From Father Steven - September 14, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • September 12, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Saint Augustine defines sacraments as visible signs of an invisible reality. We have all heard about the sacraments and we know them, but we do not always fully understand what they mean. This week, I would like to reflect with you a bit more on the sacraments.


God has chosen specific ways to share His divine nature with us. There are concrete actions which, when carried out with the right intention and proper form, bring about special graces for the recipient. The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the definition of a sacrament as “efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament. They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions” (1131). That is a lot to take in, but each term is important. Let us begin with “efficacious.” It means that each sacrament has an effect on the recipient. We may not feel the effects immediately, but they are always there. Perhaps you have heard someone say they walked out of Mass the same way they came in. That is impossible! Even if we do not see or feel them, special graces are at work in our souls.


Each sacrament imparts different graces. The seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus and entrusted to the care of the Church. No one has the power to change or modify them, not even the Pope; they are Christ’s gift to us. The sacraments are regulated by the Church in terms of who may minister them, how, and where they are celebrated. Their effectiveness does not depend on the personal holiness of the minister, but on the action itself and the openness of the recipient. As the Church teaches: the grace of the sacrament works by the action performed, not by the performer. This means our openness to sacramental grace is essential for the sacrament to bear fruit. If we close ourselves off, God respects our freedom. That is our greatest danger—that we can reject God’s grace. For example, when a couple chooses not to marry in the Church, they ultimately refuse the graces God desires to give them. Similarly, when someone sins and refuses to go to confession, God cannot forgive them, because they have chosen to remain apart from the sacrament of reconciliation. I do not intend to enter deeply into sacramental theology here, but I want to share these key ideas with you.


This is also the time when our parish begins sacramental preparation. Whether a person is a child, a youth, or an adult, everyone can receive the sacraments with the proper preparation and instruction. Recently, our Archdiocese made a change regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation for teenagers: it is now offered in 7th grade. For younger children, we provide a two-year program for sacramental preparation. Our goal is not simply to “sacramentalize,” but to truly catechize—to form them in faith.


The sacraments are the way to salvation. They make present here on earth the invisible reality of heaven that God longs to share with us. Therefore, if you or someone you know has not yet received one or more of the sacraments—Baptism, Eucharist (Communion), Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Reconciliation (Confession), or, for those in danger of death, Anointing of the Sick—this is the time to consider it.

If someone is not Catholic but wishes to receive the sacraments—that is, to become Catholic—we also form a group each year for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as RCIA). Please see the religious education section of the bulletin for more information.

Catechetical instruction is a volunteer based initiative. We are always in need of volunteers to help us. If you feel called to help in this important ministry, please call the office and let us know.


