From Father Steven - November 10, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • November 8, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

We all have heard the saying, “we are what we eat.” Although this phrase was coined about 200 years ago, it still holds true today. In a world saturated with digital content, we are shaped not only by the food we consume but also by the information we take in. This begs the question: what kind of material are we bringing into our lives? How does our time balance between work, family, social media, and our relationship with God?

 

Recently, while speaking to a group of young adults, I was struck by the sheer amount of time they admitted to spending on their phones. Whether it’s for work, social media, games, watching series, or other forms of entertainment, it quickly adds up. One of the group members commented, “Imagine what we could do with all that time if it were used for the right things.” We all laughed, but the comment really made me think. It’s true! Think about all those hours spent passively consuming: behind screens, watching TV, mindlessly scrolling through social media, or doing other activities that don’t really add value to our lives. Surely it is important to have some recreation time, but it can’t be too much! Imagine if we were to dedicate that time to reading books, we would be so much more knowledgeable. If we were to help other people, we would become so much more generous. Now imagine if we dedicated all that time towards God! Whether studying the bible (or just reading it), praying the rosary daily, immersing ourselves in the lives of the saints. Imagine attending daily Mass or simply visiting the Blessed Sacrament – how profoundly different our lives would be! If we are to spend eternity with God, should we not be preparing ourselves actively for heaven a bit more? Sometimes we can settle for so little, when the Lord wants to give us so much!!! It is true that there are other important tasks to be done daily, but why is prayer and God not our top priorities?

 

I often tell the youth that there are 1,440 minutes in a day. How much do we dedicate to God? If we were to pray for 2 hours daily, that would be only less than 10% of our day. However, if we pray 14 minutes, that is actually 1%...I believe that Jesus needs more than that. Actually, WE are the ones that need more than that. Surely that 2 hours straight can be a lot, but if we spread through the day, it would not be too much. If I were to tell you that this year you will eat almost 2,000 pounds of food, you would say that is impossible. Even to think that we consume an average of 4.5 pounds a day is a lot. However, slowly as we eat here and there, we get to that amount. The same is with prayer.

 

We are what we eat, and in the same way, we are what we consume in terms of information and time. Just as we need to be mindful of what we put into our bodies, we must also be careful about what we expose ourselves to and how we spend our time. The people around you need you, whether family, friends, or neighbors. We also need God and our holy friends (the saints). Therefore, I invite you to reconsider some of your agenda. Let us give our priorities to God and His will. As the Gospel invites us this weekend, let us give Him our all!!! Like the two widows who gave all they had, and they were not lacking, let us do the same. We have some incredible opportunities coming up! Every day we have Adoration 6:30-7:30am in the lower church. Daily Mass is 7:30-8:00am every single day (we have a no-cancellation policy). The Church is open every day from 6:00am-6:00pm. This Sunday November 10th we have 24Hr Adoration starting at 6:00pm until 6:00pm on Monday. This Tuesday we have a Sacred Music Concert by Harpa Dei at 7:00pm (Mass and Adoration). On Wednesday our Senior Group (which is open to all adults who want to participate) will be meeting for the first time 10:00am-12:00pm. On Formed.org there are some great contents to watch/listen to help you. In a few weeks we have the Night of Praise and Thanksgiving on November 21st. As we feed our bodies properly, let us also feed our souls with good stuff!!!

 

Finally, as we approach Veteran’s Day this week, I want to take a moment to thank all our brothers and sisters who have made countless sacrifices while serving our country. May God bless you a hundredfold for your generosity. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

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

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