From Father Steven - February 4, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • February 2, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

It is with great joy that I would like to share with you some of the testimonies of the youth that went to the pilgrimage of the March for Life. There were 40 people from our parish and we were joined with another 13 from another parish. The theme of our pilgrimage was “It is good that you exist.” With that in mind, we departed from Marlboro at 6am on Thursday Jan 18th towards the Shrine of St Frances Cabrini in NY. There we celebrated Mass and had an opportunity to listen about her life. From there we headed to Washington, where we stopped at the St. Matthew’s Cathedral for a time of praise and worship with adoration and confession. On the following day, we woke up early to go to a youth rally that had 6,000 people! There were also lots of priests and nuns there. After that, we went to the National Mall to join the march. Cardinal Sean O’Malley marched with us and he led us in the rosary as we were walking. It was one of the best pilgrimages I ever participated in. It was brief, but it felt like we were together for a month. I asked the youth to write something that I could share with you. So here are some quotes that they wrote:

 

“Before the pilgrimage, I didn’t feel the presence of the Holy Spirit because I was committing a lot of bad sins. At the cathedral I had the opportunity to confess and I did. I can now feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life.”

 

“I confessed every sin i had done and now i feel like a new person.”

 

“I enjoyed when we went on the march because it made me get a better understanding that abortion is not right and realize that it’s still a baby. it was such a wonderful experience.” 

 

“This pilgrimage not only helped me increase my faith. But it also helped me understand that all lives matter and that we should stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. It also helped me become closer to God and understand that we were all made with a purpose for our life and that it is good that we exist. For me personally this pilgrimage was a sign from God that it is time that I really focus on my faith and continue on this path to heaven. My faith is so much stronger now than it was before this trip and I am so grateful.”

 

“I loved the retreat and what we did on it, but what changed throughout the retreat or made me look at things in a different way were the people who went on it with me. The way they love the Lord, so openly, made me realize that I can love him so much more. So I think that this retreat was a wonderful experience in the aspect of the theme and why we went on it and for the fact that even the people that are there with you can change you.”

 

“The pilgrimage gave me a realization of what abortion really is. After listening to some stories about people who have had it and the regrets they had, it changed my perspective from pro-choice to pro-life”

 

“I returned so happy and very loved by God, I had a great opportunity to talk to God and tell him everything I wanted. The event not only showed me that abortion is not the way to go, but it also showed me that my life has a meaning and that God himself put me on earth. I came back very happy to have had the opportunity to really only talk to him and only to him in that chapel, because there I was not distracted by the world outside, because the world outside does not have great news to bring us, only God. God will always be the one who will satisfy you. I invite all those who have not yet gone, because it will be the most memorable memory of your life, it will be an unforgettable experience.”

 

