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 - July 19, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • July 17, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, As you may remember, Fr. Gabriel and I were away on a retreat in Italy these past few weeks. I would like to share a bit of my experience with you. Hopefully, in the near future, he will be able to share his experience as well. You may know that the three of us priests were formed in a missionary-diocesan seminary called Redemptoris Mater , which is a seminary that was first created by Pope Saint John Paul II in Rome. His desire was to have priests who belonged to the diocese and, at the same time, were missionaries (either outside the diocese or within it) to assist in the new evangelization born after the Second Vatican Council. Also, the vocations to this seminary come from the Neocatechumenal Way, which is an itinerary of Christian formation that is present all over the world. This way, those who feel called by God to this specific mission can also continue the growth of their faith in this reality. From Rome, other bishops also desired to have such priests in their own dioceses. In 2005, Cardinal Seán requested that this seminary begin here in Boston, and that's how we all ended up here. Well, this retreat we attended was for all the priests ordained in the approximately 40 Redemptoris Mater seminaries present throughout the Americas (North, Central/Caribbean, and South). We were about 800 priests who were able to be there. It took place in Porto San Giorgio, which is on the Adriatic Sea. The initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way were there to give us a word of encouragement, to help us convert, and to rest. We were given a special place in St. Peter's Square for the Pope's Audience, and later we celebrated Mass inside the Basilica, at the Chair of St. Peter. We also went twice to Loreto, which houses the walls of the house of Mary in Nazareth. We also had the opportunity to be sent throughout all of Italy to announce the Kingdom of God two by two for four days, like the Apostles, without money, a cellphone, extra clothes, or a place to sleep... no securities, except God. We only took the Bible and the breviary. I was assigned to the city of Trent, where the famous council took place 500 years ago. After the retreat, I was able to visit the house of St. Maria Goretti, her tomb, and the place where she died. On my way back, I had a 24-hour layover in Barcelona, where I got to visit the Basilica of the Holy Family and the Shrine of Montserrat. What impacted me the most was being reminded of what God has done in my life. There were a few old friends from my childhood and people whom I have met along the way (Fr. Adriano sent his greetings to everyone). At every step of the way, He was there leading me, comforting me, and lifting me up when I fell. It was good also to rest in the Lord. No, I did not watch the World Cup games, but I had something much better: a time of intimacy with God. Running around all day, every day sometimes takes the focus away from my mission. Like Martha, we can tend to important things and leave the Lord behind. If anything, it is by being close to Christ that I will be enabled to help some people. Lastly, we were also presented with a beautiful symphony performance. In it, they sang the words of St. Victorinus of Pettau, who is an impressive saint from the early Church: "Having come as the Lion to conquer, He became the Lamb, taking upon Himself the wickedness of man, so that He might lead him from death to life."  The mission of the priest is to be Christ to the people. As we heard last week, Jesus is meek and humble of heart. The only answer to the suffering of people is to become a lamb and die for them out of love, just like Christ. The Lion came to conquer and was made the Lamb to die because He loves me. In the retreat, I see that God gives me His Spirit to (hopefully) be a lamb who dies for others. Please keep praying for me and be patient, as I still have a long way to go! God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - July 12, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • July 10, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This week I would like to bring to your attention a very important matter. Recently, electronic cigarettes were developed, and they have become widely popular among teenagers today. Also known as vaping, they can have all sorts of shapes and colors, but they are nonetheless nicotine-based cigarettes that are immensely harmful to consumers. Here in town, there is a petition to ban the sale of nicotine products to the younger generation (the ban would be for anyone born after Jan. 1, 2010). Vaping is like smoking cigarettes; however, vapes are odorless, widely accessible, and very discreet. The electronic device can be as small as a USB drive. You may have seen people with a pen-like device that produces a white smoke, at times with a sweet smell. Many of the flavors come in fruit and candy flavors that appeal to youth. E-cigarettes produce an aerosol, which users inhale from the device and exhale. The aerosol can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including: nicotine; ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs; flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds; cancer-causing chemicals; and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products. E-cigarettes have not been approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation device, and additional research is needed to help understand the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use. Furthermore, e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. According to the Surgeon General, because the brain isn’t fully developed until the mid-20s, youth and young adults are uniquely at risk for long-term effects of exposing their developing brains to nicotine. These risks include nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanently lowered impulse control. Nicotine also changes the way synapses are formed, which can harm the parts of the brain that control attention and learning. Another danger is that other substances may be used with vaping, such as cannabis/marijuana or other CBD or THC products, which could cause a person to become high. The latest reports from the CDC from 2024 show that 43.6% of students (both middle and high school) report current use of vaping. Another study reports that 63.9% of students who currently use e-cigarettes reported wanting to quit or having tried to quit. I have seen firsthand the destructive power of vaping among our youth. Unfortunately, many parents are not aware of their use. They even hide and use them in their schools. They are too young to understand the harm caused by vaping and the future consequences it can have. Nicotine pouches are increasingly more popular among youth. Therefore, in order to help them, we are supporting the Nicotine-Free Generation program that is currently being revised by the Board of Health, and it will be presented to the mayor. The idea behind it is to aid those already using nicotine products. The city will offer robust smoking cessation programs, ensuring adolescents and adults alike have the resources to quit. Additionally, by restricting access to nicotine products, we can deter adolescents from starting to use these harmful substances, significantly reducing the risk of lifelong addiction and potential cancer.  Therefore, at the end of the Masses for the next two weeks, we will be collecting signatures from those who would like to support this petition. God Bless, Fr. Steven