From Father Steven - January 5, 2025

Father Steven Clemence • January 3, 2025

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Please see the letter below from Fr. Gabriel.

 

God Bless You & Happy New Year!

Fr. Steven

_______________________________________

 

Dear Parishioners of Immaculate Conception,


 I pray that you’ve been able to see the Lord’s goodness during this time of Christmas. Too often is our Celebration cut off immediately after December 25th, when in fact, there are twelve days of celebration that follow. And as the feasting continues, we come now to the Solemnity of the Epiphany. 

 

Epiphany is a word that has Greek roots meaning appearance or manifestation. It’s on this day that we celebrate the arrival of the Three Magi who, according to tradition, are named Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. These three wise men come in search of a King’s birth, heralded by a star, and to their surprise, they find him, The Christ child, laid in a manger. The three Kings bear three gifts, Gold, frankincense and Myrrh. Three costly presents for the newborn king, each pointing to his identity and his destiny. Jesus receives gold at the hands of the Magi, because it symbolizes that he is royalty; he is the true king of Israel. He also receives frankincense, because incense is always burned and offered to Divinity, and Jesus is truly God, hidden in the appearance of a child. Finally, they give him myrrh, which was used to anoint the dead; this points to Christ’s humanity, and that he is destined to die for the salvation of all men. 

 

This also points us in the direction of understanding just why this Solemnity is so important. The arrival of the Three Kings to Bethlehem, marks Jesus’ manifestation to all the nations. That the whole world comes to be united under its one, true king, Jesus Christ. It is important to also remember that these Magi were united on their journey to Jesus Christ by that great star that the Lord placed in the sky.

 

This celebration should be especially dear to us, because its spiritual significance is shown to be true in our parish. This star that shines brightly in the sky can be understood to be the Church, who guides us and leads us to the hidden presence of Jesus Christ who we come to bow before in the Eucharist, just as the Kings bowed before Jesus in Bethlehem. Moreover, we see that it is all nations that are united under this tender little King; just consider all the different languages and cultures that are brought together in our Church, encompassing so many nations and they are all being brought along this journey of faith by this star, that is the Church, to Jesus Christ who is waiting for us every Sunday at mass. 

 

It is also essential to recognize that when we heed the wisdom of the Church, and practice the forgiveness that Jesus brings to us within our homes too, we experience a greater unity, where we can set all differences aside and start anew. That is to say that even as families we are called to follow this star and bow before Christ, because he is the true source of communion among those closest to us, as well as those who we are not so familiar with.

 

The deeper we come in relationship with Christ, the more our life reflects those stories that we hear about in scripture. The Lord desires to instill in each of us that same joy the Magi received at the sight of our Lord. And so I invite all of you to see your faith life with biblical eyes, make the same journey to Bethlehem this weekend, accompanied by the three Kings, to find the hidden presence of Jesus Christ, placed under the light of the star that is the Church, that we may rejoice in the unity that he brings by coming to live among us.

 

God Bless You & Happy New Year!

Fr. Gabriel

 

From Father Steven - August 16, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • August 14, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are enjoying your summer! Please see the letter below from Fr. Javier. God Bless, Fr. Steven ——————————————— Hello Brothers and Sisters, Time flies, it has already been a few months since my ordination but I feels like it was only yesterday. The ordination has been a gift and a joy. Thank you all for your support in my formation. I would like to share with you two things that have been close to my heart since my ordination to the deaconate and now the priesthood. The first is on God's Providence and the second is a particular part of the Eucharist. My diaconate ordination marked the end of my time of mission and my return for the final year in the seminary. As many of you might remember I was in mission in American Samoa, Samoa, and a short but impactful time in Saipan. During that time I experienced how God opened doors that I never even knew existed. In difficult times God always had a solution in ways that I didn't expect. In short, I experienced God's Providence and I was awe-struck. I felt that God was my Father who was providing what I needed. Looking ahead into my priesthood, I know that there will be challenging moments but I have these core memorials that serve to remind me that God provides the grace needed to carry out his will. Providence comes to you when you seek out God and his will, everything else falls into place. Now as a priest there is a particular part of the Eucharist that I really enjoy, the Holy sung during the Eucharistic Prayer. "Heaven and Earth are full of your glory". That line has stuck with me because it calls to mind all the wonders that I have seen God work in my life, the life of my family, and in the lives of others. Not only this, but the action of singing Holy, Holy, Holy during the Liturgy fulfills our heavenly calling to one day join the angels and saints in Heaven singing the perpetual praises of God. The Book of Revelations says that they never cease to sing Holy, Holy, Holy. In the Eucharist, and in this moment in particular Heaven and Earth come together. What a blessing to celebrate the Eucharist! I remember you in my prayers, please pray for me. In Christ, Fr Javier Alexis Padilla

From Father Steven - August 9, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • August 7, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please see the information below from Deacon Joe Cooley about their Encounter School of Ministry 2026 Summer Intensive program to be held at Meehan Hall August 17—August 20th. Come immerse yourself in the Holy Spirit and whet your appetite for more of what the Lord wants to do through you, with you, and in you! God Bless, Fr. Steven —————————— Encounter School of Ministry 2026 Summer Intensive – Marlborough "Taste and see that the LORD is good." — Psalm 34:8 Are you looking for new zeal, inspiration, and energy to live out your vocation? Do you desire a deeper encounter with God’s healing power, a breakthrough in your spiritual life, or a clearer understanding of your life's purpose? Don't let the season pass without investing in your spiritual growth. The Encounter School of Ministry Boston Campus warmly invites you to join us for our final 4-evening Summer Intensive of the 2026 season, hosted right here at Immaculate Conception Parish. Whether you serve actively in parish ministry or simply want to live out the Great Commission with supernatural confidence in your daily family and professional life, this transformative experience is designed intentionally for you. Over four powerful nights, participants will receive a rich, accelerated distillation of our first four quarters of ministry training. You will unlock foundational blueprint tools rooted in our Catholic heritage to help you live out the Gospel with joy and walk in authority in Christ. Each evening features a dynamic mix of praise and worship, foundational teachings, and hands-on activations in a safe, humble environment marked by genuine kindness and charity. Nightly Curriculum Focus: Night 1: Kingdom Identity – Discover your true identity as a beloved son or daughter of God, shifting from a performance-based mentality to a heavenly perspective. Night 2: Prophetic Gifts – Learn the "language of the Holy Spirit," grow in hearing God’s voice, and cultivate gifts to build up, encourage, and console others. Night 3: Physical Healing – Learn a basic prayer model for healing ministry rooted in love and compassion for the sick. Night 4: Inner Healing & Freedom – Partner with the Holy Spirit to find emotional renewal, freedom from hidden wounds, and deep peace. Historical data from our local campus graduates demonstrates profound, multi-layered fruits: past attendees have experienced physical healings, freedom from anxiety, strengthened marriages, and a major activation in parish life, including a deeper love for Eucharistic Adoration. Come with an expectant heart ready to close out your summer with incredible spiritual fire! Event Details: Where: Immaculate Conception Parish (Meehan Hall), Marlborough, MA When: Aug 17–20, 2026 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM nightly | Worship begins at 5:00 PM Registration / Info: Please scan the QR code on the Marlborough flyer available at the church exits, reference our digital announcements, visit online at encounterschool.org/boston , or register at the door. Contact: For questions or group details, connect with Satellite Campus Director Deacon Joe Cooley at boston@encounterschool.org . Claim your seat today and see the new horizons the Lord is opening for you!