JULY 2022 IN THIS ISSUE: 2
Stewardship: A Need to Give
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We Provide the Gifts, God Performs the Miracles
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Generations in Faith Formation Together Building Community, Helping Families and Individuals Grow in Faith
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Getting to Know the “Summertime” Saints
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New Stewardship Committee Focuses on Parishioners’ Time and Talents
Lectors Ministry: Bringing Alive the Word and Treasures of the Bible
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s Catholics, we are called to celebrate the Holy Mass each Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. The Holy Mass has many important parts, and one of those is the readings — for as stated in the second chapter of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, “In the readings, the table of God’s Word is spread before the faithful, and the treasures of the Bible are opened to them” (57). Since the readings are an important part of the Mass, the person proclaiming them has an essential task. Bob Reis is the previous coordinator of the Lectors Ministry at All Saints. He recently handed the coordinator position over to Jan Storey. Both Bob and Jan have been lectors for many years. “This ministry is an absolute joy and a wonderful way to serve God’s people,” Bob says. “I love public speaking, and I love my Catholic faith,” Jan says. “Lectoring affords me an opportunity to share my faith with an attentive audience. It allows me to speak God’s truth with passion and compassion.” Jan would love to see more people step forward as lectors. This is a ministry for Jan Storey coordinates our Lectors Ministry. those who enjoy public speaking and have a passion for the Word of God. There are quite a few lectors on the rotation, which means this isn’t a huge commitment. For Bob, this ministry has been enriching. When he’s serving as a lector, he sees himself joined with all those who have shared the Bible since the beginning. “You are proclaiming the words that have been with the church since the beginning, proclaiming them to your community like they were proclaimed to an early church community,” Bob says. Jan has found that proclaiming God’s Word as a lector has strengthened her faith. “Everyone, both young and old, loves a good story,” she says. “What better way to be a disciple of God than by telling
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5231 Meadowcreek Drive | Dallas, TX 75248 | (972) 661-9282
Stewardship: A Need to Give W
hen the church needs a new roof or the local food bank needs donations, we jump at the chance to give for the sake of the need. It’s part of our human nature — we identify a need, and we want to give of our time, talent and treasure to help. But as a stewardship people, we are called to give of ourselves not simply because the Church has needs, but because each of us has a need to give. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states in its pastoral letter on stewardship, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, “We need to give our money to individuals and families in need, to the Church, and to other worthwhile charitable organizations because giving money is good for the soul and because we need to return thanks to a loving God for all of the many blessings each of us has received” (67).
As fellow members of the Body of Christ, created in God’s image, we should strive to go beyond simply coexisting with one another on earth. The life we live should be fueled by love for each other. This love should dictate how we live — by giving of ourselves. Jesus Christ showed us the perfect example of this self-giving love when He died on the cross. His death was a completely selfless act. He gave of Himself for our sake, offering us — through that gift — life everlasting. As Christ’s disciples, we follow His example, and we give of ourselves for the sake of others, out of love and an inherent need to give. That’s not to say that we gain nothing through our gifts. In fact, in His goodness, God sees to it that we do. Most of us have experienced what happens when we give of our time, talent or treasure. We feel as though
we get more out of it than we give. If you speak to someone who serves at the soup kitchen or someone who has made it a regular practice to tithe to the Church, you are likely to find that he or she feels blessed to be able to give. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops points out, “To be a Christian disciple is a rewarding way of life, a way of companionship with Jesus, and the practice of stewardship as a part of it is itself a source of deep joy. Those who live this way are happy people who have found the meaning and purpose of living” (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 21). Find out for yourself. Get involved in a ministry. Make a commitment to put some money in the collection basket next Sunday. Don’t wait to find out if there is a need — give of yourself right now. You will be richly blessed for doing so.
As Christ’s disciples, we follow His example, and we give of ourselves for the sake of others, out of love and an inherent need to give.
