From Father Steven - February 11, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • February 9, 2024

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

This week, we will have the blessing of participating in Ash Wednesday. Not only does it mark the beginning of Lent, but it also holds significance from a very long tradition. This week, I would like to reflect with you on the meaning of the celebration of Ash Wednesday and how it helps us during Lent.

 

The imposition of Ashes as a sign of contrition is a practice that dates back to the Old Testament. We hear that when Jonah preached repentance to the people of Nineveh, they put on sackcloth and sat on ashes. We also hear that Mordecai put on ashes when the king decided to kill all the Jews in the book of Esther. The ashes remind us of the words that are often associated with Ash Wednesday, “you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” In front of a problem or a wrong doing, we remember it can be our end. Therefore, the ashes also serve as a reminder of our mortality. The Jews would put on ashes on their heads to help them repent from their wrong doings, lest God would allow them to die as a consequence.

 

The Catholic Church, already from the very beginning, has adopted ashes as a sign of repentance. The difference is that it was reserved only for the public sinners who had committed some serious sins who were starting a time of penance. On Ash Wednesday, the community would gather and during a celebration, the penitents would put on a sackcloth and the bishop would impose ashes on their head (not on their foreheads as we do today at mass). Then they would be removed from the parish community to contemplate on their mortality and the consequence of their sins. It is similar to a “time-out” that parents give to their children to reflect on their actions. Then on Holy Thursday, at the end of Lent, the Bishop along with the community would receive these brothers back as a sign of charity and love towards them. Slowly the whole church began to embark on this journey of repentance during lent, marked by the sign of the imposition of ashes. The Lenten practices of prayer, almsgiving and abstinence (fasting) were ways to help the people to reflect on their actions, and by the help of God, confess their sins and change their ways. With this slight change of meaning of the sign of the ashes, there was another phrase added to the imposition of ashes, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” More than to be reminded of our mortality and how sin kills our souls, the ashes added this dimension of repentance from our ways of life. Furthermore, while the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they also remind us that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy throughout the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer, and penance.

 

This Lent, we will offer different moments to help us in this journey to return to the Father's house (from the parable of the prodigal son). Every Friday, we will have Stations of the Cross at 6:00pm in English and at 7:00pm in Portuguese and Spanish. Next Sunday, we will have our 24Hr Adoration starting after the 5:00pm Mass through 6:00 pm on Monday (President's Day). Confessions will continue on Tuesdays from 5:00-6:00pm and Saturdays from 1:00-3:00 pm. In case those times don’t work for you, please call the office to schedule a different time. In March, we will have a 3-Day Parish Lenten Mission, starting on Tuesday, March 12th through Thursday, March 15th at 7:00pm. There are other initiatives that we are working on to help us receive the graces that God wants to give us. As we will be fasting and abstaining from meat on Fridays, on Friday, February 23rd and March 15th, we will have our Fish Fry (tickets will be sold at the end of Masses and at the office). We invite you to purchase ahead of time to help us calculate how much fish to get. The options of dine-in and take-out will still be available.

 

Remember that on Ash Wednesday, we mourn and do penance for our sins. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ. Finally, be mindful that the kingdom of this world passes away, we strive to live the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in heaven.

 

I wish you all a Holy Lent. God Bless.

