Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This weekend we celebrate Laetare Sunday. Taken from the introit, or first words, of the Mass “Laetare Jerusalem,” meaning “Rejoice, O Jerusalem,” we rejoice as we cross the half-way mark of Lent. The somber violet vestments are traded in for brighter rose to experience a moment of joyful expectation of Easter. We reflect on the progress of our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, and ask ourselves if we can make the remaining time of Lent an even more generous offering to God, so that we may experience the gift of His love even more powerfully on Easter morning.
Here at Notre Dame though, there is another reason for this to be a joyful moment. I am pleased to an- nounce that we have been chosen by the diocese to serve as one of the pilot parishes for a new program work- ing with the Catholic Leadership Institute. Due to the strength of our parish and our school, we have been chosen from among the many parishes in the diocese to work with them in order to develop a strategic plan for the future. The hope is that we enter a time of self-reflection and evaluation to see where we excel, where we are struggling, and what would best help us advance our mission. In these difficult times for the Church, the hope is that we work toward creative solutions to the new and developing challenges we face, while also serving as a model of success for other parishes.
The first step in this process requires that every member of the parish take a few moments to fill out a survey. This will offer a valuable tool to examine both the make-up of the parish, as well as the satisfaction and concerns of the parishioners. The survey is available both on the internet (in many languages) as well as in hard copy. We will post the link on the website, Facebook, and Instagram (www.disciplemakerindex.com). We also have hard copies available in the Church for those who would prefer that method.
As mentioned last week, with the new possibility of online giving, on Palm Sunday we had planned on having laptops set up in the gym along with volunteers to help people register. To make it even more convenient, we will also offer the possibility of filling out the survey on that day. The survey shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes, and it will be truly vital as we begin this process. It is exciting that the diocese has chosen to invest in our parish, so let’s make the most of it!
So thank you in advance for taking the time to fill out the survey, thank you as always for your in- credible generosity and loyalty to the parish, and thank you above all for your prayers for the parish. It is only when we come together as a people of prayer, asking God in an intentional way for the wisdom and holiness needed to build His Kingdom here in New Hyde Park, that we will find success.
Yours in Christ,
Father Scolaro