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A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR
We Provide the Gifts, God Performs the
Miracles
Dear Saints, t is human nature to try and neatly place things into categories. If we categorize the miracles performed by Christ, the two largest groupings might fall under the headings “Healing” and “Feeding.” This is exactly what we are about here at All Saints. At the foundation of all our liturgies is the Eucharist, when we come together in communion with the Lord and with one another to be both fed and healed. Even one of Christ’s most famous miracles – the Feeding of the Multitude – involved both healing and feeding from a spiritual and a literal perspective. The reason the large crowd gathered was because Jesus’ reputation as a healer had spread and grown. He felt compassion for that crowd, which is another way of saying He loved them and felt sorry that they were hungry due to their willingness to sit and be with Him for so long. Recognizing it was late in the day and that many of them had not eaten, Jesus fed them – but that day, He didn’t stop with physical nourishment. He also fed them spiritually with His words and simultaneously, healed their wounded hearts by preaching a message of hope and forgiveness in the midst of a dark and hardened world. The narrative of Christ taking a small amount of food and using it to feed thousands is familiar to all of us. It is reported in all four Gospels. However, I would like to
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highlight one aspect of that miracle. It all started with one boy who was willing to share what little he had. Because the boy made the gift of his fishes and loaves, the Lord took it and multiplied it many times over, nourishing so many more people than what that little bit initially could. Isn’t that what we as a parish are called to do? We make gifts of our time, our talent, and our treasure as good stewards – but nevertheless, it is God who takes those gifts and performs miracles with them. Our goal is to give what we have so that Christ might use it, multiplying it to feed, to heal, and to draw a multitude of people closer to Him. The reality is that without the gifts, there can be no miracles, and without miracles, we are a hungry and broken people. Christ has come to renew, nourish, fulfill, and restore – and that, brothers and sisters, is what Christianity is all about. Remain Ever Blessed,
Fr. Jovita Okoli Pastoral Administrator
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Generations in Faith Formation
Together
Building Community, Helping Families and Individuals Grow in Faith
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Kathy McDermott, Director of Faith Formation
new model of faith formation is coming soon to All Saints! Families, along with individuals of all ages, are welcome to join us this fall for the implementation of our new, exciting program. The program, called Generations in Faith Formation Together (GIFFT), will bring together families to form solid communities and have families of all walks of life learning more about the faith. For this year, GIFFT is lectionary-based, meaning that it will focus primarily on the Scripture readings for Sunday Mass, following along with the liturgical calendar. “We’re trying to build community, as well as form parents so they feel more comfortable teaching their children in the faith,” says Kathy McDermott, Director of Faith Formation. GIFFT will take place on Sundays after Mass. Families are encouraged to attend Mass, then stay to participate in the session. There will be four sessions per month, with the idea that families will attend one session per month. Following Mass, everyone will meet in Fellowship Hall for prayer and snacks, then a family activity such as music or story, then break into small groups for age-appropriate activities led by our catechists. Finally, everyone gathers again and receives an assignment to complete before the next session in their small groups. The key difference between this new model and our previous faith formation programs is that the teaching happens all at the same time, and provides enough catechists and resources for the whole family. The idea is everyone will be learning the same things — parents, grandparents, kids continued on page 5
“We’re trying to build community, as well as form parents so they feel more comfortable teaching their children in the faith.” — KATHY MCDERMOTT, DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION
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Generations in Faith Formation Together continued from page 4 and teens — in order to encourage discussion and learning throughout the family unit. “When they leave, they can have a discussion about what they just learned,” Kathy says. The assignment or activity to be completed in small groups between sessions is also helpful for forming community between parishioners, as well as giving practical ways to help foster growth in certain areas of the faith. “To take what they’re learning and put it into action, it’ll be a practical assignment to decide how to go into the world and actually practice what you learned,” Kathy says. “Whether it’s a service project, or an act of kindness, the families will decide for themselves.” Gathering together with all ages is a unique opportunity to help communities form throughout generations. But all are welcome to attend. “We’re just trying to help the families out, coming up with the resources for them,” Kathy says. “I think this is a gift, Generations of Faith Formation Together — we’re hoping that other people besides families will join us. We’re open to newcomers, meeting people and sharing — we’re just trying to open faith formation to more welcoming and practical sessions. We know that faith formation is lifelong
Lectors Ministry
catechesis, it’s not a certain age group, so we want all these generations together.” Kathy and her team welcome anyone who would like to help out, especially in the area of hospitality.
Registration for families is available through our parish website. For more information or to get involved, please contact Kathy McDermott at 972-778-0328.
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the biblical stories found in the Old and New Testament? In doing so, we learn as well.” Bob agrees — he is now better able to recognize the flow of the liturgical year and how the readings work together. “God has a message for everyone at Mass,” he says. “I’m just a tool delivering that message.” Bob and Jan both feel blessed to be lectors. It’s truly been a way for them to give back while sharing their gift of public speaking. If you would like to sign up to serve as a lector, please contact Jan Storey at storeyjan@gmail.com. New lectors will receive training.
