From Father Steven - October 27, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • October 25, 2024


 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

This weekend we honor Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley on our front cover as he finishes his assignment as the Archbishop of Boston. On November 1st we will have the installation of Bishop Richard Henning as the new Archbishop. I ask you to keep Cardinal Sean as he retires in your prayers as well as our new Bishop takes on his new mission as our Shepherd. This week we will also be celebrating All Saints and All Souls’ day on Friday and Saturday. Due to the importance of these feast days, I would like to share a reflection of these days with you.

 

As the Catholic Church approaches the solemnity of All Saints on November 1 and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls) on November 2, it is essential to understand the significance of these days in our liturgical calendar. While it may seem unusual to celebrate two major observances back-to-back, both days serve as profound reminders of our faith, community, and the eternal journey of souls.

 

All Saints' Day is a holy day of obligation where the Church honors all saints, both known and unknown. The roots of this celebration trace back to the early Christians, who honored martyrs annually on the anniversary of their deaths. This practice began as a way to remember those who courageously witnessed their faith, especially during periods of persecution, such as under the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

 

The Church recognized the growing number of martyrs and saints and the need for a collective celebration. By the fifth century, it became customary to honor all holy individuals in a single feast. The transformation of the Pantheon in Rome into a Christian church dedicated to the martyrs in 609 AD by Pope Boniface IV marked a significant moment in this tradition.

 

In 735, Pope Gregory III further formalized this observance by dedicating an oratory in St. Peter’s Basilica to the saints, establishing November 1 as the feast of All Saints. The observance spread throughout the Latin Church and was declared a holy day of obligation by Pope Gregory IV in the 9th century. Today, All Saints' Day serves as a day to celebrate the lives of all saints who have attained the beatific vision, uniting the Church on Earth with the Church in Heaven.

 

Following closely is All Souls' Day, observed on November 2, which focuses on remembering and praying for all the faithful departed. This practice has ancient roots, as evidenced in the Old Testament with references to prayers for the dead, such as in the Second Book of Maccabees. The early Christian community continued this tradition, with inscriptions in catacombs requesting prayers for deceased loved ones.

 

The formal establishment of All Souls’ Day is credited to St. Odilo of Cluny in the early 11th century, who encouraged prayers for those in purgatory—the state of purification for souls who have died in God's grace but still need to be cleansed before entering Heaven. This observance reminds us of our responsibility to care for the souls of those who have passed away. On All Souls’ Day, the Church emphasizes the importance of praying for the deceased, highlighting our belief in purgatory and the interconnectedness of all souls. It encourages us to lead lives that strive for holiness, knowing that our prayers can help those who are awaiting the joys of heaven. During this time, the faithful engage in various acts of remembrance, such as visiting cemeteries, lighting candles, displaying pictures of loved ones, and having Masses said for the departed. This active remembrance not only honors those we have lost but also fosters a spirit of hope and renewal in our own lives. Here in our parish we put out a book by the altar of St. Joseph where you can write the name of your deceased loved ones.

 