Finally, we are resuming our Jubilee Talks after the summer break. They are offered every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., following Adoration. Let us take advantage of the opportunities God places before us, and let us not refuse the graces that prepare us for heaven.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - September 7, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • September 5, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Next Monday, 9/15, the Church will celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. In this jubilee year, we are called to console the sorrowing. The intention of our 7:30 a.m. daily Mass that day will be for all who are in need of consolation. Loss is never easy. If a dollar slips from our pocket, we feel upset—more so if it is $20 or $100. When what we lose carries emotional value, the pain is even deeper, because it cannot be replaced. Those are only objects, yet they can cause sadness. How much more difficult it is to lose a loved one. Even when illness makes death seem inevitable, it remains painful. Sudden loss is harder still. Moments of grief can weigh heavily, like a storm cloud blocking the sun. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, shared a profound bond between her Immaculate Heart and the Sacred Heart of her Son. She shared His joys, but also His deepest sorrows as she witnessed His suffering. I once read an exhortation on the EWTN website that said: “If you are enduring intense sorrow, flee to our Blessed Mother. Take refuge in her Immaculate Heart, and implore her maternal consolation and guidance. For she who endured unspeakable grief will never fail you as your spiritual mother. As St. Louis de Montfort said: If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart, it would not equal the love of Mary’s Heart for her children.” Here in our parish, we will begin a bereavement ministry on October 14. Meetings will take place Tuesday evenings (time to be announced) in the lower church. Using a Scripture-based program, we will encounter the healing power of God’s Word. We invite you—or someone you know who is grieving—to come and be consoled by the Lord. Humanity has reached the moon, explored the depths of the sea, and advanced technology beyond imagination. Yet we still have no human answer to death. Only Christ holds that answer. We must listen to Him, encounter the Risen Lord, and discover that death is not the end. I also recommend My Son Carlo by Antonia Salzano Acutis, the mother of Saint Carlo Acutis. She testifies to the power of Christ and how He sustained her through the sudden loss of her son. I have only read the first chapter, and it is already inspiring. Whatever pain of loss you carry, God desires to console your heart and strengthen you to endure the storm. We never fully “get over” a loss, but we learn to live with it. Yes, it is hard, but not impossible. Please join us for the special Mass on Monday, 9/15, for all who need consolation. And remember, you are welcome to speak with one of the priests if you would like to share more about your loss. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - August 31, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • August 29, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Labor Day weekend usually marks the end of summer. Schools are back in session, traffic returns to normal, and we settle into our regular schedules. It is also important that we bring our spiritual lives back on track. After a long stretch of work, difficulties, and challenges, summer often gives us the opportunity to slow down a bit. Even some of our daily tasks get set aside during these months. We may travel to visit family, or they may come to see us. In other words, we step away from our routines—and our prayer life can also be affected. That is why it is so important to return to the practices we should live by every day. To begin, it is always good to make a thorough confession after the summer, so that whatever may have happened during those months will not weigh us down as we move forward. Missing Mass on Sundays or holy days of obligation (such as August 15th, the Assumption of Mary) is a mortal sin. We know the Ten Commandments (putting other things before God, taking His name in vain, not honoring Sunday as a holy day, dishonoring father and mother, harming others—even through actions, thoughts, or words—sins against chastity, stealing, lying, coveting another’s spouse or goods). Along with these are the seven capital sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, and sloth. These sins can become like extra weight that we grow accustomed to carrying, often without realizing that they drag us down and hold us back. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that mortal sin “destroys charity [love] in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to Him” (CCC 1855). The consequence is the loss of grace and love in our hearts. If mortal sin is not forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation—which requires repentance and the firm resolve not to commit that sin again—it can lead to eternal separation from God in hell (CCC 1861). St. Paul warns us that “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord,” bringing judgment upon themselves (1 Cor 11:27–30). Let us take advantage of this Jubilee Year, in which God pours out special graces to be forgiven and to forgive. Here at the parish, confessions are available Monday through Friday from 6–7 pm, and Saturdays from 1–3 pm. If you prefer, you may also call the office to schedule an appointment outside these times. Or, if you wish, you can seek out another priest and arrange a time with him. What is most important is that we confess our sins and reconcile with God. We can also return to the daily habits of prayer. From the moment we open our eyes, we are called to praise God, as the psalms remind us. Praying the Angelus or the prayer to our Guardian Angel is a wonderful way to begin the day. Picking up a spiritual book during the day helps us lift our thoughts to heaven. At some point, it is also good to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament—whether in adoration or simply sitting in the church—and to pray the Rosary with our Blessed Mother. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is another beautiful way to stay connected to God. At the close of the day, we should give thanks for the blessings received and ask forgiveness for any failings. And of course, let us never forget to pray before meals. Whenever possible, try to attend daily Mass. It is one of the greatest opportunities to draw near to the Heart of Jesus. Not only does it bring us salvation, but it also strengthens us in our love for one another. Finally, I would like to share that I will be away for two weeks for some rest and spiritual formation. During this time, Fr. Gabriel and Fr. Victor will be available for any needs. If there is an urgent matter, please speak to them or contact Lee Ann. Although I will be away, I will continue to pray for each of you every day. God Bless, Fr. Steven