From Father Steven - December 29, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • December 26, 2024

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Can you imagine being raised by St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary? What do you think it was like to be part of Jesus’ family? This weekend, as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, let us reflect on some of the struggles faced by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Their lives were not without hardship.


There is a common misconception that there should be no problems in our families. From A to Z, we can think of a number of issues that we face at different moments in our lives. However, we often feel as though we are the only ones facing these challenges. When we look at the Holy Family of Nazareth, we can see that they, too, experienced difficulties.

 

First, imagine the discomfort of Mary as she traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. In those days, they did not have cars, buses, or even carriages. It is believed that Mary rode a donkey for over 100 miles through rough terrain while on the verge of giving birth. Then imagine arriving at a place that you don’t know and had nowhere to stay? This is to say that they had it very difficult from day one. Then right after the birth of Christ they had to flee to Egypt to a place that they did not even speak the language. 

 

Second, although Jesus was obedient to Mary and Joseph, he did do things that they did not understand. Surely it is not the same to our children, but there are decisions that they take that make us suffer. Imagine the suffering of Mary having lost Jesus for 3 days! But in all that moment she never despaired or lost her bearings. We don’t always behave like that in similar situations. Then we don’t know many details, but we know that Joseph dies at some point. It is never easy to face the death of a loved one. We know for a fact that Jesus cried at the death of Lazarus. 

 

Finally, Mary also endured the suffering and death of her own son. At the foot of the Cross, she witnessed the agony and death of Jesus. As the prophet Simeon foretold, "a sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:35). This was the sorrow of sorrows, yet Mary never lost her faith. The Holy Family of Nazareth faced many adversities, but they always trusted God in those moments. Their struggles helped them grow in faith and to lean not on their own strength, but on God's providence.

 

The perfect life can only be found in Heaven. Here on earth, we mourn and weep in the valley of tears as we pray in the Hail, Holy Queen. It is normal to face adversities in our families. Surely it is difficult, but not impossible. Whether it is illnesses, vices, faults, or problems with the children, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Then there is our hope. When at your wedding you promised each other to be faithful in good times and bad, in sickness and health, to love and honor our spouse all the days of your lives. Let us not forget our promises, because God will help us to fulfill them. Finally, remember that no matter how big our issues may seem, our God is bigger than all of them.

 

In addition to blessings, God has given us His own Mother to help us in our lives. As we approach New Year’s Eve, we not only give thanks to God for the countless blessings we received in 2024, but we are also called to honor the Virgin Mary under the title "Mother of God." This feast is so important that the Church has made January 1st a Holy Day of Obligation. We will have Masses on December 31st at 4:00 PM and in Portuguese at 8:00 PM. Then, on January 1st, we will have Masses at 7:30 AM & 11:00 AM, and in Spanish at 1:00 PM. Let us all start 2025 with God and honor our Blessed Mother.

 

God Bless you and Happy New Year!

