From Father Steven - January 21, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • January 19, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

As you may know, we as a parish collaborate closely with two pregnancy help centers, Birthright and First Concern. This weekend we will be having a fundraiser drive for First Concern to help them in their mission to assist women in need. I have asked Megan Paradis, the Executive Director of First Concern, to write a letter to be shared with the parish.

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

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This weekend we commemorate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday-a day we set aside every year to focus on the value of every human life. It is estimated that 64 million abortions have been performed in the United States since 1973. The theme for the 51st Annual March for Life is “With Every Woman, For Every Child”, and honors the work of pregnancy centers and maternity homes, focusing on the need to care for mother and child during the nine months of pregnancy and in the years after.

At First Concern PRC we show women that even if the world is telling her it’s too hard to have her baby, we will walk this journey with her. When a woman has decided to carry her child, we continue to offer pregnancy and parenting education, material help she may need, and emotional support. When people look at what First Concern is, we hope that you see our commitment to “Love them both”. We have revised our mission statement to reflect both the women we help, and the children they carry.  Affirming the humanity and life of the preborn child, we empower women and men facing unplanned pregnancies to choose alternatives to abortion by offering education, life skills, compassion and hope.

 

Two years ago, Immaculate Conception generously raised the needed funds for the ultrasound machine at First Concern. I spoke of the lives we hoped to save and the women we hoped to help. As we look back at 2023, the first year we offered ultrasound confirmation services with your partnership, we see God’s hand in all things. We served 56 women with ultrasound, and your support directly saved 23 little lives. Women who are considering abortion are finding us and through compassionate care coupled with ultrasound are choosing life!

 

What we have found since partnering with the medical office is that we are meeting women who have complicated lives, and they have been told that abortion is the solution to a whole host of problems. The nurses and our advocates have worked with women who are homeless, women in abusive relationships, in poverty, or addicted to substances. So often we hear that women with these hardships need access to abortion- we have a had a year with examples where women needed compassionate support to get out of these circumstances AND choose their child. One woman from Guatemala found us when she was already in her 3rd trimester, homeless with a young daughter in tow. She hadn’t had any prenatal care; she didn’t even know her due date. Ultrasound confirmed that she was almost 34 weeks along! We worked quickly to find her shelter, medical care, and community resources. Eventually she and her daughter moved into a maternity home, welcomed a baby boy, and are thriving. August 2023 was our most impactful month yet. We had the privilege of walking with five women who reached out for help as either abortion minded, or undecided about their pregnancies. Our incredible staff educated them on their options, the support they would find on their parenting journey, and provided them with ultrasounds in the medical office. All five of these brave moms chose life for their babies and are grateful for the compassionate support they found inside our doors. Rejoice with us over all these new families, but especially a young woman who pushed back against fear, was referred to safe shelter, and welcomed her twin boys this fall! Your support helped reach these women and empowered them to choose their babies, and we could not be more thankful. Some women visit our centers once, while other women return for weekly support. Through parenting groups, education, and community support, we touched the lives of almost 200 women.

 

This weekend you can help support the life-saving work of First Concern. We have an Amazon wish list with needed baby items for the boutique. Every month we give out up to 5 car seats, several bassinets, dozens of packages of diapers, formula, and many other necessities for babies & toddlers, completely free of charge. We depend on partners to donate these new items, so now it’s even easier to buy through your amazon account and have the items shipped right to us. Another way to support the mission is to give a financial contribution today so that we can change the trajectory of someone’s life tomorrow. The link to donate can be found at firstconcernfriends.org, and there will also be a collection of funds at each mass. Your generous gifts will provide: $2,500 - all the services necessary for 1 woman; $1,250 - ultrasound confirmation services for 1 week; $750 - utilities for 1 month; $500 - google advertising for 1 month; $150 - Brightcourse Education for 1 month. We have been blessed by your care of First Concern through your donations, time, and talents. Thank you!

 

With you, for LIFE,

Megan Paradis, Executive Director

 

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

From Father Steven - November 1, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • October 30, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This weekend we observe All Saints Day, and on Monday we will remember all the faithful departed (All Souls’ Day). It is important for us to understand the relationship we have with the saints and the dead. First of all, it is crucial to know that the saints are great examples of our faith. They are to be venerated, not worshipped, and serve as role models for us. Their lives show us a path that can lead us closer to God. In a similar way that Tom Brady, Larry Bird, and Big Papi inspire young people around here to become professional athletes, the saints do the same for those who want to be part of Team Jesus. We not only look up to them, but we can also model our lives according to their practices of faith. Secondly, not all the saints lived perfect lives. Some had very troubled pasts, others were known for their vices, and still others converted near the end of their lives. What is important is how they responded to God's grace and surrendered their lives to Him. St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Charles de Foucauld all experienced periods in their early lives when they were far from the holiness they later embraced. St. John of God was admitted to a psychiatric hospital before fully embracing his mission after his conversion. St. Bartolo Longo became involved in satanism before turning to Christ. St. Dismas, the Good Thief who was crucified alongside Jesus, was not a follower of Christ during His public ministry. Yet, at the very end of his life, he professed his faith in Jesus and received the promise of paradise. Therefore, our past does not have to define our future. What matters is whether we turn to Christ, repent of our sins, and accept His forgiveness and the salvation He offers us. Finally, the saints want us to be with them in heaven. Therefore, we can ask for their help and intercession, especially for spiritual goods that will help us conform our lives to Jesus. Getting to know the saints and their lives is extremely rewarding. I personally read the description of the saint of the day every day. Do not treat them like the genie in the lamp, asking for mundane favors or help finding lost objects. Of course, they can also intercede for us in our daily needs as a sign of their love for us. But imagine asking Tom Brady to come here to the parish to help us find our keys! It would be a waste of his time. This weekend, all the relics we have will be exposed in the church, with a brief description of each, for veneration after Mass. Take advantage of this opportunity to ask the saints for a special spiritual favor that will help you get to heaven. On Monday, we will pray for all the faithful departed. We believe that those who die face the particular judgment of God. At that moment, their eternal destiny is determined: those who die in God's grace and friendship and are fully purified enter heaven; those who definitively reject God separate themselves from Him forever in hell. Those who die in God's grace but still need purification before entering heaven undergo that purification in purgatory. Our prayers cannot change the fate of those who are in hell, and the saints in heaven do not need our prayers. However, the souls being purified in purgatory can benefit from our prayers. We can offer prayers, sacrifices, and indulgences for them. That is why we pray for the souls in purgatory and for all the faithful departed. We do not know with certainty whether a particular person is in heaven or hell, unless the Church has declared someone a saint. Therefore, it is always good to pray for those who have died. We have a book in which you can write the names of your deceased loved ones, and we will pray for them throughout the month of November. Lastly, and briefly, Fr. Carlos Martins, who has a special ministry, will be coming to our parish on Monday, November 16, to host a “Night with an Exorcist.” He will give a talk to clarify some of the misleading information about spiritual warfare circulating on social media. It is important to hear how the Church understands evil and how we can protect ourselves spiritually. Save the date on your calendars! God Bless, Fr. Steven