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 - 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