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 - May 31, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • May 29, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This year our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence. Many celebrations have been taking place throughout these past months and will continue in the months ahead. The Catholic Church is also organizing events to mark this important milestone. A National Eucharistic Pilgrimage began in St. Augustine, Florida, and will travel through several cities significant to the history of the United States. Boston will host three days of the National Pilgrimage. On Friday, June 26, there will be celebrations in Plymouth. On the following day, there will be a Eucharistic Procession along the Freedom Trail, beginning at Boston Common at 10:00 a.m., followed by Mass at 4:30 p.m. at the Cathedral. On the final day, there will be Mass, Adoration, and a procession in Lexington. We would like to organize a group from the parish to participate in some of these events. We will publish more information at a later date, but you may also find details online. Another important event will take place on Friday, June 12 . All the bishops of the United States have decided to dedicate our country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Following their call and the encouragement of our Archbishop, we will also consecrate our parish and ourselves to the Sacred Heart. To prepare ourselves for this consecration, we will pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart in all three languages. We will pray the first day together on Wednesday, June 3 , after Benediction at 7:00 p.m. (The novena prayers will be available at the entrances of the church beginning this weekend.) We will conclude the novena and make the Act of Consecration on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, June 12 , also at 7:00 p.m. It will be similar to the consecration to Mary that we made last December. Although many people have seen the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—such as the statue to the left of the main altar—some may not be familiar with the devotion itself. In 1673, during a time when the world had grown cold and had forgotten the tenderness and mercy of Christ’s love, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque on the feast of St. John in Paray-le-Monial, France. He revealed to her His Heart burning with love for humanity. In these visions, Jesus asked her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart and instructed her on how the devotion should be practiced. The devotion as we know it today is largely based on these revelations to St. Margaret Mary. Jesus’ profound love for us is demonstrated through His willingness to sacrifice His life for our sake. The love flowing from His Heart motivated all His actions—His inner life manifested in His virtues, compassion, and sacrifice. Yet this great love is often met with indifference and ingratitude, even among the faithful. The purpose of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is to focus our hearts on receiving and returning His love with gratitude—with all our heart, soul, and strength—so that He may be glorified. From a theological perspective, consecration is not considered magic, protection from all hardship, or a guarantee of prosperity. Rather, its purpose is surrender, transformation, and the alignment of our lives with Christ’s love by becoming more patient, forgiving, compassionate, and self-giving toward others. On a different note, NEXT SUNDAY we will celebrate our annual trilingual Corpus Christi Mass at 11:00 a.m. There will be no 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Mass that day. We will gather outdoors in the parking lot—rain or shine—to celebrate the greatest gift: the true Body and Blood of Christ. After Mass, we will process with the Blessed Sacrament through downtown Marlborough, singing and praising God. This year the procession will coincide with the car show, so please plan ahead and arrive early to find parking. Hopefully, as in past years, we will have a large crowd. If there are volunteers who would like to help with the sawdust carpet, please arrive around sunrise. God Bless you all, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - May 24, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • May 22, 2026
A Call to Pray for Priests Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This weekend, as we celebrate Pentecost, we are all called to be with the Virgin Mary and the apostles praying in the Cenacle for the revelation of God through the Holy Spirit. A long-time parishioner has asked me to share with you a letter she wrote about a special ministry that she is promoting here in the parish. Please read her letter below. God Bless, Fr. Steven =============================== How privileged we are as a parish to have celebrated recently the ordination of Father Javier. What a joy and gift a priest is to God’s people! Priests accompany us at some of the most intimate, joyful and difficult moments of our lives. These self-sacrificing shepherds, our brothers, carry not only the full weight of our burdens but their own as well….please pray for them. We parishioners have a great privilege and duty, out of love, to pray for priests, especially those who serve us so tirelessly and unselfishly here at Immaculate Conception Parish. We all need prayer. It is the start of holiness. No one can become a saint without praying. Our priests need prayer too! They are our brothers along with us on this path to holiness, all as members of The Body of Christ with Jesus as the Head. On Friday, June 12th, the Church will celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. How grateful I am for this day to remind us to pray for our priests. Recently I was introduced to a beautiful apostolate dedicated to praying for priests: The Seven Sisters Apostolate. The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen the Church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop, a “holy wasting” (cf. Mt. 26:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. Seven women each commit to one holy hour a week on a specific day, praying exclusively for a particular priest and his priesthood for one year: A Seven Sister, One Holy Hour, One Day, One Priest, Each week, One Heart of Prayer. Since its founding in 2011, Seven Sisters has established sisterhoods praying for bishops and priests worldwide. The ultimate goal is for every priest and bishop in every diocese to have a sisterhood covering them in prayer. Each group is started by an Anchoress who recruits members, passes on needed information, and communicates the existence and intentions of the group to the particular priest. There are also opportunities for men to support this apostolic work by substituting for Sisters to make a holy hour and also by fasting on one given day a week for the priest. I have always prayed for priests but not in this particular way. I think my attraction to the Seven Sisters Apostolate is the fruit of my prayers and nudges from the Holy Spirit during the many hours of Adoration and opportunities for confession I have enjoyed here in our parish. Everyone can pray for priests. You do not need to belong to any kind of group or apostolate, although that is an encouragement for keeping one’s commitment to pray. Keep on with your prayers without ceasing. Pray every day for God’s priests who suffer the same struggles, temptations, discouragements and sorrows that we all do. Wrap them in your prayers, fasting, and sacrifices. Beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to keep them pure and holy for her son, Jesus Christ. You only need to do it.  There will be a Q&A meeting for those interested on Wednesday, May 27th at 7:00pm in the Upper Church. If you would like to find out more about The Seven Sisters Apostolate visit their website: www.sevensistersapostolate.org or email Christine Lehane: cmolehane@gmail.com .