Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On behalf of the priests, deacons, and entire parish staff here at Notre Dame, I want to extend prayerful good wishes to each and every one of you that you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.
In a time where we see so much darkness in the world, where there is so much sorrow and confusion, we celebrate the birth of our Savior which brings light, peace, and joy to the world. In a world that gets caught up in the lights and gifts and stuff, we realize that through life’s many ups and downs, it is in the quiet of the stable with Christ at the center, it is in the family huddled together in the darkness, that we find a glimpse of true beauty and what our lives are all about.
May we all be renewed in that faith which transforms our lives and transforms our world. May we come to the Christ child this season with open hearts, and meeting him, seeing his great love and immense majesty wrapped up in swaddling clothes, may we leave refreshed and ready to make him the center of our lives.
And may we live out that Christian life with new vigor, sharing the joy of this season with all those we encounter. May our faith, hope, and love serve as a light in the darkness, that many may follow us to find the source here in the Church. Let’s all make it our mission this Christmas to welcome someone back to the Church, to welcome someone back into a relationship with Christ, so that they too may know the peace that only Christ may bring.
And to speak personally, I thank each of you for the gift of allowing me to serve you as your pastor. Every day I thank God for the gift of my priesthood and the opportunity to share His grace with the many good people here at Notre Dame. It has been a blessing to come to get to know so many of you, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come, as together we continue to build of the Kingdom of God here in New Hyde Park.
Yours in Christ,
Father Scolaro