\ Volume 15, Issue 11 Inside 2 Living Out Gratitude and Stewardship During Thanksgiving and Beyond 3 Love God, Love Your Neighbor: What Catholic School Means 4 High School Bible Study Provides Youth a Community Space to Learn and Form Friendships 5 ALDs at 6 Offering Our Love and Adoration to Jesus 7 The Pastoral Advisory Council: Living Out Stewardship, Serving Our Lord and Faith Community Our Parish Newsletter: Spreading the news of Christ at work in our community. A Stewardship Parish A Letter from Our Pastoral Administrator November 2018 November: A Time of Faithful Celebration and Sharing in Thanks Dear, As I look over the calendar for November, my mind is filled with thoughts of thanksgiving. These aren t just thoughts about Thanksgiving Day, although I look towards it with happy anticipation more than that, they are thoughts filled with a variety of reasons for why we should be thankful. The month begins with a great celebration that should be a day of thanksgiving for all of us Day. This is a great feast celebrating the great company of Christians now in heaven a company we shall eventually join, whether or not we re formally canonized, if we remain faithful to Christ. And the communion of saints the sharing of spiritual goods by those in heaven to us who are still in our pilgrimage is a great cause for thanksgiving. We read the lives of the saints to be encouraged and inspired by their examples. Plus, we are strengthened by their fellowship in the Body of Christ, and we are aided by their prayers. And then, the very next day, we celebrate Souls Day. Although this day commemorates all the faithful departed who are being purified in Purgatory, it is natural for us to concentrate on the members of our own family and our friends who have died. While we pray for them, that they may soon experience the joys of heaven, at the same time we also are thankful for the love they gave us and for the faith they passed on to us. Then, later in the month comes Thanksgiving Day, the national holiday celebrating all the things for which we are thankful. The fact that it comes toward the end of autumn reminds us that it was originally a harvest festival. For Christians today, it s a wholesome reminder that we should thank God for everything we continued on back cover
page 2 LIVING OUT Gratitude and Stewardship DURING THANKSGIVING AND BEYOND Every November, as the holiday season fast approaches, we are filled with a deep sense of sentimentality and gratefulness for all the goodness of the past year. At the same time, we encounter many wonderful ways to give to cheerfully share our own gifts during this time of Thanksgiving. It is with this spirit of gratitude that we can truly live out the stewardship way of life. This Thanksgiving, there are plenty of opportunities to do this in a direct way. Is there a new neighbor you haven t met, or someone who might be spending the holiday alone? Invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps you may volunteer at a soup kitchen, or you might donate a Thanksgiving meal to a family in need who wouldn t have one otherwise. If you go shopping on Black Friday, make it a point the next day to donate old clothes that you or your family members no longer need. And as the winter draws closer, you might participate in or even organize a coat drive, and then gather a small group to go out into the community to give the coats away to homeless shelters and those in need during the winter months. There are countless such opportunities to live in gratitude and thanksgiving opportunities that go beyond just having a meal with family and friends on the fourth Thursday of November. Of course, we must remember that this spirit of thanksgiving does not end after Thanksgiving, nor does it end following Advent and Christmas. We must always consider how to give, even as the sentimental glow of the holiday season fades after the New Year. In January, if there is space at your table, fill it. In February, if there is abundance in your closet, give away from that abundance. In March, if there are volunteers needed at the soup kitchen, rally a team and give of your time. We need a renewed spirit of stewardship and thanksgiving that lasts the whole year so that our giving becomes habitual, and not just seasonal. This Thanksgiving, ask the Holy Spirit where He is calling you to give. And may the joy of the Thanksgiving season flow into our lives as good stewards, every day and throughout the entire year. The spirit of thanksgiving does not end after Thanksgiving, nor does it end following Advent and Christmas. We must always consider how to give, even as the sentimental glow of the holiday season fades after the New Year. In January, if there is space at your table, fill it. In February, if there is abundance in your closet, give away from that abundance. In March, if there are volunteers needed at the soup kitchen, rally a team and give of your time. We need a renewed spirit of stewardship and thanksgiving that lasts the whole year so that our giving becomes habitual, and not just seasonal.
