From Father Steven - April 21, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • April 19, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

On the fourth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Good Shepherd. Every year we hear a passage from chapter 10 of John, which speaks of the essence of the shepherd. In the Eternal City of Rome, this weekend is marked by the ordinations of new priests, those chosen to follow Christ’s footsteps as shepherds for God’s flock. This weekend I would like to reflect on the vocation to the priesthood. 

 

St. John Bosco says that most men are called to the priesthood, yet some may not answer the call due to various reasons. Perhaps they were not raised in a faith-filled household, denied the opportunity for devotion to Mary and the Eucharist, or were afraid to choose a different vocation than their parents expected. The allurements of the world may have also dimmed their interest in the things of God. 

 

We often encounter young boys who manifest a profound love for Jesus, delighting in play-acting the mass, whose dream is to be an altar server, or even who are fascinated about Jesus (even those who are not Catholics or have not received any sacraments). Such signs are not to be dismissed as mere childishness, but rather as potential sparks for a vocation. Pope Saint Leo the Great says that the mere thought of a vocation is already a sign of it. Just as one may never consider becoming a librarian (with due respect), so too do those who are not called to the priesthood never wonder about that possibility.

 

Many of the youth at some point ask themselves what if God calls him to be a priest. However, fear of failure, inadequacy, or lack of worthiness may prompt them to dismiss it. Yet, becoming a priest requires only a willingness to surrender to God’s will. Jesus declares, “The shepherd is the one who lays down his life for the sheep” (similar to the vows of marriage). Nowhere He suggests that a priest must be pious, holy, smart, or possess any extraordinary abilities. When Christ calls his apostles, He does not measure them up or test their abilities and worthiness. He simply calls them.

 

It is our solemn duty as parents, grandparents, godparents, friends and fellow believers to encourage the young people to think about their vocation. For those who do, we must urge them to act upon it. Fear is an inevitable companion, but it must not paralyze them. Otherwise, the devil will whisper more doubts and will convince them that they are not called to be a priest.

 

Personally, I felt many of these feelings. I was never an altar server, I didn’t know how to pray, I wanted to get married and have children. Faith played a very small part of my childhood, and no one ever mentioned to me about becoming a priest. As my brother entered the seminary I began to question my calling, wondering “what if God calls me too to become a priest?” I was certain that it was not for me nor was I cut out for it…but we are not the ones to decide.

 

Then, how can we help children, youth and men to discern their vocation? First of all we need to pray for them, as Jesus teaches, “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt 9:38), Second, speak to them. Third, we will have a meeting on Tuesday, April 30th at 7:00pm-8:00pm in the church for any youth, young adults, or any man (ages 13+) who would like to inquire about, learn more about it, or has ever considered becoming a priest before. It will be an informal conversation. I invite the parents to talk to your children. Even those who have once expressed interest but no longer feel the same should come. I will also arrange a meeting for younger boys in the future as well as for women who may feel the calling to religious life.

 

