From Father Steven - September 8, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • September 6, 2024

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

While I was away, besides resting and praying, I spent a lot of time thinking and contemplating what the next steps should be for us here at IC. I asked the Lord multiple times, and the answer was always the same, namely, be patient! As you know, I’m not patient at all. Then what shall we do?


We will hear in the first reading this weekend the promises of the Lord to the people of Israel. When He comes, “the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing….”. There are moments when we expect things to happen faster. However, the ways of the Lord are not the same as ours. Maybe the Lord will not give us what we want at all. There were a few projects and ideas that we tried to implement here in the parish, and it did not come to fruition. At least not now. Now, does it mean that we fail? Not at all. It means that the Lord had other plans. Maybe the Lord wants to reinforce what we already have in the parish. We have Saint Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, Youth Group, the Cenacle, Bible Study, Neocatechumenal Way, Adult Choir, Companions on the Journey (book club), and the Eucharistic Ministers that visit the homebound, not counting the CCD program. Soon our bereavement ministry will start along with a ministry to those retired, widows, and anyone who would like to join. The arrivals of Fr. Victor and Fr. Gabriel will also help us to be able to offer more as well. We already began talking about having some formative talks, retreats, and more. Having said this, we need to be patient to see when and how the Lord wants to act.


In the meantime, I invite all of you to pray. Ask the Lord where he is calling you to participate in the parish with what we currently have. It is also important to ask what He calls us to do. Whether to say the rosary at least once a day, read the bible for 15 minutes, visit the Blessed Sacrament more often, attend confession every month, pick up a book of a saint, or something else. It is interesting to note that Christ is always on the move in the Gospel. Very seldom you see him still, and if you do, it is only to start moving again. However, in our lives, we like to settle down, rest, and be comfortable where we are. I assume (and hope) that each of you already have your devotions that you pray daily, the sacrifices that you make secretly, the religious books that you read. Maybe it is time to start moving again, to try different things, to come out of our comfort zone. I like very much when the people who are in need bother Jesus in the most annoying way. The blind man continued to scream even after Jesus had passed. The Canaanite woman was relentlessly asking Jesus to cure her daughter. None of them were doing what they wanted, but what they needed. Then we ask ourselves again, what does the Lord want to give to us at this moment? How far are you willing to give another shot?


I noticed this past week that we have some new people coming to mass. It would be important to welcome them with a smile, introducing yourself to them. Maybe there are people that sit next to you that you never asked their name. Before moving forward, it is also important that we cover our bases first. You can also invite people in your lives to come back to Church. Why not? Maybe this is what the Lord invites us at this moment. Let us grow closer to the people that are already here. Then we will be ready to move to deeper waters. Please keep us in your prayers as we discern where the Lord wants us to go. 

 

God Bless,

Fr. Steven


From Father Steven - March 8, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • March 6, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This week I would like to share with you a reflection of Pope Saint John Paul II from 2002. It is a beautiful reflection that allows us to dive deeper in the mystery of this weekend’s liturgy. "Lord ... give me this water, that I may not thirst " (Jn 4,15 ; cf. Gospel Acclamation). The request of the Samaritan woman marks a crucial turning-point in her long and intense conversation with Jesus that takes place at Jacob's well, near the city of Sychar. St John recounts it in today's Gospel. Christ asks the woman " Give me a drink " (v. 7). His material thirst symbolizes a far deeper reality: it expresses his ardent desire that his dialogue partner and her fellow-citizens will open themselves to faith. The Samaritan woman, when she asks Christ for water, is basically revealing the need for salvation present in every heart. And the Lord is revealed as the one who offers the living water of the Spirit, that satisfies forever the infinite thirst of every human being. The liturgy for this Third Sunday of Lent presents a splendid commentary on the Johannine episode when it says in the preface that Jesus " so deeply thirsted" for the salvation of the Samaritan woman that " he set on fire in her the flame of God's love ". The episode of the Samaritan woman charts the journey of faith that we are all called to pursue. Even today Jesus continues " to thirst ", namely, to desire humanity's faith and love. From our personal encounter with him, if we recognize and receive him as the Messiah, come our attachment to his message of salvation and the desire to spread it in the world. This is what happens in the rest of the Gospel passage. The bond with Jesus totally transforms the life of the woman who hurries without delay to proclaim the good news to the people in the nearby village: "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? " (Jn 4,29). Revelation received with faith asks to become a word proclaimed to others, witnessed in the concrete choices of life. This is the mission of believers, coming from and growing in their personal meeting with the Lord. "Hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us " (Rom 5,5). The words of the Apostle Paul in the second reading refer to the gift of the Spirit, symbolized by the living water, that Jesus promises to the Samaritan woman. The Spirit is the "pledge" of the definitive salvation that God has promised to us. Man cannot live without hope. Many hopes go down when they crash against the rocks of life. However Christian hope "does not disappoint" because it is based on the solid foundation of faith in the love of God revealed in Christ. To Mary, Mother of hope, I entrust your parish and the Lenten journey towards Easter. May Mary, who followed her Son Jesus to the Cross, help us all to be faithful disciples of the one who makes well up in our hearts the water for eternal life (cf. Jn 4,14). God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - March 1, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 27, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, This week we will hear how Jesus goes up the mountain and is transfigured before His apostles. God also wants us to be transfigured according to His image and likeness. However, how far are we willing to go? This weekend, we will see Archbishop Henning urging us to participate in the mission of the Church. It is not only a matter of helping financially, but also of serving with our own hands and feet. The Archdiocese supports the work of parishes in many ways. It also helps us priests in various times of need. Furthermore, it carries out many initiatives to serve the people of God, including the deaf and mute ministry, immigrants, seminarians, and those seeking a declaration of nullity (also known as annulments). Our contribution goes a long way. We are all called to be part of the mission of the Church. We are also encouraged, at the local level, to help in whatever ministry God calls us to—whether St. Vincent de Paul, one of the pregnancy help centers in the city, the community cupboard, or the bereavement ministry. It can be something as simple as inviting people back to church, bringing their prayer intentions to Mass, or helping those around you, beginning in your own home. The transformation that God wants to accomplish in us also affects our spiritual lives. Helping others is certainly a great start, but we also need help ourselves. God is a jealous God, as we hear many times in Scripture. He will not allow us to forget Him. Nor will He allow us to continue living in sin and vice. However, He cannot act unless we give Him permission. He wants to purify us from every stain of sin that may affect us. A little bit of pride, envy, laziness, or resentment cannot remain. Every sin is serious. It kills the divine life within us. It separates us from the love of God. As Jesus goes up the mountain, He reveals the glory that will be given to Him. However, this glory will come through His painful Passion. Are we willing to be purified through a similar purification? How far are you willing to allow God to transform your life? It is never too late to begin living with God. Perhaps we say our prayers and consider ourselves good people, yet we are not willing to go deeper. The Lord is patient and persistent. There are times when we feel called to go to confession, to attend adoration, or to participate in one of the Church’s activities, but we resist. It is time to let the Lord enter fully into our lives. As Pope Saint John Paul II said at the beginning of his pontificate, “Do not be afraid to open wide the doors of your heart to let Him enter.” We have about 30 people, between teenagers and adults, who will be baptized in our parish this Easter. Others will be receiving First Communion, and still others will be received into full communion. For one reason or another, they fell off the path and are now returning. There are also a good number of couples getting married who have lived together for many years. God is also calling us to follow His path. It is different for each one of us. So let us pray during this time and ask the Lord what He wants us to do and how to love Him with all our hearts. And let us not be afraid—He has conquered all our fears. God Bless, Fr. Steven