page 3 Love God, Love Your Neighbor: What Catholic School Means By Gabe Moreno, ASCS Director of Advancement and Mission This past month, I had the opportunity to sit down to lunch with a select group of our ASCS students who were selected by teachers as models of the virtue of the month reverence. As we ate, we talked about classes, teachers, extracurriculars and how they were chosen to receive a pizza lunch from the administration. I asked each student what they did to be recognized, and one student spoke up and said, I don t know. As this was the first student to speak up, I wanted to lead her to an example of something she may have done, and her answer was always, Oh yeah, I do that. After some time of trying to find out the exact thing she did, she finally answered, I guess I just try to live by the two commandments Jesus gave us. Love God, and love your neighbor. Once I heard these words, I stopped my questions. My heart swelled up with joy and pride. This young lady summed up the effects of our Catholic school in just a few words. Love God. Love your neighbor. It is simple really when you think about it. Two small things that lead to big changes. Love God. Love your neighbor. Unfortunately, these two things are not always as easy as we want them to be. Our culture is turning away from faith at a rapid rate, and people are becoming more self-centered. But our school is working hard to reverse the trend by teaching our students these two simple things. Love God. Love your neighbor. Our Catholic faith surrounds students at ASCS. Every morning they are greeted by our beautiful Marian garden. They see Bible verses displayed on the screen in the lobby. They walk past the Blessed Sacrament in our chapel. They read the daily Gospel in class. They participate in Bible studies and attend Mass weekly. Middle school students take an apologetics class so they can understand their faith. And most important, our Catholic faith informs everything we do so that each student loves God and knows that God loves them. Love God. Love your neighbor. At, we take pride in our current students and alumni. They know Jesus is reflected in all people and as such, they deserve respect and dignity. ASCS cultivates this attitude by setting a high standard for behavior of students. This high standard is coupled with a virtue-based discipline program that teaches students how to act and rewards them for extraordinarily good behavior. And when students make mistakes, it is used an opportunity to grow in virtue and faith. The end result is students who care for each other and the community. The Ursuline Academy of Dallas Admissions Director put it best when she stated, students are respectful and respected. When lunch was finished, I turned to the young lady and thanked her for her answer to my question. Her response was, You re welcome. Can I have another cookie? I chuckled and handed her a cookie. As the students walked quietly backed to class, I thought about how lucky I am to work in a place that teaches people to love God and love your neighbor. It gives me hope in the future of our world. I invite you to come see the difference for yourself by joining us for an Open House, or an individual tour: gmoreno@allsaintsk8.org, 214-217-3300.
page 4 HIGH SCHOOL Provides Youth a Community Space Though Scripture is an integral part of the liturgy, there is something special about breaking open God s Word amongst friends. It s an opportunity to ponder its meaning together, while sharing new insights and learning how truly relevant Scripture and Christianity are today. Sure, you hear the reading proclaimed at Mass on Sunday and the priest gives a homily, says high school student Nathan Reis. But it s a totally different experience to hear the stories and have a member of your own peer group read it to be able to share with one another in an open discussion. Nathan is one of the regulars of the High School Bible Study. Gathering Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m., this fun-filled study allows teens to ponder and explore the upcoming Sunday s reading in a more intimate setting. The result, says participant Andrew Sullivan, is a deepening of both faith and community as members begin to feel like they truly belong to the Church. The community aspect of the Bible Study has really been a huge blessing to my life, Andrew says. Just being able to show up early and share dinner together helps us build up those friendships. Through Bible study, I ve received some of the best friendships people that I can just call up and ask for prayers whenever I need it. Katie Mulry, senior, echoes Andrew s sentiments, saying that her experience in the Bible Study over the past four years has been invaluable. Not only has it helped the Scriptures come alive, but it has also provided Katie with a much-needed outlet.
