collection of relics of saints is something to behold. It was like being “ in heaven while on earth,” surrounded by hundreds of saints. On both occasions, we concluded with the celebration of the Mass as our expression of praise & thanksgiving to God. I am always excited to see our diverse community gather together for a big feast as the Solemnity of Corpus Christi , the Body of Christ. The colorful sawdust carpet by our talented parishioners in front of our church, is not only a labor of love but a testimony of creativity . It was simply awesome! Our tri-lingual Mass in English, Spanish & Portuguese, followed by the Eucharistic procession ended at the foot of Immaculate Conception Church. The procession spoke beautifully, yet boldly of our core belief that Jesus Christ is truly present in that “small piece of host” - body, blood, soul & divinity. Jesus has kept his promise, “I will always be with you.” This very act reminds me of our spiritual journey towards our true home with God. For all these immense gifts, I bless God. Likewise, no word is enough to express my gratitude to all of you, truly our God is amazing! God Bless, Fr. Victor

From Father Steven - June 21, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • June 18, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are enjoying this beautiful start of summer! Please see the letter below from Gabriella Lindhurst, our Director of Music. Happy Father’s Day!! God Bless, Fr. Steven —————————————————————————————— My name is Gabriella Lindhurst, and I am the Music Director at Immaculate Conception Parish. As many of you know, I began serving in this role in January, and my experience here has been wonderful. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and I am grateful for the kindness and support I have received from parishioners, staff members, cantors, and volunteers. Over the past several months, I have enjoyed getting to know many members of our parish community, and I look forward to meeting many more in the months and years ahead. I am originally from Southborough, Massachusetts, and much of my love for sacred music grew out of my involvement in my home parish. As a child, I served as an altar server, learned to play the organ there, and eventually began accompanying Masses as an organist and serving as a cantor. Throughout my school years, I also sang in school and church choirs. Looking back, these experiences helped shape both my faith and my vocation as a church musician, and they continue to influence the way I approach music ministry today. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. What began as a childhood interest gradually became a vocation and a ministry. Along the way, I pursued studies in music and sacred music at Assumption University and the University of Notre Dame, but some of my most meaningful lessons have come through serving the Church and helping others encounter God through prayer and music. That is what continues to inspire me in my work as Music Director today. If you regularly attend one of our English Masses, you have likely seen me at the organ or piano. One of the great joys of my position is helping to lead the congregation in song each week. I have enjoyed getting to know the different communities that make up our parish through the Masses, as well as through my work with the children who attended CCD this year. I am continually inspired by the voices of parishioners who join together in worship, and I believe that sacred music plays an important role in helping us pray and participate more fully in the liturgy. One of the things that has impressed me most about Immaculate Conception Parish is the strong sense of community that exists here. Whether through worship, faith formation, service, or fellowship, so many people generously share their gifts for the good of the parish. Music ministry is one of the many ways that people can become involved, build friendships, and deepen their faith while serving others. Over the past several months, I have become increasingly excited about the future of music ministry at our parish. One of my goals for this fall is to reestablish the Adult Choir. I have heard many wonderful things about the former choir, and I look forward to bringing this ministry back. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays beginning at 6:00pm, and the choir will primarily sing at the Saturday 4:00pm Mass, as well as for special liturgies throughout the year. Our first rehearsal will be on Thursday, September 3rd. The Adult Choir is open to anyone who enjoys singing and would like to share their time and talent in service of the liturgy. If you have ever considered joining a choir, I warmly encourage you to come to a rehearsal and give it a try or reach out for more information. Choir membership is a wonderful opportunity to serve the parish, grow in friendship with fellow parishioners, and participate more deeply in the liturgy. I am also excited to begin a new Children’s Choir this fall that will be separate from CCD. All children ages 7 and up are welcome. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 4:30pm–5:30pm, and the choir will sing once each month at the 11:00am Mass. Our first rehearsal will be on Thursday, September 10th. The Children’s Choir will help young people develop musical skills, build confidence, and learn about the important role music plays in our Catholic faith. Most importantly, it will give them another opportunity to become active participants in the life of the parish while sharing their gifts with our community. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at gabriella5110@gmail.com, I would be happy to speak with you. As we prepare for the fall, I ask for your prayers for all of our music ministries. Please also consider whether God may be calling you, your children, or another member of your family to become involved. Whether as a choir member, cantor, instrumentalist, or simply as a member of the congregation singing with enthusiasm, every voice contributes to the prayer of our parish community. Thank you again for the warm welcome you have shown me over these past several months. I am grateful to be part of Immaculate Conception Parish, and I look forward to continuing to grow with all of you in faith, fellowship, and song.  God Bless, Gabriella