Dear Friends,
This Holy Week, as we begin the Triduum and follow in the footsteps of Christ, it is a poignant time to reflect on the important work of our school.
A great philosopher once said, “Let us never forget the only decisive question which is always in all things: ‘What is for the greater glory of God?’”
This is what matters, and this is the question that you are asking and answering in your homes. You are making a difference through your sacrifice. In the current culture that has separated itself from God, working for His greater glory is not even an afterthought: it’s actively disregarded. And yet, through choosing to support Catholic, classical education, you are bringing back the proper order. You are answering the only decisive question.
As we prepare to enter the Triduum, celebrating the sacrifice Christ made for us on the Cross, it is good to remember how He showed His glory to us. Tomorrow, in the Gospel for Holy Thursday, Jesus washes the Apostles’ feet, saying:
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.”
His glory is revealed in His acts of service for those who follow Him, those He is responsible for. What a humbling and inspiring example, and one that resonates with us as parents. We are called to imitate Our Lord, to serve those for whom we are responsible.
This calling involves great sacrifice, and we can often feel unequal to the challenge. Yet Holy Week calls us to remember the depth of the connection between the humanity and divinity of Christ. As the Letter to the Hebrews says in our Good Friday readings:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.”
Christ sees all our sufferings, and understands our weaknesses, while also being our strength when we come together as the Body of Christ to raise up those around us who need it.
This year at MODG we have seen this strength.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, 256 of our MODG families were able to enroll in our school because of Financial Aid. These families are being hit hard by the economic struggles many are experiencing all across the world. In a time when the necessities of life are more expensive than ever, our Catholic homeschooling families are affected deeply. So often our Financial Aid team sees a family request just a few hundred dollars to help them make ends meet, because their grocery bill has been $50 above budget every month for the whole year, and they aren’t able to pay to enroll.
However, thanks be to God, you, our community, were present with them in their hardship. And we are so grateful for you.
But we know that there will be more in need this year. Last year we gave out over $250,000 in assistance to these deserving, homeschooling families. While we have hope for the future, the current economic situation has already brought many families to our doors for financial assistance for the coming school year. And so I come to you for help.
Because of our family tuition model, your donation dollars directly support a whole family: regularly a gift of $1,000 provides what’s needed for a family to re-enroll. Helping fellow homeschooling parents through a difficult moment in time not only glorifies God through your charity, but enables these families to teach their children how to glorify God. This matters deeply, and is a direct response to the call to action Christ makes to his Apostles.
I humbly ask you to make a donation today, and answer the decisive question: “What is for the greater glory of God?”
Thank you for doing something that truly matters. Thank you for supporting our school and helping our families aid their children on the path towards Heaven.
That is our mission here at MODG, and it is only possible because of you.
Know of my prayers for each and every one of you this Holy Week, and please keep our school, families, and students in your prayers.
God bless you,
Paul Lazenby
President