From Father Steven - November 24, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • November 22, 2024


Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

Although this week our minds are fully immersed in Thanksgiving, we are not focusing on the pilgrims or the Native Americans. On the last liturgical Sunday of Ordinary Time, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Therefore, I would like to reflect together on the profound reality of having Christ as our King. In this weekend’s Gospel, we encounter the dialogue between Pontius Pilate and Jesus. Pilate begins by asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33). This question calls us to reflect deeply: Is Christ truly our King, or do we have another ruler? In other words, who governs our lives? Who is in charge of our actions, our thoughts, and to whom do we pledge our obedience? Surely, it should be Jesus, but if we are honest with ourselves, that is not always the case. As St. Augustine once said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You" (Confessions, 1.1). We know that our hearts were made to rest in Christ, but we often allow other things to take precedence.

 

A few weeks ago, we heard the Gospel calling us to love God with all our hearts, to love Him above all else. That would be ideal, but it is not always the case. At times, we put other priorities before God—skipping Mass on Sunday, failing to make time for prayer, or neglecting the needs of others because of something or someone else. This is a sign of whose voice we are listening to. We can easily become distracted and follow our own desires—whether laziness, gluttony, pride, or envy. We may act not because it is God’s will, but because we have other intentions.

 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, whose voice do we obey? Many times, we have clearly heard God’s voice. Whether He was calling us to go to confession, pray the rosary, attend Mass, forgive someone, or respond to another prompt, we knew it was God speaking. But how often do we disregard that voice? We also hear a different voice—one that calls us to do the opposite—sometimes accusing us or justifying our own actions. St. Francis de Sales beautifully reminds us, "Be who you are and be that well" (Introduction to the Devout Life), which speaks to the necessity of aligning our will with God’s. Therefore, this weekend, we are all asked: Is Jesus truly our King?

 

As the dialogue continues, Jesus reveals that His kingdom is not of this world. He tells Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). If we look closely at the Gospels, we see that Jesus repeatedly affirms His heavenly origin. In the Gospel of John, He speaks often of being "from above" (John 8:23), and in the Catechism, we are reminded that "Christ’s kingdom is present in mystery" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 865). He also tells us, "You are in the world, but you are not of the world" (John 17:14-16). So, the question becomes: Do we live as if our kingdom is in heaven? Today, more than ever, there is a sense of everything happening instantly. The world moves so fast that we rarely have to wait for anything. We are conditioned to desire the "here and now," with little patience for delay. We have grown up hearing that "time is money," and we are constantly reminded not to waste it. But Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which takes time to grow (Matthew 13:31-32). This is the opposite of the world’s fast-paced, instant-gratification mindset. Once again, we are in the world, but we are not of the world.

 

Consequently, if our ultimate prize is eternal life—if everything we long for will be given to us after death—then we can endure suffering, trials, and tribulations. These are the ways God purifies us and prepares us to enter His Kingdom. As St. Teresa of Ávila said, "The Lord does not give us an easy way to heaven. He wants us to come through the narrow door, and He calls us to embrace the cross" (The Interior Castle). This is what the martyrs discovered. This is why many saints gave up their lives, careers, and families to follow this higher call. Therefore, we are asked this weekend: Where is our kingdom? Where is our treasure? Jesus tells us, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). In Hebrews 12:2, we are urged to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who "for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame," so that He could sit at the right hand of the throne of God. Would you be willing today to embrace your cross (your suffering), face rejection and humiliation, in order to have this joy and enter the Kingdom of God?

 

While your answer may not be a definitive "yes," Christ, this weekend, desires to be our King and rule our lives—both on earth and in heaven. There is little we can do about our past, but today we can change our future. The Catechism teaches us, "The Kingdom of God is the reign of God, the reign of love, the reign of peace" (CCC, 2816). Let us listen to His voice, and let us do His will. After all we have heard in Mass throughout the year, today let us recognize Jesus as our sovereign King and follow in His footsteps, so that where He is, we too may be.

 

We wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven

 



