From Father Steven - August 25, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • August 23, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

We still live in a society filled with stigmas. While awareness and acceptance of many issues have grown tremendously, there are still topics people find difficult to discuss. One such issue is coping with suffering. Unfortunately, addiction remains a common but unhealthy way to deal with pain. Whether the addiction is public or private, it doesn't solve the underlying problems. Some addictions, like alcohol abuse, can be very harmful to ourselves and those around us, while others, like drug addiction, pose a significant danger. This week, we will observe International Overdose Awareness Day.

 

The challenge of dealing with suffering has been a topic of discussion since ancient times, with many philosophers offering their insights. Even though there may be clear answers, it remains difficult to navigate through suffering. In my ten years as a priest, dedicated to a life of prayer and study, I can attest that it is still very challenging to endure tribulations, whether personal or not. Now, imagine how much more difficult it must be for someone who doesn't have a balanced life, a supportive family, or struggles with their faith. The common response to pain is often to flee from it or to distract ourselves and pretend it isn't happening. Unfortunately, this only worsens the problem, making life seem unbearable. Faced with what feels like a dead end, some may turn to temporary relief, seeking comfort in pleasure or, more dangerously, in substances like alcohol or drugs. This leads to substance abuse and further deterioration, creating a vicious cycle that feels impossible to escape.

 

Jesus Christ gave us a core mandate in Christianity: to love God and our neighbor (Mt 22:37-40). He further explained that we should love one another as He has loved us. Reflecting on how Christ loved us, especially when we were troubled or went astray, we see His example as the Good Shepherd in Luke 15 and John 10. He lays down His life for His sheep, goes out to find the lost one, and rejoices when it is found. He doesn't shun the lost sheep or give it a lecture. Similarly, we are called to approach those who are lost with tenderness and love. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us how to love our neighbor by displaying compassion to a stranger, someone who might even be considered despicable.

 

There are countless people in need of our help—those who are poor, homeless, struggling with addiction, lonely, or depressed. While we may not be able to help the entire world, we can make a difference one person at a time. Desmond Doss, whose story was portrayed in the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," believed in this principle. He enlisted in the war to help others, and by saving one person at a time, he rescued 75 soldiers from the battlefield and provided comfort to many more. This week, we have a great opportunity to help those struggling with opioid addiction and to support those mourning the loss of loved ones to overdose. The annual Candlelight Vigil for International Overdose Awareness Day will be Tuesday, August 27th at 6:45pm and will take place at the Frank D. Walker Building, 255 Main Street, Marlborough (if it’s raining, it will be held in the Upper Church). The evening will feature a Memorial Slideshow, Guest Speakers, Free Narcan, and a Candle Lighting Ceremony. Please join us in welcoming everyone who attends, praying with and for them, and taking the first step in helping those in need.

 

