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June 2022
Saints \
A Stewardship Parish
Volume 19, Issue 6
Inside
Marriage Enrichment Ministry
2 Seeking God in the Summertime
3 Embrace the Holy Spirit 4 Hispanic Spiritual
Formation Group: Drawing Near to Our Lord
6 The Feast of Corpus
Christi Understanding How Much Jesus Loves Us
7 Parish Nursery Taking Care of Our Most Important Gifts
Our Parish Newsletter: Spreading the news of Christ at work in our community.
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Offers Support System and Fellowship for Wedded Couples
n a 2018 sermon, Pope Francis stated, “Man and woman are created in God’s image and likeness; and for this reason, marriage likewise becomes an image of God. This makes marriage very beautiful. Matrimony is a silent homily for everyone else, a daily homily.” Those of us who are married, or have been married, can certainly attest to this. Marriage is a beautiful sacrament, carrying both joy and struggle. It can be a daily example to all those we encounter. Here at All Saints, we have a special ministry for all married couples, no matter their age or how long they have been married. The Marriage Enrichment group meets every other month David and Christi Mora from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday. David and Christi Mora took this ministry over about nine years ago because they believed in the ministry and saw its value. “This is the first time we had seen a parish have a program like this,” David says. “It was one of the things that drew us to All Saints.” Whether a couple has been married for one year or 50 years, they are invited to the Marriage Enrichment gatherings. Those of us who are married all know we can use help to make our marriage the best it can be. “I think most of us could say we can do better at communicating,” David says. “We’ve had discussions and speakers on that topic.” On average, five to 10 couples come to the gatherings, each of which is different. Sometimes, there’s a discussion, video, or speaker, and other times it’s held at a restaurant as a chance to have fun and enjoy a night out together. Other times, attendees play games.
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Seeking God in the Summertime
he kids are out of school and our fast-paced lives centered on school and youth sports activities have slowed down. Our own internal clocks are now on summer time. We’re ready for a break from our hectic lives. And while we take vacations and enjoy the leisurely pace of the season, we need to remember that summer is not the time to take a vacation from God. In fact, summer can serve as the perfect opportunity to grow in our relationship with God, especially since most of us have considerably more free time. So, instead of neglecting our faith due to busy days and late nights, try these simple steps to embrace God during the quieter summer months and during your vacation.
Get More Active in a Parish Ministry
The summer is actually a perfect time to get more involved in a parish ministry. Because we no longer have to get the kids to and from school, or get them to sporting events or other activities that normally occur during the school year, our schedules are a bit less cluttered. Summer is indeed a perfect time to fill some downtime with service to God through ministry and giving of your talents. Take a look through the parish ministries to find something that suits your particular interest or talent.
Vacation Bible School, for Kids and Adults
Vacation Bible School is a great way for younger children to learn about God through songs, activities and fellowship. The fun-filled lessons build upon Gospel teachings while keeping kids’ attention. For older children, it is a great opportunity to offer service by being a team leader or assistant. Adults can also help plan, decorate, organize and teach during the week. It’s a wonderful activity for the entire family!
Give Thanks for the Sun
Praise God for the sun, time off from school and easygoing days by visiting the adoration chapel to say a quick prayer. Bring a journal or rosary along to help stay focused. Little children can even bring a religious coloring book to give thanks to God on their terms. Or, before heading to the pool, why not attend daily Mass with the kids? It’s a perfect way to start the day and set the tone that — vacation or not — God is still an important part of your family life.
Don’t Take a Vacation from Mass
Often while on a vacation away from our parish family, we are not familiar with where to attend Mass. Don’t let that be an obstacle for you. Check out masstimes.org in order to find out where and when to go to Mass. In addition, if you are lodging at a hotel, the concierge will assist you with directions to the nearest Catholic Church.
Summertime Stewardship of Treasure
The prime reason for keeping up our pledge all summer is that God doesn’t go on vacation. He continues to sustain us throughout the summer months. He persists in pouring out blessings on us, even during the hottest weather. He keeps on meeting us in His sacramental presence when we go to Mass wherever we travel. As God remains faithful to us during the summer, we are called to be faithful in our commitments to Him and our parish family, even during our vacation time. So, enjoy the warmer temperatures and the relaxed atmosphere. Just don’t forget Who provides the sun and the sand! And most importantly, remember to take God with you wherever you go on vacation!
