Chaplain’s Letter

A message from the Chaplain

Dear Notre Dame Prep Community,

Since the birth of Christianity and that first Easter Sunday morning, many of us have found great solace and hope in our faith, even in the midst of difficulties and tragedies.

In fact, Jesus came to bring hope to people suffering under the weight of many things; the poor, the sick, the marginalized and those who felt lost. Most of all, He brought hope to us sinners. Despite even the tragedy and darkness of our sins, there is always the light of God who rescues us, loves us, and forgives us. Jesus conquered death, and He gives us an opportunity to Rise and live with Him forever.

Switching on the news and viewing all that is happening around us, it is not an understatement to say that we are living in unprecedented times. Yet it is for times such as these, that each of us is placed in this moment of history. Each of us is called by God and we will Rise in Christ, to be a light in the darkness, and to be a tangible presence of God’s love to all we meet.

We are called to Rise from mediocrity – whether that be in our spiritual life, the practice of our faith, in our academic pursuits, and in how we treat each other. We are called to Rise with God’s grace whenever we have fallen and experience God’s love and forgiveness. Most of all, we are called to Rise to build up people, structures, and our character, rather than tear down and destroy.

Oftentimes, the most beautiful moments of hope come at the heels of difficult times and struggles. This is why the year’s theme is “We Rise..!” as it harkens to the central tenet of our faith: Jesus rising up from the tomb. After a terrible tragedy, great hope appeared!

Here at Notre Dame Prep, we have strong hope that we will Rise to new heights, in our faith formation, in our academic programs, and even with our new infrastructure on campus. We Rise in the love of Jesus, so that we may be a beacon of light – starting first here in our Scottsdale community – and eventually extending to the whole world.

To Jesus through Mary,

Fr. Kurt Perera Chaplain