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Getting to Know the
“Summertime” Saints S
chool is out, and summer is now in full swing. The days are longer, warmer and filled with plenty of fun summertime activities. This summer, as we take family vacations, gather with friends and loved ones for barbecues, spend time by the pool, and enjoy all of the usual summertime activities, we can also take the time to reflect on some of the saints who are associated with the summer. Family vacations are perhaps the most iconic of all summertime activities. Although there is no patron saint of vacations, there are a number of saints associated with traveling. One of the most popular is St. Christopher. According to his story, St. Christopher was an extremely tall and strong man who served Christ by helping people cross an especially dangerous river. That is why many people wear St. Christopher medals while traveling — to ask for his blessing and protection. For those of us who are taking road trips this summer, there is St. Frances of Rome, the patron saint of cars and drivers. While St. Frances died well before cars were invented, her story says that her guardian angel went ahead of her when she traveled at night and lit the road with a lantern to keep St. Frances safe. There are also saints we can look to when traveling by plane. St. Joseph of Cupertino was a Franciscan friar who is said to have frequently and miraculously levitated off the ground during intense prayer sessions. Because of this levitation, he is recognized as the patron saint of air travelers. St. Therese of Lisieux is also associated with aviators and flying.
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If you are going on a cruise this summer, you can ask for the intercession of St. Brendan the Navigator, an Irish monk who founded the Clonfert monastery and monastic school, and is the patron saint of mariners and sailors. He and his brothers sailed the Atlantic Ocean and evangelized on a number of islands, and may have even reached the Americas. Another favorite summer activity is swimming. Whether you choose a pool, a lake or the ocean, seek the intercession of St. Adjutor of Vernon, a knight who was captured in the First Crusade. His captors tried to force him to give up his faith, but St. Adjutor escaped by swimming to his freedom. For this reason, he is the patron saint against drowning, and for drowning victims, sailors and swimmers. The summer is also a time of amusement and enjoyment. One of the biggest national celebrations of the summer is the Fourth of July. For this type of summertime activity, we look to St. Barbara, the patron saint of fireworks. There are also a number of saints with feast days during the summer. The feast day of St. Anne, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, is celebrated on July 26. July 31 is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who is also associated with stewardship. These are just two of the many saints whose feasts we celebrate this summer. No matter what kinds of activities we choose to enjoy during the summertime, let us remember to honor the saints who have gone before us, and give their intercession for us as we walk through our own journeys of faith.
New Stewardship Committee Focuses on Parishioners’ Time and Talents
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hen it comes to understanding the purpose and mission of our Stewardship Committee here at All Saints, we can look to Luke 12:48 — “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” The Lord has blessed us with so much, and it’s our task to give back to Him through our time, talent, and treasure. Parishioners are in the habit of giving their treasure, and Fr. Jovita Okoli wants to see the same enthusiasm toward giving of time and talent. We all have talents — so let’s see how we can use them to glorify God. The Stewardship Committee was formed to increase the number of parishioners actively involved here at All Saints. Fr. Jovita wanted to get a group like this started, so he called parishioners he thought would be interested. This relatively new group is ready to hit the ground running. For committee member Adam Berry, this is the first ministry in which he has been involved at All Saints. “As a group, we align behind the parish’s core values of worship, education in faith, spiritual growth,
The All Saints Stewardship Committee: (from left to right) Andy Polascek, Matt Baril, Emily Hennessey, Adam Berry, Iris Vallarino, Adam Baumli, Sylvia Windham (not pictured) Joseph Bionat and Kyla Moles
and fellowship,” Adam says. “Every decision we make aligns with how we as a council can move All Saints forward in one or more of these areas.” Committee members agree that All Saints parishioners are so generous with their treasure. They are also proud of everyone’s continued generosity
during the challenges of the past few years. Now, the committee hopes to see people give generously of their time. We have so many wonderful parish ministries and organizations here at All Saints. “We want to grow active involvement in All Saints ministries continued on back cover
“All of us are motivated to see All Saints parishioners thrive in their spiritual journeys moving forward. We all have to make that a routine in our own lives in order to spread the impact of doing so to the entire parish.” — ADAM BERRY
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New Stewardship Committee and organizations,” Adam says. “We believe that active involvement in the parish is a great path to holiness, and we are laser-focused on helping every single parishioner grow in holiness.” One of the Stewardship Committee’s first goals is to make it easier to become a member here at All Saints and provide easy ways for parishioners to get information on what is happening at the parish. Members on the committee range from people just getting involved to those who have been very active in various ministries for many years. “All of us are motivated to see All Saints parishioners thrive in their spiritual journeys moving forward,” Adam
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says. “We all have to make that a routine in our own lives in order to spread the impact of doing so to the entire parish.” Although Adam is just getting involved, he can already see the impact of increased stewardship. “Being around so many holy, intelligent, driven Catholics is spiritually rejuvenating, and I leave every meeting feeling excited about the future of All Saints and the thousands of families who call All Saints their faith home,” Adam says. Adam would encourage others to step forward and get involved. It’s not only fun — it’s a path to holiness and heaven!
If you have any questions about the Stewardship Committee, please contact the parish office at 972-661-9282.
MASS SCHEDULE Weekday Liturgy: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. | Saturday, 9:00 a.m.
Weekend Liturgy: Saturday, 5:00 p.m. | Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m.
