From Father Steven - August 18, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • August 16, 2024

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer with your loved ones! I have asked Fr. Gabriel to write a letter this week about his experience so far as a priest. Please see the letter below.



God Bless,

Fr. Steven

———————————--

It’s been about 3 months now since I was ordained a priest, and it hasn’t taken long to discover what a treasure this vocation is. One of the greatest gifts of the priesthood is the ability to administer the sacraments of reconciliation and being able to celebrate the Eucharist.


It is within the confessional that I, as a confessor, experience the love of the Lord, because in spite of my weakness and shortcomings, the Lord has sought to convince me of His gratuitous love by entrusting to me the hearts of His flock when they are most delicate.


It impresses me to see how in this sacrament, people leave behind their superficiality and let their true self surface. It is always moving to witness the profundity and the uniqueness that each person is often reluctant to expose. It brings to mind the days of creation and how after each day the Lord saw that it was good, but after creating Adam and Eve, He saw that it was very good. And somehow I delight in those that come to confession in a similar way; seeing beyond the sins that they present to me and peering into that dignity that the Lord originally formed them with, I can say with the Lord that He has made us very good.


This brings me back to my previous thought on how the Lord has given me the priesthood as my means of sanctification. I see that it is through the exercise of my ministry that He seeks to shape my heart after His own. Because while He is giving me the gift of compassion for sinners and using me as an instrument of His mercy, it is through that same ministering that I realize more and more deeply that it is with that same mercy that the Lord looks upon me.


One other experience I would like to share is what it has been like to celebrate the mass and there was one instance in which its power really showed. It was my first week as a priest when we went to celebrate mass with the priests of Regina Cleri (the home for retired priests in Boston). At the moment of the consecration when we said all together “take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you.” I was unexpectedly overwhelmed with emotion, but after some reflection it all made sense. I recalled the years of resistance while at the seminary and how I often distrusted God’s plan for me. But it was through the ordination and in the celebration of the Eucharist that God sealed within me the handing over my own body to His call and it has been a source of great joy. 


I see that God is calling me to live a Eucharistic life, where I give of myself so that others may share in God’s divine life, but rather than being depleted from spending myself in ministry, I am instead being filled up.


I thank the Lord for his generosity and for the assignment He has given me here at Immaculate Conception where I have been able to build on the experiences and relationships that I formed already as a deacon. I am grateful for the warmth of the flock and the company and teaching of Fr. Steven and Fr. Victor whose years in the priesthood now lend themselves to help form me as I begin my ministry.


 

In Christ,





Fr. Gabriel Hanley




 

 

From Father Steven - September 6, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • September 4, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you had a good, restful, and joyful summer. Unfortunately, it's over, so it's time for all of us to get back to our regular schedules — including our spiritual routine. I often recommend going to confession after the summer. Whether there was a Mass that was skipped, some feathers that got ruffled, or our tongue got a little too sharp, it's always good to go to confession. Another way to think of it: it's time for an oil change — but instead of oil, it's our sins that get removed, and new graces are put into our souls. God has prepared many wonderful graces for us this coming year, beginning with the Labor Day Parade. On Monday, the Lord is calling as many of us as possible to make His presence visible in town. As every year, IC Church will have a float to show everyone that God and the Church are very much alive. But if only a few of us show up, it defeats the purpose. You may have heard before about a person who came back to church because of the joy he saw among our people. This year's theme is the Eucharist. The Spanish community has prepared a float displaying a monstrance, with children dressed in white (some as angels). We urge as many people as possible to join us in this procession of our faith. Next Saturday, Richard Kerns, a longtime parishioner, will be ordained a permanent deacon at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. I've mentioned before how our parish is bearing much fruit through different vocations and missions. I invite those who are able to come and accompany him at this important moment in his life, and in the life of our parish. Then, on Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, he will serve and preach for the first time. There's no excuse not to be there to witness this special gift to our parish. Light refreshments will follow in the Hall. Also next Saturday, the Brazilian community will hold their annual festival in the parking lot in the late afternoon. There will be traditional food, entertainment for the children, and lots of fun. Since we are one parish, this isn't just their feast — it's ours too. They use a ticket system for food and children's activities, and there will be a booth at the entrance selling tickets. The following weekend, we will begin a series of talks for youth and adults. For many people, religious instruction stopped at Confirmation, and they haven't received any further formation in the faith since. These talks offer an opportunity to continue growing in faith through a itinerary of Christian formation. I will be leading the group this time, along with a team of parishioners. The talks will take place on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Hall.  Last but not least, the following weekend we will hold our annual Friends of the Poor Walk, sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul. This is their major fundraiser to help those in need in our parish and in the city of Marlboro. IC's group will be joined by St. Matthias' group for this event. It is not only our duty to help the needy, but a privilege to be part of it. With rising rent, utility, and living costs in Massachusetts, more families are in need of help — families that could be sitting next to you, your neighbor, or your children's friends. I invite anyone looking to help to join a group; this is a wonderful opportunity to put our faith into action. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - August 30, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • August 28, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I was very happy that I finally had the opportunity a month ago to speak about vaping addiction among the youth. Today, I would like to speak about addictions in general that affect and hurt our families, parish, community, and, above all, ourselves. First of all, it is important to understand that usually no one likes to have an addiction. Substance abuse is not something a person simply chooses to become trapped in. Rather, very often, it is the only resource that a person finds in their struggle. The other day, I was talking to a social worker at the hospital about how we have lost so many of our coping skills. We no longer have the resilience that we used to have in the past. Addiction is often more than a bad habit or a lack of willpower. For many people, it can be connected to pain, trauma, loneliness, or an attempt to cope with difficulties they do not know how to face in healthier ways. Therefore, it can often be understood as a cry for help from someone who is suffering. Once we understand that people may turn to drugs, alcohol, or other substances in an attempt to relieve their pain, we also need to recognize that repeated substance use can produce real changes in the brain and body. A person can develop tolerance, dependence, and powerful cravings that make stopping extremely difficult. This is why addiction cannot simply be reduced to a lack of willpower. What may have begun as an attempt to cope with pain can eventually become a dependency that is very difficult to overcome without help. Anyone who suffers from substance abuse does not need judgment, but love and compassion. As Catholics, we believe that love conquers all things. We also believe that for God, nothing is impossible. Therefore, if there is someone in your family, in your circle of friends, an acquaintance, or even a stranger, let us go the extra mile and be compassionate. Christ does not abandon the person who is suffering. He goes out of His way to bring love and consolation, like the Good Samaritan. He certainly suffers with that person. If Christ does this for us, how can we, as His disciples, do anything less for those who are suffering? The more involved I become in helping people here in Marlboro, the more I discover the many resources available through the city and other agencies. I will try to pull together a sheet with different resources in the community and leave them in the church for those who need them. If someone struggles with alcoholism, drug or medication abuse, or some other sort of addiction, YOU ARE NOT ALONE…and YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ALONE. God wants to help, and so do we. It is okay; we all have problems, and the solutions at times can seem so far from our reach that we give up. Maybe now is the time to get up and start walking back to the Father’s house, like the Prodigal Son. Maybe now is the time that, together, we will overcome the struggles that lead to addiction.  I invite everyone in our parish to join us for the Overdose Awareness Day ceremony here at the Immaculate Conception Church on Monday August 31 at 7:15pm. Let us come together to remember those whose lives have been lost (you may bring their picture), support those who continue to struggle, and pray for their families and loved ones. Always count with your prayers to you and your loved ones, God bless Fr. Steven