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - January 4, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • January 2, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar.” This is a well-known song that we sing and hear every year during this season. Yet, I wonder how often we pause to reflect on the meaning of these words. As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany this weekend, I would like to reflect on three aspects of the Magi: they left their homes, they traveled from afar, and they returned by a different way. There are many traditions and even myths surrounding the wise men. Were they truly kings? Were they astronomers? Where did they come from? What gifts did they bring? When exactly did they arrive in Bethlehem? While many of these questions remain open to speculation, there are a few things we know for certain. As the song reminds us, they were men who journeyed from afar, bearing gifts for the Christ Child. Perhaps we imagine their journey in modern terms: three men meeting at an airport, boarding a plane to Israel, then taking a transfer or an Uber while following a GPS pin to the child. But in reality, their journey was nothing like that. These men risked their lives. They faced the harsh elements of the desert and the many dangers of the road—wild animals, bandits, and countless unknowns. They had to renounce the comfort of their homes and the security of familiarity. Yet they were confident in the sign they had seen in the sky. They were people attentive to God, waiting for a word that would point them in the right direction. Pope Benedict XVI once reflected on this profound moment, saying: “The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star. It was as if the journey had always been part of their destiny, and was finally about to begin.” As beautiful and inspiring as their story is, we are invited to place ourselves within it. What if we were among them? Would we spend long hours searching for a sign from God? Would we be willing to leave behind the comfort of our lives to begin such a journey? What would we be willing to risk in order to encounter the Messiah face to face? These are questions worth asking, because God desires to reveal himself—have an epiphany—in our lives every day. The real question is whether we desire it enough: what we are willing to leave behind, and whether we are willing to face the challenges that come with following him. Each day we bring many intentions before God. Certain situations reveal our lack of charity, our pride, or other sins, prompting us—after honest examination—to ask God for help. The same can be said of any vice or weakness. Yet the question remains: how far are we willing to go to grow in humility, charity, and holiness? The Magi understood that without the Messiah, everything else lost its meaning. Without a personal encounter with Jesus, all the riches of the world amounted to nothing. They seemed to know this deeply. But do we? Once again, Pope Benedict offers guidance: “The better you know Jesus, the more his mystery attracts you. The more you discover him, the more you are moved to seek him. This is a movement of the Spirit which lasts throughout life.” We also know that the Magi “returned to their own country by a different way.” Their story did not end in Bethlehem; they still had a long journey home, facing the same dangers once more. This time, however, they no longer followed a star. After encountering Christ, the light now lived within them. Later, Jesus would affirm this truth when he said that we are the light of the world. In baptism, we too receive the light of Christ. Pope Benedict describes the Magi’s new mission in these words: “Their task was to guard and nourish it in the constant memory of Christ, of his Holy Face, of his ineffable Love.” This is the mission of every Christian. And I would go even further: we are not only called to guard and nourish the love of God within us—we are also called to spread that love to all those around us.  God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - December 25, 2025

By Father Steven Clemence • December 23, 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, During these days of Christmas, I would like to reflect with you on the figure of the shepherds. They were simply minding their own business, as on so many other nights, watching over their flocks. We might be tempted to imagine them as admirable people, faithfully and diligently doing their work. However, in the time of Jesus, shepherds were not regarded as great individuals—certainly not as role models. They were often viewed with suspicion, considered unreliable, even labeled as thieves or liars. Because they worked at night and rested during the day, they were frequently absent from the synagogue and were thought to be neglectful of prayer and religious observance. Yet, remarkably, these were the very people chosen by God to be the first to receive the announcement of the birth of the Savior. Saint Luke tells us that an angel appeared to the shepherds, bringing them “good news of great joy for all the people: for today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10–11). At that moment, the shepherds faced a choice: they could have continued minding their business, dismissing the angel’s message, or they could believe and act upon it. They may have been tired after a long night’s work, perhaps tempted to remain where they were. But that is not what happened. Saint Luke tells us that they “went in haste” (Lk 2:16). They did not worry about what others might think of them or whether they would be believed given their poor reputation. They hurried to find their Savior. And although they brought no material gifts to Mary and Joseph, they offered what was most precious of all—their hearts. During this Christmas season, we are invited to imitate the shepherds. Perhaps, like them, we have not been the best Christians lately. Maybe our Mass attendance or prayer life has been inconsistent. Yet, just as God chose the shepherds, He also chooses us. He reveals His Son to us and entrusts us with the mission of sharing the great joy of Christmas. Now we face the same decision: will we take the time to seek the Lord, or will we continue with the routines of daily life? We may feel tired, distracted, or even surrounded by darkness. Nevertheless, this encounter with Christ has the power to change our habits, our beliefs, and our lives. God invites us to come before Him and offer our hearts, so that we too may return to our daily lives “glorifying and praising God” (Lk 2:20).  The light that shines in the darkness, foretold by the prophet Isaiah (cf. Is 9:2), has been given to us. Even today, many people are hungry and thirsty for God, longing to see the light. God has chosen us to be His messengers, His angels, in the world. In the Christmas story, the angels repeatedly tell us, “Do not be afraid,” for God is with us. Therefore, do not be afraid to open your heart to Jesus and to share the joy of Christmas with all people. On behalf of all the staff of Immaculate Conception, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed and holy Christmas season. May the newborn Christ fill your hearts with His peace, joy, and love. Merry Christmas and God bless you. God Bless, Fr. Steven