Fr. Steven



From Father Steven - November 15, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • November 12, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, As we approach Thanksgiving, it is more important than ever to be aware of the graces that God has given us and how much we give back. By this, I refer to everything: our lives, time, talents, and treasure. Before we speak about giving, let us reflect on receiving. What do we have that has not been given to us? When we are born, we literally have nothing of our own. Everything is given to us, namely, love, care, clothing, food, shelter, etc. Maybe we have not received what we wanted, or even what we should have received, but rather what was possible. Our parents may not have been the best parents, but they gave their best to us, according to their capacity. Analogously, we can also say that God did not always give us what we wanted, but rather what was necessary for us to discover Him. Even in times of lacking or precariousness, God was always there to help us. Throughout our lives, there have always been people next to us who gave their best. Some have even given us the clothes off their backs. Whether we were aware of it or even acknowledged it, there has been a lot of support that has helped us become who we are. This weekend's Gospel invites us to reflect on the parable of the talents. Not all received the same amount, but each received according to their capacity. God has called us to a special mission which, among the 8 billion people in the world, only we can fulfill. Therefore, it is important to discern, to "investigate" according to God's will, what that call is. Certainly, it is based on the love of God and neighbor, as we recently heard at Mass. The harder question is: How can I love? To love God means, first and foremost, to be grateful for what He has given us, for the many opportunities, forgiveness, and graces that He has bestowed upon us. Therefore, as we pray at every Mass, "it is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give thanks" to God. The Mass itself is the greatest act of thanksgiving that we can offer to God. Then, once our hearts are full of grace, we can go out and share those graces with others. Not all of us have received the same amount or the same kind of graces. Each of us has our own special gifts, even if they have not yet been discovered. Therefore, we need to pray and reflect, both individually and collectively, on what God is calling us to do. We may say that we are already doing something, but are we called to do more or even to change what we are doing? Soon, we will have different opportunities to serve and to give. Technically, we already have opportunities to give to different needs. At each exit of the church, we have the poor box, which helps St. Vincent de Paul assist those in need. Recently, we held a drive to benefit Birthright. There is also First Concern Pregnancy Help, which needs our support to continue its service. I would also like to announce that the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, which formed the three of us priests and where our seminarians are currently in formation, is in serious need of financial assistance. The seminary lives entirely on donations from people. It is also building a larger chapel, which is in dire need of financial support. Moreover, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known as Giving Tuesday, an initiative that encourages people to help others financially. Some companies even match your donations. Therefore, we should take advantage of these opportunities to do good and share the blessings that God has given us. Lastly, I would like to point out that at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24th, we will have a special Thanksgiving prayer service. Our music director, Gabriella, is helping prepare a special moment to praise God through music and prayers. Finally, on Black Friday, we have made a change here in the parish: it will be Adoration Friday. Instead of making it a day to go out looking for special savings, we are called to look for the One who saves us, which is the best bargain that exists. Please join us! God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven- November 8, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • November 6, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last week we were reminded that our call is towards Holiness. This week, in case it was not clear enough, the liturgy will point out that our lives were made for the Kingdom of Heaven. However, God needs our internal disposition, our desire, acceptance, and readiness to enter this Kingdom. We live in a world full of distractions, which each day they are more appealing. Whether TV shows, youtube videos, social media, our lives are more and more are behind a screen. There are numerous psychologists alerting to the danger that simple tasks are no longer enough to make a person happy because of the overdose of dopamine. The human body is not used to the amount of stimulation as given by the electronics (screen). Then, simple tasks, such as praying, can become boring, unpleasing, lacking the necessary stimulus. How then are we going to be ready for the Kingdom of God if we spend a good amount scrolling through the phone or channels? Human interaction in New England is already limited. After Covid, it became almost nonexistent. Nowadays, we limit our conversations to emojis, or if you come out of the house and see another human being, a simple nod or a half smile. Gone are the days that people talk to each other. Then, let’s begin a new culture, as Pope St. John Paul II would often exhort the youth. Pope Francis in a World Youth Day called those in attendance to dictate their own lives, instead of following what the world tells them to do. As St. Teresa of Calcutta says, we cannot do great things, but small things with great love.” Another element present, which we don't often speak about, is the adversary whose mission is to condemn us. Since the day he opposed God and his loving plan of redemption of man, he seeks to destroy the image of God, which is us. He speaks to us through thoughts (temptations). He can throw darts of false desires into our hearts. It is important to understand that these inclinations are not ours. They come as suggestions as if whispered in our intellects which we can agree or reject them. Taking the passage of the Gospel, maybe the Virgins were alerted to go out to get more oil to wait for the groom, but then the temptation of laziness, pride, or presumptuousness came and suggested them not to come. It is important to learn the strategies of our enemy in order to be alert and counterattack them. This is another way for us to fight for the Kingdom of God. In Theology we say that the spiritual beings (angels and demons) are much more intelligent than us. It can be compared to the difference between an adult and a toddler. Then the enemy can easily deceive and distract us of what is important as children do. That is why we invited Fr. Carlos Martins next Monday (11/16) to explain to us better what the spiritual world is and how to fight. We do not need to fear these things. They can do nothing without our consent. Like a barking dog on a leash cannot bite us, so the spirits cannot hurt us unless we get close to the dog. Finally, I would like to say a word about our fellow brothers and sisters who have dedicated years of their lives and sacrificed much serving in the military. Our dear Veterans, whose day we observe on Wednesday, are an example of selfless action that we should imitate. Jesus says that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend (Jn 15:13). These countless men and women have sacrificed their lives. They set a great example to be followed. This is still part of what we need to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, I invite you to say a Rosary on Wednesday praying for the Veterans in thanksgiving for their service, especially those who are struggling because of their time in the military. God Bless, Fr. Steven