From Father Steven - May 12, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • May 10, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

To all the mothers, we wish you many blessings and may you always grow in grace and wisdom! Although we have only one mother, we can have many mother-like figures in our lives. One of these mothers, is our Holy Mother Church. I would like to reflect with you how the Church is our mother.

 

The role of the Church is to educate us in the faith, help us to grow in grace, and to follow a path of holiness. Just as our mothers educated us to behave, to say "please" and "thank you," and have taught us right from wrong, so does the Church have the same role. Our behavior is molded according to that of Jesus and of the saints. Our spiritual "please" is our prayers directed to God, and "thank you" is attending mass, which is the greatest act of thanksgiving ("it is truly right and just, always and everywhere, to give you thanks"). The Church always teaches us what is right from what is wrong, through CCD, homilies, bulletin letters, and through the Magisterium (the collection of teachings/documents of the Church), especially through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

As a mother, the Church also needs to correct us and as children, we are not always fond of it. As an adult, it is funny how we come to the realization that our mothers were always right. For all the kicking and screaming and whining from our childhood was for no reason. Our parents had to help us to mature and not to do things on a whim. Sometimes when the Church speaks, we are not fond of its opinion either. There are some of its teachings that can be welcomed with long faces and indifference. As our mothers were older than us, and were able to use their experience to help, so does the Church with its 2000 years of experience and the treasures inherited from the Old Testament.

 

One more thing that our mothers have taught us is to share. As children we were taught to share our toys with others, and as teenagers, we were called to share our time and talents with others. Well, today the Church invites us to share our good with other people. Also, the Church is called to care for everyone, regardless of who they are. One way we have to do that is through St. Vincent de Paul, who gathers funds and goes out to help those in need. Next weekend we are beginning a new way of helping people, the Community Fridge. It is a community based effort with the assistance of local organizations to provide relief to local individuals and families facing food insecurity, alleviating hunger. Located on the side of the church, the Fridge will be primarily operated by community and Rotary members. It will run entirely on solar power, ensuring self-sufficiency one of the first of its kind in the country. Maintenance check-ups on the solar equipment and fridge clean-ups will be coordinated weekly along with donations from local businesses. Our parish community is called to contribute this great initiative and those who are in need to be helped by it. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 19th after the 11:00am mass.

 

Lastly, you may have seen the great devastation this last week in Brazil that has affected over 1 million people. It happened in my hometown, Porto Alegre, and the suburban area with a population of 4 million people. Due to historic amounts of rainfall, the rivers went up as high as 60 feet, displacing over 200 thousand people.

 

Although I don’t have family members there, my friends and my original home parish have had their houses submerged by over 20 feet. Speaking with the Cardinal, he has allowed me to collect funds to send to the people on the fronts helping the victims. I have contacted a local parish that is donating food to the places sheltering people as well as feeding all the first responders. We would support their efforts as well as some local volunteers who are going to the supermarkets buying what people need (food, mattresses, medicine) and delivering in the shelters. I will make sure that all this money is given to those in need. For anyone who would like to contribute to this cause, you can write a check to the parish with the memo: “Brazil Relief.” We will be doing a special collection next weekend for the victims. Therefore, we will move the seminary collection of Pentecost to the following weekend. To those who give through Online Giving, there is an option to donate also called “Brazil Relief”. There is also an option through text 2 give, where you can text 508-859-7970 or scan the QR code.

        BRAZIL RELIEF FUND

 

To all mothers, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

 

God Bless,

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