Dear Mother of Divine Grace Community,
I hope this letter finds you well, anticipating the coming of Our Lord in this Advent season! I have been meditating on the Nativity, and wanted to share something that struck me about the role of our community here at Mother of Divine Grace School:
You are the shepherds.
Let me explain what I mean by that.
As we await our Christmas celebration, the rest of the world often seems to be only increasingly busy and harried. Preparing our hearts for Christ is no easy task amidst the urgencies of daily life. Yet I am reminded of the shepherds in the hillside of Bethlehem, who did not hesitate to set aside their earthly cares for a heavenly call.
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)
Christ’s arrival is first announced to those who are doing the day's work in the fields. His coming for the salvation of all mankind is not first proclaimed to the kings, priests, and rulers, but to the common men, who are in the midst of their ordinary duties, yet stop their work immediately and go to Jesus.
"Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." (Luke 2:15)
There is no doubt, no questioning in the minds of the shepherds. What a powerful testimony and example for us, that no matter how complicated and hectic our lives are, we have this time to pause and await Christ.
As Jesus told us in the Gospel of the first week of Advent, “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33)
Here at Mother of Divine Grace School this call very much resonates with us. The work of Catholic, Classical education is such a rewarding and important task, one that has a deep impact on the future of our world, as we work together to shape our leaders of the future. We must always be ready and aware of the call of Christ as we safeguard our students and prepare them for a life of service to Our Lord.
We know that for each and every one of our families, Christ has placed MODG in your lives for a reason, and we are so grateful to be walking the path of homeschooling with you.
And more of you than ever are choosing this rewarding journey of home education! We currently have over 6,300 students enrolled, our largest student body to date. Families continually share with us stories of how they have grown stronger and closer together as they learn the Faith, work towards wisdom, and share a common life with their parents and siblings. We are truly blessed.
Yet, with the joys come the struggles. With such financial uncertainty around the world currently, so many of our families need to apply for assistance to be able to continue to provide a high quality education for their children.
However, because of you, our generous donors, we are able to support them. For the 2022-2023 school year, we distributed almost $200,000 in aid. This aid has enabled us to help hundreds of families and students to pursue a truly authentic Catholic education.
This is a testament to the generosity of our community.
You are the shepherds.
You are willing to respond the moment Christ asks you to come to Him and see Him in others. You prioritize Our Lord over the countless urgent calls for our attention that our world puts before us. You help your neighbor in need out of the bounty Our Lord has given to you.
We are grateful for your support, and we know that you will help us continue our good work.
We humbly ask you to consider including Mother of Divine Grace School in your Christmas giving plans, so that others can continue to experience the true good our education provides.
Your gift truly makes a difference in the lives of our families.
We are so grateful for your help, and we know that, as it did for the shepherds, the message of love that Christ brings will truly rejuvenate our lives and our hearts!
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:20)
Know of our prayers for you and your family during this blessed time of the year, and please keep our school in your prayers!
God bless you,
Paul Lazenby
President