From Father Steven - November 3, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • November 1, 2024


 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

It is with great joy that I announce two big events coming up in our parish. The first one is a Mass and Adoration Concert on Tuesday, November 12th, with a special group called Harpa Dei. The second event will be our first senior group meeting on the following day in the lower church. I will expand on both initiatives in this letter.

 

Harpa Dei is a choir of sacred music that feels called by God first to glorify Him, because that is the primary purpose of sacred music. It also re-sensitizes people to the sacredness of the liturgy, to the transcendence, and to the beauty of God that is expressed in these songs. This Catholic vocal ensemble is made up of four blood siblings that also share the same spirituality: Nikolai (bass/tenor), Lucia (soprano), Marie-Elisée (alto), and Mirjana (tenor) Gerstner. Although they were born in Germany, they began their singing ministry in 2011 in Ecuador, where they were living at that time, as a campaign against violence, and this peace initiative has brought them to evangelize the whole world. As they have collected the most beautiful songs from different traditions, they were able to bring many people to glorify God and to transmit the beauty of the Lord that shines so eminently in sacred music. Sacred music is a bridge for people to get in touch with God, with His beauty, tenderness, and love. It provides an easy way to reach the heart of people as it helps them to open to God’s love. That is one of the reasons for which we play Gregorian chant during confessions. If you have come here to IC for confessions, then you would have heard them. All the music we play is from Harpa Dei. I first came across them while searching for a specific chant, which they were the best I have ever heard. Then I met them in Jerusalem and last year on their tour in the US. This year we have the special grace to meet them and listen to them live. On Tuesday, November 12th, we will celebrate Mass at 7:00 PM where they will chant all the songs. Then, we will have a Holy Hour led by reflections and chants sung by them. St. Hildegard of Bingen, a mystic and doctor of the Church, says that music is the only memory, almost forgotten, of our state in Paradise. I invite you all to join us for this special event free of charge.

 

Our Senior Group is ready to begin. The idea behind this group is to offer a space where anyone can come and spend time in prayer and fellowship. There are no restrictions on who can come. All are invited. We will begin with some snacks while we get to know each other a bit, followed by prayer. Since our meeting will be on November 13th, Fr. Victor will make a presentation on the apparitions of Fatima. Then we will have a time of prayer and some questions. Each month we will focus on different topics. There will always be a spiritual and social component to each meeting. As this new ministry is starting, we are leaving room for the Holy Spirit to operate and grow. There are no sign-ups, nor any registrations ahead of time. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Lee Ann at the parish office and she will assist you. I would like to invite anyone who would like to participate in our first meeting on Wednesday, November 13th, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Lower Church.

 

As the Gospel will exhort us this weekend to love God and our neighbor, I invite you to take advantage of this special moment in our parish to grow in holiness together! Let us also keep our country and state in our prayers as we will have our elections on Tuesday. May our Blessed Mother intercede for us and show us the way to heaven!

 

