From Fr. Steven - September 1, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • August 30, 2024


Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

I hope you are enjoying these last days of summer! Please see the letter below from Fr. Gabriel.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

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I remember being a child and talking to my father about the mass; I had some understanding of how it related to Jesus’s life, the Last Supper, and his sacrifice on the cross. And I remember turning to my father seeking clarity by asking, “so the mass is like a symbol of what Jesus did, right?”

 

My dad responded firmly saying, “it’s not a symbol! You are really there!”…I was terribly confused. But he kept repeating it to me, “it’s not a symbol, when we celebrate the mass we are there with Christ, his sacrifice is made present. We are united to that moment.”

 

It was something that I would come back to study when I was in the seminary, that Christ is truly present in his body and blood, it’s not a simple commemoration of the past; that when we priest’s say “do this in memory of me” we really are brought into Christ’s sacrifice.

 

This brings me to ponder how God is so great that his “memory” is capable of really drawing the past into the present. It’s not just nostalgia of a sweet moment that’s gone by and we reminisce about. When we celebrate the mass we are really there with Jesus Christ.

 

On the other hand what has also been striking to reflect on is the power of the Lord’s forgetfulness. Recently I came across a story I had heard sometime ago about Saint Margaret Mary, who would receive visions of Jesus Christ. And Jesus once told her to seek out a certain priest to be her spiritual director. When she told the priest about her request, he was skeptical and asked her to prove that she was really having visions of Jesus by having him divulge to her the last mortal sin that he had confessed. Later on the two met again, Margaret Mary told the priest that she did as he requested and that Jesus responded saying, “I can’t remember.”

 

Such is the mercy of God. He no longer remembers the sins we confess. But this truth runs even deeper. In the sacrament of confession we get a real taste of our Lord’s forgetfulness. His amnesia is so powerful that what he forgets is totally erased. That is to say that when God forgets our sins they no longer exist, they are totally gone.

 

Often times we return to the sins committed in the past and dwelling on them we fall back into shame and regret. And while it is important to be sorry for what we have done it is not for us to go back and scratch at the wounds of sins that the Lord has already forgiven and healed. It may be quite difficult to believe that the Lord has forgiven us because of the gravity of our sins, but Christ has promised that all sins will be forgiven and that we are called to forgive each time, because he forgives us every single time.

 

If you are doubting of the Lord’s forgiveness I challenge you to come to confession during our weekly hours or to set up an appointment with one of us priests, because God seeks to heal you, restore you, and quickly forget whatever it is you have done.

 

In Christ,

Fr. Gabriel Hanley

 

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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