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven- June 14, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • June 12, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Every priest is called to be a man of prayer. Through ordination, we are united to Christ and configured to Him in a unique way. Therefore, when a priest prays, he not only pursues his own sanctification but also deepens his union with Jesus. Whether celebrating Mass publicly or privately, praying the Rosary, or offering short prayers throughout the day, St. Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing” provides the foundation for all that we do. We all live in a world full of demands and expectations. What Frank Sinatra once called New York—the “city that never sleeps”—has, in many ways, become a description of life everywhere. There is so much happening in our lives that we can easily become like Martha in the Gospel. Some parents spend countless hours driving their children to activities and sporting events. Others have demanding jobs that consume most of their time. Still others are occupied with maintaining a household or caring for a sick loved one. Yet when do we become like Mary, who chose to sit beside Jesus and listen to Him? Martha was not doing anything wrong. On the contrary, hospitality was considered a sacred duty in her time. Nevertheless, Jesus reminds us that there is something even more important than all our responsibilities: to be with Him. When we pray, we draw close to Jesus. Suddenly, our burdens seem lighter, we become less irritable, and challenges that once felt overwhelming become manageable. Prayer is not simply a matter of reciting a few Our Fathers or Hail Marys; it is about spending time with Jesus. Next week, Fr. Gabriel and I will be away on retreat for a couple of weeks to spend time with the Lord. Although we maintain our daily prayer routines, there are moments when we need to “retreat” from the world and the busyness of parish life in order to rest our hearts and renew our souls. Fr. Fernando, who was ordained in Warsaw and is currently serving on mission in Ireland, will arrive on Friday to assist Fr. Victor in caring for the parish during our absence. We ask you to keep us in your prayers, just as we continually pray for you. I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage all of us to participate more actively in spiritual activities. Whether it is joining the Cenacle Group, which meets on Mondays from 6:00–7:00 p.m. in the lower church, attending Eucharistic Adoration at least once a week, or reading a spiritual book during the summer, each of these practices can help us grow closer to Christ. In the coming months, we are planning additional opportunities to deepen our relationship with Him through retreats, talks, and other parish events. The good news is that we do not need to wait until the end of summer. In just two weeks, we will have a beautiful opportunity right here in Boston to encounter Jesus in a special way. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage carries the theme “One Nation Under God.” This is not merely a slogan—it is an invitation to realign our lives, our communities, and our country under the sovereignty of Christ. It is a call to foster unity through prayer and to allow Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, to renew and heal the heart of our nation, one soul at a time. As pilgrims on this route, we walk with Christ so that His love may draw our nation back to Him. The Archbishop has invited all the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic procession on Saturday, June 27 , beginning at Boston Common. We will follow the Freedom Trail and conclude at the Bunker Hill Monument. A bus will depart from the parish at 8:00 a.m. , and we expect to return by approximately 3:00 p.m. You can reserve your seat for $15 either online using the QR code below or by calling the parish office. Although I will not be present, I hope our parish will be well represented. This pilgrimage offers a wonderful opportunity to step away from the distractions of daily life and spend time with Jesus. Through our presence, we can also invite others to follow Him, just as the Apostles did. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - June 7, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • June 5, 2026
Car Show, Trinity Sunday, and Corpus Christi Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope that this title hasn’t confused your minds! How is it possible that we can put all these three things together? Very simply, those are our hidden treasures that once a year they are celebrated. Every year I have always walked down the street to the corner of Prospect and Main St. to take a peek at the cars. Last year however, after all the masses, I adventured to look at all the cars. It is amazing how cool and awesome it was. But it is also “sad” that we don’t get to see them that often riding on the streets. Some of the cars are true hidden gems that are probably guarded very safely somewhere away from the curious eyes. The same can be said about our Celebration of The Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Those are true gems that often are not seen/spoken about. This week we will be celebrating the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi. In the old days we celebrated it on Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but here in the States it has moved to Sunday. For almost 1000 years, the Church has always celebrated this day with a procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets around the churches. Even before the Reformation, the Church has always believed and affirmed that “By the consecration, the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: His Body and His Blood, with His soul and His divinity” (CCC 1413 quoting the Council of Trent). Unfortunately, many people nowadays do not believe in the real presence of Christ on the Eucharist. In spite of many miracles around the world and even recently, where the consecrated host became the tissue of a human heart, and the consecrated wine became real human blood, people refuse to believe in it. Recent studies have shown that even a major number of Catholics (including practicing Catholics) do not believe that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, but it’s a mere representation of him. St. Alphonsus Liguori writes in a great reflection book titled Visits to the Blessed Sacrament , “Loving souls can find no greater delight than to be in the company of those whom they love. If we, then, love Jesus Christ much, behold we are now in his presence…let us console ourselves in his company; let us rejoice in his glory and in the love in which so many enamored souls bear him in the Most Blessed Sacrament.” We are called first of all to be close to Jesus under the sacramental species, not only when he is present inside the tabernacle, but above all when he is exposed. We will have the special grace to do our own Eucharistic Procession here in the Parish. Some parishioners will be working from the early hours of Sunday creating a sawdust carpet with holy images on Prospect St., which will be closed on Sunday. After the trilingual Mass at 11am (rain or shine) all three communities will gather for a procession through downtown Marlboro. It will be our time to take our greatest gem out “from hiding” and show it to everyone!!!! Last year we had a great attendance, and I invite you to reach out to family and friends and invite them to celebrate this awesome event with us! Finally, as I mentioned before, mark on your calendars the National Eucharistic Procession that will pass through Boston as part of the 250 th of the birth of our Country. There will be events on June 26-28 in Plymouth, Freedom Trail and Lexington. God Bless, Fr. Steven