This is only a little summary of some of the experiences that they shared. We would like to thank everyone who prayed for us, and those who helped us financially. A special word to the Knights of Columbus for their support. We look forward to attending next year’s March for Life.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - February 22, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 20, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We begin this holy and wonderful time of Lent with the image of the desert, as we will hear in the Gospel. The time of Lent is like a desert, or like the exodus of the people of Israel passing from the slavery of Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. The image of the desert is very important for the people of Israel. In the Scriptures, it is a privileged place to meet the Lord. There is no food, no comfort, no distraction—only sand and more sand. It is in the desert that God reveals Himself. He speaks to the people. In the Hebrew tradition, it is in the desert that God marries His people. In our daily lives, we get lost with so many worries, projections, and expectations. In the desert there is nothing. We are forced to depend on God, even though we do not like to depend on others. We prefer to be independent. There, either you trust God, or you die. In this strange place, God provides food (manna and quails), shelter (the cloud that accompanied the people), and water (from the rock). As in marriage the couple becomes one, so it is with the Lord, who wants to be one with us. The time of Lent is a spiritual desert. We do not eat meat on Fridays, we fast, we abstain from electronics, we give up activities that we like, we become poor by giving alms—and only then can we see God more clearly. However, if we do not empty ourselves this Lent, we will not see the Lord, much less listen to Him. Like the people of Israel, we will be circling around for a long time. We began Lent with the imposition of ashes. We were reminded that we are dust and that we need to convert. Through vices, sins, and bad habits, we are not as free as God wants us to be. At times we do things only to please others, out of social pressure, or to keep up an image. In this way (and in other ways), we are enslaved in order to fit in. We are incapable of loving with 100% of our hearts. This Lent, God wants to make the journey of exodus with us. For that, we need to begin in Egypt. As Moses listened to God and did His will, so we are called to do the same. Therefore, we will need to silence the noise and the distractions around us. Like in the episode of the burning bush, we are called to draw closer to the Lord and “see the marvelous sight.” That is called prayer. It is not a matter of only reciting words; it is a dialogue with God. Which means that as we speak, we also need to listen. Today, no one teaches us how to contemplate what God is doing in our lives. Stop for 20 minutes each day and think or contemplate what graces you have received recently, what difficulties God has helped you overcome through these years. What is going to be the next step on your journey? In which direction is God pointing you? What will be your next mission? Unless we stop and simply listen to Him, we will be deceived by our own thoughts and by temptations, like Adam and Eve. We will also have a great opportunity to listen to Him during the one-day Lenten Mission that Sister Olga will lead for us on February 28th. She is a very inspired woman. It is a great privilege for us to be able to host her. It will be free, but we do ask you to register so that we can have an idea of how many people will attend. That morning, she will also have a special time with the women. Do not miss this opportunity. Last but not least, like last year, we will be giving out Lenten boxes to help us give alms. As Jesus says, “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” All the money collected will be given to St. Vincent de Paul to help the poor of the parish and of the city of Marlboro. Additionally, if you give up coffee or soda during Lent, put in the box the money that you are not spending. Be aware that there are a lot of people who need help, more than ever. So if you would like to make an additional contribution, you can use the poor boxes located at the exit of the church. May the Lord assist you in this holy campaign of Christian service as we take up the battle against spiritual evils, and may we be armed with the weapons of self-restraint. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - February 15, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 13, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We all know that God is love and that He does everything to help us attain salvation. However, we are not always aware of the graces He has prepared for us. At other times, we do not take advantage of the opportunities when they are offered to us. This week, I would like to briefly highlight some special opportunities that will be given to us in the coming days. This Sunday, after the 11:00am Mass, we will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for those who need it. For a long time, it was known as the Last Rites or Extreme Unction. Therefore, it still carries the taboo that only those who are dying should receive this sacrament. The Rite of Anointing tells us that there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. As its name indicates, this sacrament is for those who are facing serious illness, undergoing surgery, or experiencing the frailty of old age. When the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given, we pray that, if it be God’s will, the person may be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is spiritual healing, by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. It is very important for those who are facing something serious to receive the grace of the sacrament in order to be helped by God. Therefore, we urge anyone who needs it to ask for the sacrament. If you know someone who is in a nursing home, they should also receive the sacrament while conscious in order to be helped by God. Unfortunately, sometimes people wait until it is too late. This Sunday, after the 11:00am Mass, we will have a small celebration for anyone who needs the sacrament. It can also be scheduled by calling the office. From Sunday to Monday, we will have the opportunity to spend time with Jesus during 24 hours of adoration. Considering that Monday is a holiday, it is a special moment to slow down our lives and recharge the battery of our soul. This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. There will be other opportunities to continue receiving God’s grace, such as praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. Next weekend we will be holding a retreat for couples to help and sanctify their relationship. Do not miss it. Finally, on Saturday, 2/28, Sister Olga will be leading us in a Lenten Parish Mission from 12:30–2:00pm. Finally, I would like to touch very briefly on something that I will later dedicate more time to expanding upon. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about adultery as when a person who was married before, and after a divorce marries another person. This is different from separation. The promise made before God is to be faithful in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, all the days of one’s life. Therefore, that promise cannot be broken until death. If there are problems that lead to a separation, there are still ways to live a holy life. We have prepared a team to assist couples who would like to begin the process of nullity of their marriage. Soon, I will write a bulletin letter with details about what it is and what it is not, and set up a meeting to explain it better. I also take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has not received the Sacrament of Marriage (who was not married in the Church) to do so. It can be a very simple process to receive an immense grace!  Let us not pass up these opportunities to receive God’s grace. He walks with us every step of the way and sustains and strengthens us with the Sacraments and through the love and concern of the Church. He also respects our free will. If we are not open to grace or simply refuse it, then there is very little He can do. He will never give up on us! Let us not give up on Him either! God Bless, Fr. Steven