Happy Fifth Sunday of Lent!
This past Saturday marked the 24th annual celebration of our St. Robert School Superdraw, and I was so pleased to be there with many of you for my second time at this wonderful event. Much of my first year as pastor at St. Robert and Good Shepherd was a blur of activity and “figuring things out.” This year, I was better able to simply enjoy the evening alongside the many families and Flushing community members who so generously support our school. It truly is an amazing sight to see.
There are many deserving thank-yous for the hard work that goes into an event of this size. This year’s steering committee, led by school parents Casey and Marcella Lester, was made up of fellow parents whose enthusiasm and organizational skill shaped at least 95% of Superdraw. Our principal, Sarah Bushey, is very much part of that team and deserves equal praise for its success. We were also blessed by numerous organizations and businesses whose sponsorships and donations totaled nearly $25,000. What a gift! In addition, many spouses, children, students, and alumni pitched in—organizing, decorating, moving tables, setting lights, tending bar, cleaning up, and preparing the Activity Center for gym classes and lunch by Monday morning.
Having experienced this process a second time, I learned a great deal and feel even more excited about the future of our school and the incredible families who make up our community. Events like Superdraw remind us of the bigger picture. Supporting marriages, strengthening family life, and raising our children in the faith remain among the highest pastoral priorities of our parish. Superdraw plays a meaningful role in this mission by providing the resources needed to support the formation of young souls.
As our children grow, they come to know and serve God most deeply: first, through the witness of holiness within the family; second, through participation in the life of the parish; and third, through religious education. Mothers and fathers are the primary educators of their children in the faith, and our Catholic school and parish programs serve as a vital support in that responsibility.
So here we are—helping our families grow in holiness and our school grow in strength. Holy things and healthy things grow. Each of us is called to contribute our lives and our individual missions to the greater work of salvation. We do this together by striving for holiness ourselves and by helping our parish family flourish.
Onward and upward, my brothers and sisters.
Fr. Brian