page 5 BIBLE STUDY to Learn and Form Friendships It s been really amazing to come here week after week over the past four years, sharing my experiences with others and hearing about their own faith journey, Katie says. Now there is always somebody for me to sit with at Mass. There have been times when I ve come at a different time than my parents, and there is still always someone that I know. As Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Paul Bianchi points out, these are just some of the many fruits that have been born from the High School Bible Study. A convert himself, Paul is passionate about helping teens uncover the lasting value of Sacred Scripture. We want our youth to truly see that this is a living, breathing document, to see that it s deeply relevant to the life that they are living now, today, Paul says. Using the Lectio Divina method, the High School Bible Study enables teens to deeply contemplate and reflect upon Sacred Scripture, and to examine the surrounding context while becoming more open to what God is revealing to them personally through the sacred text. In the process, Paul says, teens gain a safe place where they can grow and flourish. high school-age youth are invited to come and join the Bible Study, and to find out just what it has to offer. Pizza is provided and it is sure to be a good time. We hope you join us, Paul says. It doesn t matter if they are opening the Bible for the first time or if you have half of it memorized already. We re looking for everybody we want everyone to feel welcome here. For more information about High School Bible Study, High School Youth Ministry and its many offerings please contact Paul Bianchi at pbianchi@allsaintsdallas.org. Assisted Listening Devices Available at In 2015, made it possible for parishioners with hearing disabilities to fully participate in our Eucharistic celebrations by utilizing Assisted Listening Devices, or ALD. They work much like a personal radio system. The audio at Mass is transmitted through a frequency that can be picked up by the ALD unit, which is connected to headphones or earbuds allowing for those with hearing disabilities to clearly pick up on what is being said or sung during the liturgy. The system operates on the 72-megahertz band, which is just below the commercial FM band, says Randy King, longtime parishioner, user and promoter of ALDs. The small receiver, it s probably six inches in size, can clip on your belt or be put in a pocket. For Randy, who has experienced a hearing disability for most of his adult life, and others in the parish in need of assisted listening devices, the ALDs are a godsend. Randy says he s been given the task of bringing awareness to the availability of ALDs among those in the parish with hearing disabilities. And selling units, he says, is an easy job. I am using a try before you buy technique and that s all it takes, he says. Once they try it, that s it! It is important to note that ALDs are not a duplication of traditional hearing aids. Whereas a hearing aid provides a broad spectrum of sounds, ALDs are more localized and specific. Individuals like Randy, who wear hearing aids, can certainly benefit from the addition of an ALD. If you have a hearing disability, consider purchasing an ALD so you can more fully participate in Mass. Please contact Randy King at 972-239-9351 for information on how to obtain a unit of your own.
page 6 Offering Our Love and Adoration to Jesus Eucharistic Adoration is the adoration of Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. Churches that have this adoration display the Eucharist in a special holder called a monstrance, and people come to pray and worship Jesus. Christ s great love for us was shown when He was crucified on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and give us eternal life. He loves us without limit, and offers Himself to us in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Can we not give Jesus a few minutes of love and adoration in return? What is the importance of Eucharistic Adoration? Eucharistic Adoration is the respect and worship we give to Jesus, who is truly present to us under the appearance of bread and wine. The Eucharist is a priceless treasure; by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass, we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace. What are the fruits of Eucharistic Adoration? People who observe Eucharistic Adoration experience a deeper devotion to Jesus, and this manifests itself in countless ways. The primary fruits are repentance and conversion, which lead to increased charity that is, the love of Christ alive in His people. The adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist also leads to greater reverence at Mass, a deeper desire for personal holiness, and a stronger sense of union with the parish and the whole Church. Ever since the early centuries of Christianity, the Church has linked Eucharistic Devotion to service to the poor. The practice has, more recently, led to an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. What is proper etiquette during Eucharistic Adoration? When we are not taking part in vocal prayers and hymns with other adorers, we should be praying silently. Whenever we pass before the place where the Sacred Host is reserved, we should genuflect. We should observe the modest dress and decorum that are appropriate to very solemn occasions. We should avoid any actions that might disturb or distract others, or otherwise draw attention to ourselves rather than Jesus. How should we pray during Eucharistic Adoration? There are many ways to pray. We may meditate in silence by gazing on the Sacred Host. We may silently speak to Jesus from our mind and heart. We may also rely on devotions and prayers from Catholic tradition, such as the reading of Scripture, recitation of the Rosary, or the litanies. When two or more are gathered before the Sacrament, they may pray or sing hymns together. What is the best way to promote Eucharistic Adoration? The best way to promote Eucharistic Adoration is by doing it! Make frequent visits to Jesus at the tabernacle. Invite your spouse, your children, your neighbors and co-workers to join you. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, he is to be honored with the worship of adoration. To visit the Blessed Sacrament is a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord (1418).