Life with God is awesome, too bad that we are afraid of risking it. Sometimes a glimpse into the religious lives can expand our horizons and reveal the boundless possibilities that God has in store for us. As an example, can you believe that two nuns just ran a half-marathon (in their habit) in Naples, FL, and are very happy? St. Paul says in the second reading today, what we shall be has not yet been revealed. Therefore, do not be afraid of following the voice of Jesus our shepherd.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - November 23, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • November 21, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, This week we have the opportunity to gather around our loved ones to give thanks! Eukariston in Greek… if it sounds familiar, it is because the Eucharist—Mass—is a great thanksgiving! I’m sorry for the turkey and stuffing lovers… but the Lamb of God is the one who truly satisfies us! However, how often are we grateful to God and to our loved ones? How often do we stop to give sincere thanks for all their hard work? How often do we return their goodness to us? Unfortunately, not enough… so let’s change that script. Let’s take this opportunity to voice our inner gratitude to those around us and to Jesus! Even though there can be some tension when getting everyone together under the same roof, let’s not forget what we are doing and why we are doing it. There is nothing better than to love… even when that love is not returned! The following day is known as Black Friday—deep discounts and great sales everywhere. In the past, people lined up in front of stores in the middle of the night. Now stores begin their sales almost a week before Friday. Online retailers have also kept people from waking up in the middle of the night. Here in the parish, this Friday there will be a great opportunity to score wonderful deals… and we won’t need to wake up so early! Starting at 8:00 a.m., we will have another 24-hour adoration. We thought that these days would be perfect to give people the opportunity to come and give thanks to God as well. He has been so good to us! How could we not return His infinite love through finite means? As we come together on Thursday and acknowledge what our loved ones have done for us, let us also do the same for God. I invite all of you to come and take a moment to think and contemplate all the good things God has done for us throughout our lives. Instead of having Black Friday, we shall introduce Adoration Friday! Next week will be First Friday, and I invite you to learn more about it—how the Sacred Heart of Jesus manifests itself on the First Friday of each month. As we know Friday to be a penitential day for the Church, it is also a day full of graces for those who do not miss out! I would like to take this opportunity to give you some updates regarding upcoming events. Archbishop Richard Henning has asked all the parishes in the Archdiocese to pray a Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe in preparation for the upcoming 500th anniversary of her apparition to St. Juan Diego. He will be visiting parishes and presiding at this very important moment for us. We will begin the novena on Thursday, December 4th, at 7:00 p.m. It will be trilingual so that the whole parish can participate. Each day, different parish groups will be responsible for leading the novena. We will conclude it with Mass on December 12th, with the presence of our shepherd, Archbishop Henning! It will be very important for him to meet part of his flock. It will also be a great moment for our parish to welcome him into our spiritual home! We are still planning it. We also decided that, in this Jubilee Year, we will have a Christmas Concert on December 21st at 3:00 p.m. All the parish choirs will come together to sing Christmas carols. We are very excited to gather everyone once again! I mentioned before, but I remind you again, that we also have our parish feast in the middle of all this. The Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on Monday, December 8th. We will have the regular holy day of obligation schedule 07:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. as well as our traditional trilingual Mass at 7:00 p.m. We will pray the novena before Mass, and then proceed with the celebration. There are many good things coming up… and many more that we cannot imagine! Let us give thanks, for God’s love is everlasting (Ps. 136). God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - November 16, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • November 14, 2025
Dear Brothers & Sisters, As we continue honoring the faithful departed during the month of November, I would like to speak about something that can sometimes feel uncomfortable or awkward—but is also very necessary: funerals. This week, I read an article in the National Catholic Register titled “Why Are Fewer Catholics Having Church Funerals?” It noted that over the past 20 years, the number of Catholic funerals in the United States has dropped by about 30%. The article went on to explain that many families now prefer holding funeral services at funeral homes rather than having a funeral Mass in church. One of the main reasons for this shift, according to the study cited, is that families of the deceased are often no longer religious. They may feel uncomfortable going to church, or they may not see the need for it. At times, the person who passed away was a faithful parishioner who attended Mass regularly. Yet when the moment of loss comes—with the grief, family tensions, and emotional exhaustion that follow—families often choose a simpler service rather than a funeral Mass. It is important, however, to understand the deep value of offering a Mass for someone who has died. From a psychological standpoint, it provides closure as we entrust the soul of our loved one to God. There is a beautiful prayer of commendation at the end of the funeral Mass, in which the priest commends the soul of the deceased into the hands of the Father. On a spiritual level, the value is even greater. The sacrifice of Christ made present on the altar has immeasurable power. To offer a Mass for the soul of a loved one has a profound effect—especially after death. In every Mass, Christ offers Himself for the salvation of souls. While a Mass cannot change the free choice of someone who rejected God, it can assist souls in purgatory on their journey to heaven. For that reason, it is vital that we not only pray for our departed loved ones but also have a Mass offered for them. Additionally, the graces of a funeral Mass extend to all who attend—especially to the family and friends who gather in faith and hope. A funeral Mass does not need to be complicated. In fact, simplicity often brings greater peace and focus. It is even recommended that each person plan his or her own funeral Mass in advance—choosing the readings and hymns, and letting loved ones know their wishes. This both expresses the person’s faith and eases the burden on the family, especially if they are no longer active in the Church. Our parish office can help you choose readings and music and answer any questions you may have. I would also like to mention that, technically, the words of remembrance is not part of the funeral liturgy. While the Archdiocese allows something brief at Mass, it is not preferable. The Mass is primarily an act of prayer and intercession for the soul of the deceased, rather than a time for praise or personal remembrance. Lastly, a quick word about cremation. Until relatively recently, the Church discouraged cremation because it could obscure the sign of our belief in the resurrection of the body. Although cremation is now permitted, the Church still requires that the cremated remains be properly buried. The same article I mentioned earlier noted the growing practice of scattering ashes or keeping them at home. While these gestures may come from love or sentiment, our faith teaches that the remains of the deceased should rest in consecrated ground—together with others who “sleep in Christ,” awaiting the resurrection. The word cemetery itself comes from the Greek koimeterion , meaning “dormitory”—a place of sleep, not of death. If you have the ashes of a loved one at home, please contact us; we will gladly assist you in arranging a proper burial. Here in our town, we are blessed to have three excellent funeral homes with compassionate and capable staff who can help you with any questions and guide you through the process. I hope this reflection helps you better understand the beauty and meaning of the funeral Mass—a sacred act of love, faith, and hope in the resurrection. God Bless, Fr. Steven