From Father Steven - September 22, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • September 20, 2024

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

I wanted to share something that’s been on my mind after chatting with a group of adults recently about their experiences in CCD. It was interesting to hear that while they could remember fun stories and the names of their catechists, many struggled to recall what they actually learned. It got me thinking about how, as kids, we often had so much going on that we didn’t really get the chance to dig into our faith. But what if we could take another shot at it?

 

I’m excited to announce that we’re starting a new catechesis program for youth and adults on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM in the Parish Hall. This is a great opportunity to explore our beliefs, deepen our understanding of God, and build a personal relationship with Him. Every year, we see people coming through the RCIA program, eager to learn more about our faith and the Church. There’s so much about God and the Scriptures that we can all still discover!

 

In the early days of Christianity, baptism wasn’t just a quick ceremony; it was a transformative journey. Sadly, after the conversion of Constantine, many lost that deeper connection, and the focus shifted too much toward just receiving sacraments. The Second Vatican Council highlighted the importance of returning to that deeper initiation into our faith, reminding us that even those baptized as infants need to experience a genuine introduction to their beliefs (CCC 1231). However, as we grow up, so do our problems. Then our faith should also grow in order to face the challenges that we have. 

 

The program we’re introducing is something special. Approved by the Vatican in 2008, Pope Saint John Paul II called it “an itinerary of Catholic Formation, valid for our society and for our times.” It has been embraced by Popes and parishes all over the world. I can personally vouch for its impact. Growing up, my family only went to Mass on Christmas and Ash Wednesday, (yes, we were one of “them”), and we never fully understood what our faith was all about. It wasn’t until I got involved in a program like this that I really began to see how relevant and close God can be in our everyday lives.

 

St. Thomas Aquinas once said we can’t truly love what we don’t know. I remember as a teenager grappling with tough questions: “If God is love, why do I suffer?” and “Why am I not happy if I’m doing everything right?” Those questions pushed me to dive deeper into my faith and led to a personal encounter with God that changed my life.

 

At the end of Mass, we’ll be inviting everyone to join this new program. It might not be for you, but think about someone in your life who could really benefit from this experience. Maybe there are people feeling lost in their faith, don’t know how to navigate through their struggles, or looking for a fresh start with God. I encourage you to pray about it and consider inviting two people who might be interested in exploring their faith further.

 

Everyone is welcome—there are no restrictions! We’ll even have babysitters available for those with children. If you have any questions or specific needs, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s embrace this opportunity together and see where God leads us on this journey of faith and renewal!

 

 

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

From Father Steven - August 23, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • August 19, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I hope you are enjoying your summer! I, along with some of the youth of our parish, attended the Steubenville East conference in Springfield a few weeks ago. It is a 3 day catholic conference for high school teens to encounter Christ through eucharistic adoration, the sacraments and dynamic sessions all produced by Lifeteen and Franciscan University. The conference was attended by thousands of youth from all over New England with the hope to ignite life long discipleship in our teens. We have asked one of our youth to share with you a bit of his experience. Please see the letter written by Gabriel Torres below. God Bless, Fr. Gabriel ——————————————— Hello and Happy Sunday, or whenever it is that you read this. I am Gabriel Torres and I am a part of the youth group here, at Immaculate Conception. We, the youth, Fr. Gabriel, and a handful of chaperones recently attended a life changing 3 day Steubenville conference in Springfield. And when I say life changing, I really mean it. I thought the same as you, when Cecilia, our religious education director told us about it. I wanted to go, but was kinda doubting that it could be that fun and life changing, as it is a big statement. I thought that it would just be us, listening to priests talk about Jesus, and I would have gone for that, but it turned out to be so much more. On the first day after the first talk and mini worship concert (with a mosh pit and everything), we were asked to come up with one word to describe how we felt about the conference so far. The word that I chose was Connection. And I still agree, and I think anyone that went would agree. Just feeling the connection between yourself and the Lord, and how that connection spread between each signing heart was just purely gorgeous and fulfilling. Seeing thousands of youth come together and praise the Lord was inspiring. The conference was fun with singing and dancing breaks, with people trying to be as close to the music as possible, and games that got the whole center laughing, all the way down to the serious moments when the speakers were speaking the truths of our hearts. The way that you could just raise your hands and pray to the Lord without having to worry what others might think, but instead feeling the connection to those around you and feeling how through God we were all connected, loved, and worthy, brought tears to even those of us who ‘never’ cry. There was just a rawness at this conference that I have never felt anywhere else. So, if you are a youth, teen, or know someone who might be interested in this conference, I encourage you to come next year. If you have friends that are not fully in the faith, or are Christian and not Catholic, invite them. A Christian teen that I got closer to at the conference told us on day one that he didn’t fully understand everything we did or why, but that he believed in Jesus Christ and that he wanted to follow Jesus, wherever it took him. And that was here. Thank you to all who donated to make this possible, and thank you for allowing us to experience the Lord in a new way. Thank you, and God Bless you all. Your brother in Christ, Gabriel Torres