Conclusion

The observances of All Saints and All Souls Days offer a unique opportunity for reflection on the lives of those who have gone before us and our own spiritual journeys. They remind us of the communion of saints and the ongoing relationship between the living and the dead in Christ. As we celebrate these solemn days, let us unite our prayers for all the saints in heaven and all the souls in purgatory, allowing their examples to inspire us to lead lives of faith and virtue. In conclusion, as we gather for Mass on these holy days, may we find comfort in our shared beliefs and the assurance of eternal life, praying with sincerity for the souls of the departed: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - April 19, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • April 17, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are having a blessed Easter season and were able to enjoy some of the beautiful weather we had recently. This week, we will be launching our annual parish raffle, as we do each year. This is one of our main parish fundraisers. Although our parishioners are always very generous, this year we have incurred unexpected expenses due to snow removal and increased utility costs. This raffle helps us cover some of those expenses. In addition to supporting our parish, the raffle also contributes to the priestly formation at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. Years ago, several pastors came together and saw this as a meaningful way to support both our parishes and the seminary. You can find more details online, but approximately 60% of the proceeds from tickets sold remain with the parish, 20% covers expenses, and 20% supports the formation of new priests for the Archdiocese of Boston. It is truly a win-win-win situation. Each ticket costs $20. The prizes include a 2026 Honda Ridgeline (pickup truck), a 2026 Honda Civic Sport, and $15,000 in cash prizes (five prizes of $2,000 and five prizes of $1,000). The drawing will take place on September 27th. The success of the raffle depends greatly on parishioners who are willing to help sell tickets to family and friends. You will have until September 13th to sell tickets and return the envelopes to the parish office. For the first time, we are offering an incentive: whoever sells the most tickets will receive a $400 prize. During the initial phase, which will take place this weekend and next, we will offer envelopes containing 20 tickets for those who would like to take them home to sell. Additional envelopes will be available at the parish office. At a later date, tickets will also be sold at Mass (before and after the summer). For those who would prefer to purchase individual tickets, they are always available at the parish office through Lee Ann. We invite you to consider helping us this year. Last year, our parish raised $18,045 in profit from the raffle. Altogether, participating parishes contributed $115,000 to support the seminary. We hope to surpass that amount this year. Please feel free to reach out if you need more information. I would like to thank you for your continued generosity to the parish, to those in need, and for all that you do quietly and faithfully. It is a privilege to witness your kindness. Additionally, I ask for your prayers for the upcoming celebrations of the sacraments. Next week, children from the Brazilian community will receive their First Communion on Saturday, followed by the Spanish community on Sunday. The English community will celebrate First Communion the following week at the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Many couples will also be receiving the sacrament of marriage in the coming months. Finally, our youth will receive the sacrament of Confirmation on May 29th in Portuguese and on June 5th in English & Spanish. That same season, we will celebrate our annual Eucharistic procession on the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on June 7th. If you have never participated, I encourage you to mark your calendars and join us. Some parishioners begin preparing a sawdust carpet in the early hours of  the morning and finish just in time for the procession. It is a beautiful tradition that honors the Body and Blood of Christ. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - April 12, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • April 10, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, HAPPY EASTER!!! We are still celebrating Easter (and we will continue until Pentecost!). I would like to share with you this weekend the article that the Archdiocese has written in response to some media requests to comment on the rise of people coming back to the faith. Over the past 4 years we have seen a steady and significant increase in non-Christians [or unbaptized] becoming Catholic during the Easter season. Regarding specifically catechumens participating in the Rite of Election, these are the numbers for the Archdiocese of Boston: 2023: we had 299; 2024 - 360; 2025-438; 2026-680. What’s the reason? Probably a combination of factors including a fundamental need to be closer to God. The first observation is that we believe it to be the direct action of the Holy Spirit, and not simply a sociological phenomenon or the success of some program or another. In fact, Archbishop Henning has said that “this seems to be something that the Lord is doing - the Spirit of the Lord is always at work in the world and in the Church and we are happy to see such a response in people’s hearts to Jesus’ call to follow Him.” The Archbishop notes that ”we seek to cooperate with the action of the Spirit; but it is His work, not ours.” Has Pope Leo had an impact? Yes. It’s not just being the First American Pope; it is that he has captured a sense of community with Catholics across the world and very clearly in the US Catholic Church. The wave had been growing before his election but is now picking up speed and size. There is a sense of spiritual renewal in the Archdiocese of Boston. We have seen it in our parishes across the Archdiocese. Archbishop Henning has put an emphasis on engaging with Catholics across the archdiocese at the parish level and in our schools, with a particular focus on youth and young adults. In a recent interview, Patrick Krisak, the archdiocese’s director of faith formation and missionary discipleship said, “There may not be a revival across the country, but there are revivals,” he said. “And at what point do all of those pockets of revival that we’re seeing all over the country add up to a revival?” The two main categories of folks we see being welcomed into the Church are children/adolescents, who mostly did not receive their sacraments on the typical schedule, and adults. A key component is the work at the parish level in welcoming and accompanying families where adults and children seek to join communities of faith. In addition, Rev. Eric Cadin, Director of Vocations with the Archdiocese, said that “among college age young people, there is a profound openness to the big questions. This includes questions such as, where do I come from? What is my purpose? What does all this mean? More importantly, so many who are exposed to division and even cruelty, especially online, as well as in real life, are actively resisting and moving away from that. And it leads them to an openness to faith, especially one that promotes love your enemy. That is a radical truth, that captivates young people, especially in the world in which we live. They meet people in the church who engage their real questions with generosity and grace and mercy, and it is very attractive to them.” Here in the parish we are happy to announce that 39 people received Baptism on Easter, and 3 people were welcomed into the Catholic Faith (they were baptized Protestant). Some of them were children, others teenagers, and some adults as well. They were baptized, confirmed and received their first communion all together. Please continue to pray for them as they really began their journey and for those who are still being called into the faith. Congratulations to all of you that received your sacraments and we look forward to walking along with you!  Finally, I would like to invite you all to the Divine Mercy celebration that will take place this Sunday at 3:00pm in the Church. If you have never attended, it is a beautiful moment! If you are not familiar with it, search about and be ready to be marveled by it. God Bless, Fr. Steven