From Father Steven - August 4, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • August 2, 2024

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

This week, I am delighted to share updates on upcoming parish projects and initiatives.

 

Nineteen high schoolers from our parish embarked on a mission trip to the Bronx, where they engaged in street evangelization alongside the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and Sisters of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa) and the Sisters for Life. It was an amazing experience to discover Christ in the poor…and to realize that at times we can be poorer than them. I will ask them to share their experience with you very soon.

 

As you may be aware, Archbishop Cardinal Seán will soon retire as the Archbishop of Boston. As per canon law, bishops submit their resignation upon reaching the age of 75. The Pope typically accepts the resignation between the bishop's 75th and 80th birthdays. Cardinal Seán turned 80 last month. Therefore, we anticipate the Pope's acceptance of his resignation and the appointment of a new Archbishop for Boston in the near future. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cardinal Seán for his dedicated service and unwavering commitment to our archdiocese. As a deacon I was at the Cathedral, and I was able to witness his immense love for the people.

 

On a separate note, we are excited to share the plan to create two new groups in the parish. They are still in their early stages. The first is a bereavement group This ministry provides support and guidance to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. The second is like an Emmaus group. This group is designed for seniors, widows, widowers, and all who seek fellowship and spiritual growth. Members will gather weekly for social events, theological discussions, and shared life experiences, fostering friendships and ensuring that no one walks their journey alone.

 

With the arrival of Father Gabriel and Father Victor, we are exploring the possibility of offering short-term programs, including theology lessons. This summer, we will also offer to bless homes that have not yet received God's presence. If you would like your home to be blessed, please contact Lee Ann in the office.

 

Additionally, we will take advantage of the summer months to upgrade various aspects of our church building, including repairs and painting of windows, cleaning and installing new gutters, and general maintenance. All the work is being done by parishioners who have companies that allows us to pay reasonable pricing thanks to your generous offerings in the maintenance and development collections. Hopefully you have noticed the work done in the landscaping of the parking lot and around the church.

 

Lastly, in August, I will be away on vacation, followed by participation in a mission. I will spend time with my family and dedicate myself to spiritual reflection and evangelization. Please keep us priests and staff in your prayers so that we can best serve you in this upcoming year. Be assured also of our daily prayers for each one of you. Feel free to share with us any special intentions we may pray for. We also ask that you inform us if you or someone you know is experiencing medical challenges or has been hospitalized. We will gladly visit and keep them in our prayers.

 

I hope you have a great end of your summer break never leaving Jesus behind. Take advantage to pray a bit more, go to confession anywhere, and do things you usually don’t have the time to do. Work is important, so is recreation. The equilibrium between the two is the foundation for a balanced life.

 

God Bless You,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - July 6, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • July 3, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This weekend we celebrate the Independence of the United States of America. With this Jubilee year that we are currently celebrating one can’t help but think that the following year the United States will celebrate a jubilee of its own, 250 years! Let this earthly liberation remind us of a much older spiritual liberation that took place some 2,000 years ago with the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. After the Fall of Adam and Eve we were at the mercy of the world, and the prince of this world who is Satan. The title prince comes from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John to reference the real but limited power the devil has over this world and us who dwell in it. Christ, however, won us back through the shedding of his blood. Even when he was still with his disciples, already the kingdom of darkness was being destroyed as we hear in today’s Gospel, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.” “He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” (Col 1:13) Just in our parish alone we are from many different countries but we all belong to the same heavenly kingdom by virtue of the Lord’s crucifixion. Let this weekend remind us that we should always keep our eyes fixed on this heavenly Kingdom because ironically, although the war has been won, the battle is still very much present in our own lives. That is why St. Peter exhorts us, “stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.” Today, July 6th is the memorial of St. Maria Goretti. Although the Sunday takes precedence over her feast day, nevertheless we can see someone who was solid in her faith. Born in 1890 Corinaldo, Italy, Maria was the third of seven children. When she was just eleven years old a man named Alessandro made advances on her but she refused. As a result of her unwillingness to sin she was stabbed fourteen times. On her death bed, Maria said that she forgave Alessandro, “I forgive him, and I want him with me in heaven!” Alessandro was sentenced to thirty years in prison and after several years in a dream he saw Maria handing him lilies. It was at this moment that he realized that he could be forgiven. Knowing that Maria forgave him, he began to accept the forgiveness of God. After twenty-seven years in prison he was released and went directly to Maria’s mother. To his astonishment, Maria’s mother forgave him and she said that it was because her own daughter had forgiven him. Alessandro became a Franciscan where he remained for the rest of his life. Maria was canonized in 1950 in the presence of her family and Alessandro. As we can see, we are still in the midst of a battle where the devil can lead us to sin. However, God’s mercy and love is far greater than what we can imagine and he can lead us from slavery to sin to the freedom belonging to the children of God. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - June 29, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • June 27, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I was deeply edified to see all three of our communities come together to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi! It was an amazing day—celebrating Mass as one family and processing shoulder to shoulder behind our Lord Jesus Christ, present in the Blessed Sacrament. The beautiful carpet prepared for the Lord’s arrival at our church was truly astonishing! Many of our parishioners came at 3:30 a.m. to begin working on it. Needless to say, the dyeing of the sawdust alone took days of effort by many dedicated people. Seeing everything come together left us speechless. If you missed it, mark your calendar now: next year’s celebration will be on June 7th, 2026 (rain or shine)! This week, we had another wonderful experience: an appreciation dinner for all our catechists. Over 70 people from all three communities joined us once again. When we say “it takes a village,” it truly does. During the dinner, we presented highlights from all the events that took place at IC over the past year. Our Faith Formation program served 402 students, and 39 adults received sacraments—bringing the total to an incredible 441 people! Speaking of sacraments, we celebrated 74 First Communions and 81 Confirmations this past month. Nearly 20 retreats were held over the course of the year. At our Lenten retreat for children alone, we had 242 attendees ! Our Jubilee Talks—currently on pause for the summer—had an average weekly attendance of 155 people across three nights: Tuesday in Spanish, Wednesday in English, and Thursday in Portuguese. We also had an average of 250 people coming to confession each week. Offering confessions daily has truly been a blessing for our parish. If you haven’t come yet, there is still time. We will continue offering daily confessions! This year, in honor of the Jubilee Year , and because we believe God wants to pour out many blessings on all people, we are excited to host a new event for the entire parish—and for the greater Marlboro community: CATHOLIC FEST ! This all-day event will feature delicious food, games for children, and a powerful talk by Sean Forrest , an incredible speaker and musician with an inspiring conversion story. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. , and everyone is welcome ! Believe it or not, many people in town still don’t know where the Catholic Church is—we have a real opportunity to open our doors and show God’s love to our neighbors. Food and entertainment will be ticketed, but we’re working hard to keep everything affordable. We’re currently seeking event sponsors—if you own a business or your family would like to help, please contact the parish office. Yes, we know it’s summer and you may already have plans. But consider adding Catholic Fest to your summer schedule. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to come together as a community and be inspired. Finally, as we wrap up the year, I want to thank all our countless volunteers who make everything happen. Some may not be “official volunteers,” but they contribute greatly—whether by maintaining the parish, supporting various ministries, or praying faithfully for our community. Nothing can be done without love and the help of God. Please continue to pray earnestly that our parish may fulfill its mission to be the light of the world . God Bless, Fr. Steven
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