Dear beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,
Thank you for taking part in the synod listening sessions. They helped me to get to know you better. The parish staff and I have used your comments to review our parish ministries and make changes.
Part of the synod listening sessions this spring was letting Bishop Noonan know what Nativity did. This is the letter I sent to Bishop Noonan:
May 1, 2022
Dear Bishop Noonan,
After Jesus’ resurrection, two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus conversed about all the things that had recently occurred—Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, death, and the mysteriously empty tomb. Jesus himself drew near without them recognizing him. He asked the two disciples, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”
Like those two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, Nativity Catholic Church asked, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” We answered your invitation to hold listening sessions for the Synod convoked by Pope Francis. The parish listening sessions offered Nativity parishioners the chance to discern where the Spirit is leading the Church today.
Nativity held about eight listening sessions this Spring in which over a hundred parishioners took part. We talked about what we love about our faith, what brings us joy, what we would do if we were the Pope or pastor, and what we prayed for.
The people of Nativity love the Mass, the faith of the Church, and their families. They pray for peace in Ukraine, an end to abortion, their children and even their enemies. They are concerned about the absence of youth and young adults from parish life. If they were pope, they would ordain married priests and women deacons, teach and spread the Gospel. The conversations affirmed the enduring vision of Nativity to be a welcoming community of believers in Lake Mary and Longwood.
I had become the pastor of Nativity shortly before the pandemic. The pandemic had cut off the normal ways we visit and talk and find out, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” The listening sessions helped me to understand my people better. The parish staff and I have used the comments to review our parish ministries and make changes.
The title of the Synod is inspiring. “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” Nativity prays that the Holy Spirit guide our parish and the Church into communion, participation, and mission.
Thank you for being our Shepherd!
Blessed Easter,
Father David Scotchie
GOOD GRIEF
Nativity is starting a grief support group. It will meet in June on Tuesday evenings, 7-8pm. Call the parish office 407-322-3961/
PRAY FOR OUR ORLANDO ORDINANDS
Saturday, May 28 is the Ordination of Transitional Deacons Zackary Gray and Joseph Tran to the Priesthood at 10:00 a.m. at St. James Cathedral. Let us lift them up in prayer.
HANDICAP ACCESS
The long walk from the parking lot to the main doors just got shorter. You can park in the white “reserved” spaces in the small north parking lot and enter the back of the church near the Saint Joseph statue. (Use the blue handicapped parking spaces if you have an official handicap sticker.) Shorter distance, no incline, God is good!
OUT OF TOWN
I am out of town Friday, Saturday and Sunday to teach preaching to the men of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. They are preparing to be ordained permanent deacons. I’ll return late Sunday night. Pray for me and them!
BULLETIN
For everything else happening in the parish this week, check out the bulletin online.