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A Letter from Our Pastoral Administrator
Dear Saints,
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Embrace the Holy Spirit
ou’ve all heard homilies about Pentecost, which comes on June 5 this year. Pentecost was the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles while they were gathered for prayer in Jerusalem. Coming 10 days after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, the descent of the Holy Spirit turned the apostles from a collection of fearful followers looking for some direction into a band of courageous witnesses ready to declare their faith in Christ to the whole world. You’ve heard that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church because that was the day when newly filled with the Holy Spirit, St. Peter preached the first Christian sermon, inviting his hearers to turn to Jesus as their Savior and their Lord. Those who accepted the invitation were baptized and “were added” to the Church (Acts 2:41). That day marked the beginning of the Church’s public mission, which continues to the present. But the Holy Spirit’s actions in the Church were not limited to the apostles in an ancient time. He remains active down to the present, guiding the pope and the bishops as they go about their work of sanctifying, teaching and ruling in the Church. The Holy Spirit acts in the sacraments to make them effective signs of grace. We see the Holy Spirit’s work in the witness of the saints through whom He continues the work of salvation. The Spirit, moreover, acts not only in the Church as a corporate body, but also in the lives of individual Christians. We become temples of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism. Then at Confirmation, which is our own personal Pentecost, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit unites us more closely to Christ, increases the spiritual gifts we have been given, and strengthens us to spread and defend the faith. Ultimately, Pentecost is more than simply a feast celebrating something that happened a long time ago. Of course, the coming of the Spirit we read about in Acts 2 took place just once. But the Holy Spirit remains active today, guiding the Church as a whole, but also working in the life of each individual Christian to make us holy.
Maybe you don’t feel as if the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Well, God the Father gave us free will, so we can choose whether or not we’ll obey Him. And God the Holy Spirit, being united in the one Godhead with the Father and the Son, honors that freedom. He’ll never force us to turn away from sin or compel us to obey God’s commandments. The Spirit offers us grace. He will beckon us toward heaven, and occasionally we may feel Him nudging us along, but we always have the freedom to choose God or to reject Him. Perhaps you’ve made a commitment to worship at Mass at least weekly and spend some time each day in prayer. Maybe you have promised to use some of your talents in parish ministries and service to the community. You may even have turned in a card at our last renewal to indicate your pledge of a portion of your treasure to be used in God’s service. I hope you’ve done all of these. If so, both the Holy Spirit’s grace and your response were involved in your decision. And the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to fulfill your commitments. This Pentecost, make the Gradual verse we’ll sing just before the Gospel your personal prayer: Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia. If you do, you’ll find the Holy Spirit working even more strongly in your life. You’ll be happier, and the world, at least your little corner of it, will be a better place. Remain Ever Blessed,
Fr. Jovita Okoli Pastoral Administrator
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H i sp a n i c S p i r i t u a l F o r m a t i o n G r o u p : Drawing Near to Our Lord
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hen you come to a Hispanic Spiritual Formation Group meeting, you come into the powerful presence of God and His people. His wisdom, love, joy, and peace are alive and well at every gathering this beautiful ministry offers. “Our ministry is more than just a prayer group,” says coordinator Marta Carias. “Although we pray together, we also dedicate a lot of time to spiritual formation as well. We desire to know more about the Scriptures, our Catholic faith, and what it means to be a close follower of Jesus and carry our cross. We also hope to prepare ourselves to talk to others about our faith.” The Hispanic Spiritual Formation Group meets several times each week — on Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. in the chapel for Eucharistic Adoration; on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 221 to discuss spiritual and faith-based themes; and on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. in the St. Teresa Room to contemplate the Word of God. “We talk about what the Scripture readings say and how we can live them out in our daily lives,” Marta says. “We also study and discuss themes such as what it means to be a Doctor of the Church, what it means to be a close follower of Jesus and carry our cross, and the meaning behind the different traditions and liturgical seasons of the Church.” continued on page 5
“One of the most beautiful things about our group is the friendships come with it. We are genuine friends who can be honest with each other and help one another grow closer to Jesus.” — Marta Carias
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Hispanic Spiritual Formation Group Recently, the group members took part in a concentrated study on the Stations of the Cross, which they pray every Friday during Lent. “I asked the members if they knew why Catholics pray each station, and what each one means,” Marta says. “They said they didn’t know why, so we talked about it, and I assigned a few stations to each person so they could investigate them and share what they learned with the rest of the group. They couldn’t believe that they didn’t know this information before! It has made me so happy to see them grow in their faith. It is so exciting!”
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To someone interested in coming to the Hispanic Spiritual Formation Group, but may be hesitant to give it a try, Marta has some encouraging words to share. “You need to come,” Marta says. “It will help you get to know Christ and His saints better! Being in this group has really enriched my faith and inspired me. One of the most beautiful things about our group is the friendships that come with it. We are genuine friends who can be honest with each other and help one another grow closer to Jesus.” The Sacrament of Confession (at 6:30 p.m.) and Mass (at 7:30 p.m.) in Spanish are offered on the first Friday of each month.
If you would like more information about this profoundly spiritual ministry, please contact Marta Carias at 602-518-6352.
