From Father Steven - December 8, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • December 6, 2024

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

This week we celebrate the Feast of our Patroness, the Immaculate Conception, and the patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe. We often have heard those titles of Mary, but without much familiarity with them. 

 

The Dogma (an irrevocable truth contained in Divine Revelation as the Catechism defines it) of the Immaculate Conception, is sometimes confused with Jesus being born without sin. It actually refers to the Blessed Virgin Mother who was conceived (Conception) without sin/original Sin (Immaculate). It is fitting, says St. Thomas Aquinas, that the mother of Jesus was completely perfect, in order to receive Jesus in her womb. Like her, we ourselves are also called to be perfect in order to receive Jesus in our souls. It is only through the immense love that God has for each of us that we can be transformed, like Mary, in this holy tabernacle to carry Jesus within us. This radical transformation can be intimidating, as we need much help to be Holy as God is Holy, to be courageous to follow the Word of God, to receive the Lord within us, just like Mary. This past Monday, we heard the Gospel from the Roman Centurion that asks Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant (Mt. 8:5-11). As Jesus wants to come at his request, the Centurion replies that he is not worthy that Jesus should enter under his roof.  That is what we say at every mass right before communion. But the beauty is that Jesus DOES WANT TO DWELL IN US, in our hearts, mind, and lives, even though we are not yet perfect! As God bestowed many graces to the Blessed Mother (full of Grace), He also wants to bless us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens and on earth (Ephesians 1:3). At the example of the blessed Mother let us not be afraid to become the handmaid of the Lord, and accept all the blessings from God.

 

Additionally, the Blessed Mother herself also intercedes for us, caring for us, like a mother. When Juan Diego was in a rush to ask a priest to visit his dying uncle, he avoided the place where Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared to him, in order to complete his task. Nonetheless, she appeared to him for a second time. After listening to his concern for his uncle, she said, “Listen my little child, let nothing frighten you or disturb you. Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? … Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” Dear brothers and sisters, let us entrust all our preoccupations, concerns, and worries to her. 

 

The time of Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ, not so much about getting the gifts and the house ready for Christmas. There is a prayer of St. Teresa of Avila that often comes to my mind which says, “Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, ALL THINGS ARE PASSING AWAY: God never changes. Patience obtains all things, Whoever has God lacks nothing; GOD ALONE SUFFICES.” We are invited to rejoice also because God has not given up on us. While all things will pass away, we know that He is eternal, and He alone is all that we need. We shall celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception together as a parish this Sunday at 6:00pm in our annual trilingual mass (please note that it does not count as a Sunday obligation). This year it is a holy day of obligation, so if someone cannot make it to our celebration on Sunday, we will have the regular holiday masses on Monday (7:30am, 12:10pm, 6:00pm, and 7:30pm in Portuguese and Spanish). Then on Thursday, December 12, we shall have the mass to Our Lady of Guadalupe at 7:00pm.

 

Let us focus on this time of Advent, with the help of our Blessed Mother, to prepare our hearts to let Jesus into our lives, just like Christmas.

 












God Bless,









,

Fr. Steven

 

 

From Father Steven - June 21, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • June 18, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are enjoying this beautiful start of summer! Please see the letter below from Gabriella Lindhurst, our Director of Music. Happy Father’s Day!! God Bless, Fr. Steven —————————————————————————————— My name is Gabriella Lindhurst, and I am the Music Director at Immaculate Conception Parish. As many of you know, I began serving in this role in January, and my experience here has been wonderful. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and I am grateful for the kindness and support I have received from parishioners, staff members, cantors, and volunteers. Over the past several months, I have enjoyed getting to know many members of our parish community, and I look forward to meeting many more in the months and years ahead. I am originally from Southborough, Massachusetts, and much of my love for sacred music grew out of my involvement in my home parish. As a child, I served as an altar server, learned to play the organ there, and eventually began accompanying Masses as an organist and serving as a cantor. Throughout my school years, I also sang in school and church choirs. Looking back, these experiences helped shape both my faith and my vocation as a church musician, and they continue to influence the way I approach music ministry today. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. What began as a childhood interest gradually became a vocation and a ministry. Along the way, I pursued studies in music and sacred music at Assumption University and the University of Notre Dame, but some of my most meaningful lessons have come through serving the Church and helping others encounter God through prayer and music. That is what continues to inspire me in my work as Music Director today. If you regularly attend one of our English Masses, you have likely seen me at the organ or piano. One of the great joys of my position is helping to lead the congregation in song each week. I have enjoyed getting to know the different communities that make up our parish through the Masses, as well as through my work with the children who attended CCD this year. I am continually inspired by the voices of parishioners who join together in worship, and I believe that sacred music plays an important role in helping us pray and participate more fully in the liturgy. One of the things that has impressed me most about Immaculate Conception Parish is the strong sense of community that exists here. Whether through worship, faith formation, service, or fellowship, so many people generously share their gifts for the good of the parish. Music ministry is one of the many ways that people can become involved, build friendships, and deepen their faith while serving others. Over the past several months, I have become increasingly excited about the future of music ministry at our parish. One of my goals for this fall is to reestablish the Adult Choir. I have heard many wonderful things about the former choir, and I look forward to bringing this ministry back. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays beginning at 6:00pm, and the choir will primarily sing at the Saturday 4:00pm Mass, as well as for special liturgies throughout the year. Our first rehearsal will be on Thursday, September 3rd. The Adult Choir is open to anyone who enjoys singing and would like to share their time and talent in service of the liturgy. If you have ever considered joining a choir, I warmly encourage you to come to a rehearsal and give it a try or reach out for more information. Choir membership is a wonderful opportunity to serve the parish, grow in friendship with fellow parishioners, and participate more deeply in the liturgy. I am also excited to begin a new Children’s Choir this fall that will be separate from CCD. All children ages 7 and up are welcome. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 4:30pm–5:30pm, and the choir will sing once each month at the 11:00am Mass. Our first rehearsal will be on Thursday, September 10th. The Children’s Choir will help young people develop musical skills, build confidence, and learn about the important role music plays in our Catholic faith. Most importantly, it will give them another opportunity to become active participants in the life of the parish while sharing their gifts with our community. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at gabriella5110@gmail.com, I would be happy to speak with you. As we prepare for the fall, I ask for your prayers for all of our music ministries. Please also consider whether God may be calling you, your children, or another member of your family to become involved. Whether as a choir member, cantor, instrumentalist, or simply as a member of the congregation singing with enthusiasm, every voice contributes to the prayer of our parish community. Thank you again for the warm welcome you have shown me over these past several months. I am grateful to be part of Immaculate Conception Parish, and I look forward to continuing to grow with all of you in faith, fellowship, and song.  God Bless, Gabriella

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