From Father Steven - February 8, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 6, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please see the letter below from David and Stephanie Ringland, our parishioners, about the upcoming Couples Retreat February 21st. This will be a wonderful day for our couples!! This retreat is for couples of all ages and stages committed to growing deeper in love, in faith and in God’s Calling. The day will include meaningful conversations, guided workshops, stories and lunch. This is designed to strengthen connection and renew commitment. We are looking forward to seeing you! God Bless, Fr. Steven ———————————————- Greetings Fellow Parishioners! Are you distracted? There are so many things in the world today that compete for your time and attention, whether it's the late-night work deadlines, the news feed on your cell phone, the ads on the radio, who or what was posted on Facebook, or the what's playing next on your TV....to name a few of them. We have all become desensitized by the remarkable availability of these distractions in our lives. As a result, it has become easier to be drawn away from the relationships that actually matter to us as we focus on those other things. If you have been together for a while, maybe it is the distraction of money, material wealth and competition with a family that seems to be perfect from the outside, or even coveting your neighbor's spouse. It's mostly unintentional, but over time, the detachment and avoidance of the negatives in a relationship can impact a couple and become significant obstacles that can feel insurmountable at times. As we age, just like interest, these things compound and can feel heavy to the point of breaking. We become tired and feel beaten and abused, but can’t identify the source of it. In reality, it is the overwhelming weight of complacency that rests on our shoulders that can lead to finger pointing and accusations when anything goes out of the ordinary. If you have children, like we do, you can see this manifest in the way that their attention is diverted from helping around the house or helping each other, or how quickly a task like homework can evolve into mindless scrolling when an electronic is involved. Their behavior may echo what they see and the complacency that many of us have fallen victim to. That is why when we learned that there would be a couple's retreat in February, we were happy to become involved. Not only is it a great example of how vibrant the parish is here at Immaculate Conception, but it's a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with each other in a no-judgment zone. We welcome the chance to spend some time with each other to rediscover the Holy Spirit's presence within our relationship, and how our love for each other will be magnified by the end of the day on February 21st. Whether you are married, engaged, or a couple that has been dating for 20 years, we invite you to join us for part of a day at a retreat that is guaranteed to be nothing short of profoundly moving and entertaining! Should you know a couple going through a rough patch or one that has been dating for 20 years, bring them too! You may be the catalyst that they need to revitalize their love or finally make the commitment. Childcare will be available during the event in order for you to make your date-day at Immaculate Conception. Your date-night is up to you, but we know that it will be extra special with the one you love. God bless, David & Stephanie Ringland

From Father Steven - February 1, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • January 30, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This past week, the parish took a bus loaded with youth to attend the March for Life in Washington. It was really a blessing to all of us. We attended an event held on Friday morning by the Sisters of Life. During Mass, New York's auxiliary Bishop, Joseph Espaillat, delivered a passionate and energetic homily centered on the consistent dignity of human life and a full Catholic pro-life ethic, delivered a powerful homily. Drawing from the Church’s teachings and the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes , he invited all in attendance to embrace every aspect of a life-affirming vision, not just select issues. I would like to share some points with you. In his homily, Bishop Joseph Espaillat energizes the congregation by acknowledging their sacrifice in waking early, traveling long distances, and enduring fatigue to be present. Drawing on his own experience of attending the March for Life as a teenager and seminarian, he reassures especially young people that the effort is worth it, emphasizing a repeated refrain: “In the end, love wins.” This phrase becomes the central theme of his message, underscoring that love—not anger, exhaustion, or despair—is the Christian response to the struggles surrounding life issues. Bishop Espaillat situates the pro-life movement within the broader faith and tradition of the Church. He stresses that Catholics do not rely solely on Scripture, but also on Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium. He highlights the importance of Vatican II documents, lamenting that many Catholics—laypeople and clergy alike—are unfamiliar with them despite their relevance. The Church, he explains, has a “constitution” similar to that of a nation: Gaudium et Spes , the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Focusing especially on Paragraph 27 of Gaudium et Spes , Bishop Espaillat walks the congregation through a list of violations against human dignity. He emphasizes that being pro-life is not a single-issue stance. While abortion is affirmed as a grave moral evil and a central concern, it cannot be isolated from other life issues. The document condemns murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, torture, coercion, subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, human trafficking, and exploitative labor. According to the bishop, Catholics cannot “pick and choose” which lives deserve protection. To do so undermines the Gospel and weakens the Church’s moral witness. He reinforces this point by quoting Fulton Sheen and his own seminary professors: refusing to take a stand on major moral issues is itself a decision and amounts to silent cooperation with evil. By choosing to travel to Washington, D.C., the faithful have already made a decision—to stand publicly for life and truth. Bishop Espaillat explains that disrespect for life poisons society, leading to violence, war, and hatred. When life is not honored—beginning in the womb—all of society suffers. At the same time, he offers hope: the Christian response is to listen, teach, and send. The Church must listen to one another across generations and roles, teach clearly without relativism, and then send disciples into the world as witnesses. Returning to the Gospel, he reflects on King David’s choice of mercy over violence and calls for a consistent life ethic grounded in compassion, truth, and love. Quoting Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, he rejects the “throwaway culture” and urges defense of the unborn, the poor, the sick, the elderly, and the marginalized. He concludes by encouraging the faithful, especially young people, to respond to opposition with love, to be light rather than hostility, and to remember their mission: they are summoned, appointed, and sent. His final message echoes his opening refrain— love is the answer, and in the end, love wins . God Bless, Fr. Steven