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The Feast
of
Corpus Christi
Understanding How Much Jesus Loves Us
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f you were to make a list of “famous people from history” to invite for dinner, there’s a good chance Jesus Christ would make the cut. As a historical figure alone, the meal conversation would no doubt prove interesting. Yet, the thought of spending personal time with Christ ushers in additional considerations that far exceed a mere “getting to know you” routine. Jesus Christ is the only human being in history who is also your Creator — He already knows you intimately! You might then imagine that if Christ revealed Himself to you personally, then you would immediately love Him deeply and believe without doubt. You might think to yourself, “If I could just meet Him once, it would be easy to believe.” There is a bit of truth in this thought. As human beings, we are affected by personal presence, and the most intense communication transpires through physical contact. Just ask the apostle, Doubting Thomas. The sight of Christ alone was not enough – Thomas required physical touch to be satisfied. The beauty of the Gospel message is that it is universal. Just as the resurrected Christ invited Thomas to touch Him in the flesh, so too does Christ invite us — His disciples in 2022 — to meet Him physically in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. So, if you would like to share a meal with Christ, the time is here! You have already been given a perpetual, open-ended
invitation to dine with Him, in His Father’s house. Through the gift of the Eucharist, we are invited to share in the eternal banquet of heaven. This belief is the incomprehensible glory of our Catholic faith. We celebrate with great joy, therefore, the night in which Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Although “re-presented” at every Mass, we commemorate this event on two special feast days of the liturgical calendar — on Holy Thursday and on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The joy of this “holy gift” cannot be adequately expressed on Holy Thursday, due to its nearness to Good Friday. Therefore, the Feast of Corpus Christi — also known as the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ — is given its own day on the liturgical calendar. Throughout the rest of the world, the Feast of Corpus Christi is normally celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday, thereby mirroring Holy Thursday. However, the U.S. does not maintain this feast as a Holy Day of Obligation. It is considered a “moveable feast” — this year, the Feast of Corpus Christi occurs on June 16, but the celebration is transferred to the following Sunday, June 19. On this glorious feast, take the time to thank Our Heavenly Father for the gift He bestows on us through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta: “When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” Happy feast day!
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Parish Nursery
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Taking Care of Our Most Important Gifts
n the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). This is precisely what the All Saints nursery exists to do. It’s a space for our littlest Catholics to be cared for during Mass and parish events. Lydia Pappas has been our nursery coordinator since it re-opened in October 2021. She enjoys helping to offer this wonderful service to families at All Saints. The nursery is available for children, from infants to age 3, on Sundays during the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses. It’s also available for all ages during some parish events and meetings. The coordinator can request the nursery be available or parents can make a request. “The nursery is a very important ministry as it helps young families stay connected to their faith and their community,” Lydia says. “It is difficult to be active in the church while chasing after young children.” Lydia would love to see more families utilize the nursery. She believes this ministry is essential for parents and children. On Sundays, parents can more fully enter into Mass, and the children can enjoy age-appropriate, faith-based activities. Lydia also believes in the importance of play for children — it’s even more critical now. “Especially in the post-COVID age, a lot of the younger kids didn’t get many experiences playing with non-family members for the past two years, so being able to experience new environments and new people is great for developing important social skills,” Lydia says. Lydia knows that providing this service will reap so many rewards. Parents can more fully participate in the Mass and other ministries. They can also easily meet others by attending parish-wide events. “Parents are able to spend more time with and make friends with other Catholic parents, as well as with other parishioners, which builds their community,” Lydia says.
The children have a blast in the nursery with all sorts of activities. During Mass, they can enjoy coloring and sometimes a Bible story. When the older children are there for an event, Lydia usually has a craft planned. There’s also time to play and run outside. Lydia has enjoyed her work so far and wants to invite more families to use the nursery. “It combines two of my favorite things — supporting young families and helping moms, and playing with kids,” she says. “These families give so much to their children. It is an incredible blessing to be able to give a little bit back to them.” The first time a child comes to the nursery, a parent completes the Family Registration and Waiver — this is valid for the entire year. The Sunday nursery and parishwide events are provided by All Saints at no cost to families. The nursery costs $5 per child with a cap of $10 per family for organizations’ meetings. Lydia asks parents to RSVP for nursery spots for parish-wide events and meetings due to the ratio she maintains of one adult for every four children. There is no RSVP needed for Mass.
Volunteers are needed to help staff the nursery — please contact Lydia Pappas at lberger@allsaintsdallas.org.
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Marriage Enrichment Ministry Thanks to the ministry, David and Christi say they have made friends that they probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. “When you are out in society, people may not have the same view of marriage as Catholics do,” David says. “It’s nice to meet people who are on the same page. It’s nice to have that support system and people praying for you.” “It’s just really inspiring to be with other couples who share the same views,” Christi adds. The group even met during COVID-19 closures, making the switch to virtual programming.
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David and Christi would love to see more couples come to the gatherings. It would also be nice to have volunteers help choose topics, speakers, video series, and fun events. “This isn’t an average date night,” Christi says. “Often, you walk away learning something about how to make your marriage better. It has even spawned further discussions for David and me at home.” “I’ve really enjoyed some of the educational series we have done,” David adds. “There’s always some ideas of things we can work on. We’ve learned ways to enhance our marriage spiritually.”
Watch the bulletin for information on the September Marriage Enrichment gathering to kick off the year! Childcare is provided at All Saints during the gatherings. It’s $5 per child with a cap of $10 per family.
5231 MEADOWCREEK DRIVE ● DALLAS, TX 75248 ● (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.