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven




From Father Steven - September 6, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • September 4, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you had a good, restful, and joyful summer. Unfortunately, it's over, so it's time for all of us to get back to our regular schedules — including our spiritual routine. I often recommend going to confession after the summer. Whether there was a Mass that was skipped, some feathers that got ruffled, or our tongue got a little too sharp, it's always good to go to confession. Another way to think of it: it's time for an oil change — but instead of oil, it's our sins that get removed, and new graces are put into our souls. God has prepared many wonderful graces for us this coming year, beginning with the Labor Day Parade. On Monday, the Lord is calling as many of us as possible to make His presence visible in town. As every year, IC Church will have a float to show everyone that God and the Church are very much alive. But if only a few of us show up, it defeats the purpose. You may have heard before about a person who came back to church because of the joy he saw among our people. This year's theme is the Eucharist. The Spanish community has prepared a float displaying a monstrance, with children dressed in white (some as angels). We urge as many people as possible to join us in this procession of our faith. Next Saturday, Richard Kerns, a longtime parishioner, will be ordained a permanent deacon at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. I've mentioned before how our parish is bearing much fruit through different vocations and missions. I invite those who are able to come and accompany him at this important moment in his life, and in the life of our parish. Then, on Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, he will serve and preach for the first time. There's no excuse not to be there to witness this special gift to our parish. Light refreshments will follow in the Hall. Also next Saturday, the Brazilian community will hold their annual festival in the parking lot in the late afternoon. There will be traditional food, entertainment for the children, and lots of fun. Since we are one parish, this isn't just their feast — it's ours too. They use a ticket system for food and children's activities, and there will be a booth at the entrance selling tickets. The following weekend, we will begin a series of talks for youth and adults. For many people, religious instruction stopped at Confirmation, and they haven't received any further formation in the faith since. These talks offer an opportunity to continue growing in faith through a itinerary of Christian formation. I will be leading the group this time, along with a team of parishioners. The talks will take place on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Hall.  Last but not least, the following weekend we will hold our annual Friends of the Poor Walk, sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul. This is their major fundraiser to help those in need in our parish and in the city of Marlboro. IC's group will be joined by St. Matthias' group for this event. It is not only our duty to help the needy, but a privilege to be part of it. With rising rent, utility, and living costs in Massachusetts, more families are in need of help — families that could be sitting next to you, your neighbor, or your children's friends. I invite anyone looking to help to join a group; this is a wonderful opportunity to put our faith into action. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - August 30, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • August 28, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I was very happy that I finally had the opportunity a month ago to speak about vaping addiction among the youth. Today, I would like to speak about addictions in general that affect and hurt our families, parish, community, and, above all, ourselves. First of all, it is important to understand that usually no one likes to have an addiction. Substance abuse is not something a person simply chooses to become trapped in. Rather, very often, it is the only resource that a person finds in their struggle. The other day, I was talking to a social worker at the hospital about how we have lost so many of our coping skills. We no longer have the resilience that we used to have in the past. Addiction is often more than a bad habit or a lack of willpower. For many people, it can be connected to pain, trauma, loneliness, or an attempt to cope with difficulties they do not know how to face in healthier ways. Therefore, it can often be understood as a cry for help from someone who is suffering. Once we understand that people may turn to drugs, alcohol, or other substances in an attempt to relieve their pain, we also need to recognize that repeated substance use can produce real changes in the brain and body. A person can develop tolerance, dependence, and powerful cravings that make stopping extremely difficult. This is why addiction cannot simply be reduced to a lack of willpower. What may have begun as an attempt to cope with pain can eventually become a dependency that is very difficult to overcome without help. Anyone who suffers from substance abuse does not need judgment, but love and compassion. As Catholics, we believe that love conquers all things. We also believe that for God, nothing is impossible. Therefore, if there is someone in your family, in your circle of friends, an acquaintance, or even a stranger, let us go the extra mile and be compassionate. Christ does not abandon the person who is suffering. He goes out of His way to bring love and consolation, like the Good Samaritan. He certainly suffers with that person. If Christ does this for us, how can we, as His disciples, do anything less for those who are suffering? The more involved I become in helping people here in Marlboro, the more I discover the many resources available through the city and other agencies. I will try to pull together a sheet with different resources in the community and leave them in the church for those who need them. If someone struggles with alcoholism, drug or medication abuse, or some other sort of addiction, YOU ARE NOT ALONE…and YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ALONE. God wants to help, and so do we. It is okay; we all have problems, and the solutions at times can seem so far from our reach that we give up. Maybe now is the time to get up and start walking back to the Father’s house, like the Prodigal Son. Maybe now is the time that, together, we will overcome the struggles that lead to addiction.  I invite everyone in our parish to join us for the Overdose Awareness Day ceremony here at the Immaculate Conception Church on Monday August 31 at 7:15pm. Let us come together to remember those whose lives have been lost (you may bring their picture), support those who continue to struggle, and pray for their families and loved ones. Always count with your prayers to you and your loved ones, God bless Fr. Steven