page 7 THE PASTORAL ADVISORY COUNCIL: Living Out Stewardship, Serving Our Lord and Faith Community Although not mandated by the Catholic Code of Canon Law, it is stated, If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune a pastoral council is to be established in each parish, over which the pastor presides and in which the Christian faithful, together with those who share in pastoral care by virtue of their office in the parish, assist in fostering pastoral activity (Canon 536). And here at, we are gifted with a Pastoral Advisory Council which has as its goal to listen, inform, advise, and to lead in the direction which the pastor wishes. Our Pastoral Advisory Council is one of the key leadership groups in our parish, and is broadly representative of parish membership, clergy and laity. Its intent is to be an energizing, coordinating and unifying representation of parish life, and should enable the individual members to have access to the processes which guide, direct and support various aspects of parish life. The Council is a consultative body which unites laity and clergy in a community of prayer, leadership, service, and pastoral planning. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Council may recommend policies for mission and faith. I enjoy using any talent I have, says Pat Zaby, a longtime member of the Pastoral Advisory Council. We are all called to share our talents. I see my membership on the Council as a calling. As a group, we have an obligation to make the parish better. The Holy Spirit works in different ways one way is through this Council. Importantly, Pat emphasizes that this group is a Pastoral Advisory Council, not a Parish Council. Last year, our general theme and goal was to make Mass on the weekend one of the best experiences of the week for our people, he says. This year, we are focusing on evangelizing and missioning. Of course, the Code of Canon Law insists on consultation at every level of decision-making. Our Pastoral Council is one of the best exemplifications of this standard. Pat says, There are 12 appointed members of the Council, and we meet once a month, normally on the second Thursday in the evening, Pat says. The pastor and the Council Chair [Cheryl-Ann Wong] set the agenda ahead of time. We begin with prayer and then review information from the last meeting and get updates as necessary. The last part of the meeting, we members have an opportunity to provide input and advice relating to the pastoral life of the community. We work with all ministries. For more information on the Pastoral Advisory Council, contact Pat Zaby at 972-743-9887, Cheryl-Ann Wong at 214-674-2042, or Pastoral Administrator Fr. Alfonse Nazzaro at 972-661-9282.
NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 1922 5231 Meadowcreek Drive Dallas, TX 75248 (972) 661-9282 Weekend Liturgy: Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. Teen Mass, 5:00 p.m. Weekday Liturgy: Monday - Friday, 6:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. Saturday, 9:00 a.m. Christmas Mass Schedule Monday, December 24: 4:00 pm (Church); 4:15 pm (Children s Liturgy in the Gym); 6:00 pm (Church); 8:00 pm (Church) 11:00 pm with Prelude Music beginning at 10:30 pm (Church) Tuesday, December 25: 9:00 am (Church); 11:00 am (Church) Address Service Requested November continued from front cover receive, especially the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Why not participate in the Church s Great Thanksgiving, the Holy Eucharist, on Thanksgiving Day? It s the ultimate way to give thanks. A reminder while much of our attention this month may be drawn to the often contentious goings-on in our country, we need to remember that God is in charge of the universe, even though He has given us free will. If we trust in His loving care, demonstrated by returning to Him a portion of the time, talent and treasure He has entrusted to us, we can withstand the troubles of life. It s a good principle to follow in this month of thanksgiving. Yours in Christ, Fr. Alfonse Nazzaro Pastoral Administrator