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December 2021
Saints A Stewardship Parish
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Volume 18, Issue 12
Inside 2 Christmastime
Stewardship How We Can Bring His Son to the World
3 Stewardship Possibilities
are Endless at Christmas
4 The Music Ministry:
Drawing Us into the Beauty and True Purpose of the Liturgical Seasons
6 Stewardship and
Hospitality for the Advent and Christmas Seasons
7 ASCS Looking Ahead
Our Parish Newsletter: Spreading the news of Christ at work in our community.
The All Saints Men’s Club: Sharing in Valuable Fellowship, Prayer and Service
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t’s so easy to get wrapped up in the demands of work and home, and it can be hard to find the time to focus on faith and fellowship. It can be particularly difficult for men to gather with those who are like-minded and have time to share the Catholic faith. Here at All Saints, we have an opportunity for men to gather, learn about the parish, and spend time together. The All Saints Men’s Club (ASMC) also provides service opportunities. Gabe Moreno has been in the ASMC since 2015. He appreciates how the ASMC allows men of the parish to create strong bonds with one another. “The ASMC is full of faithful men who want to help raise each other in faith, family, and service,” Gabe says. “These men want you to be the best version of yourself in all aspects and are very willing to listen, commiserate and provide helpful feedback that allows other men to be heard, listened to, and become the person they know they can be.” The ASMC meets at 6:00 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in the Fellowship Hall — dinner is included — and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Throughout the year, ASMC members help with the St. Joseph Dinner, Spring Picnic, Fall Fest, St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Toys for needy children, Habitat for Humanity, FORE! All Saints Golf Tournament, and Lenten Dinners. Many ASMC members are a part of the That Man is You! program. The ASMC also offers a yearly retreat for members and a dinner and Mass for members and their families. “Taking part in the ASMC helps me feel a part of the community,” Gabe says. “I can see that the work we do as a club directly impacts the community.” continued on back cover
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CHRISTMASTIME STEWARDSHIP
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How We Can Bring His Son to the World
t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that. True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way. Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world. What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants us to go,
and there are many places to which He may never go unless we take Him to them.” How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank, and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat. These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship. We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us. Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet, but to enable someone else to be them, as well. Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts. This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.
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A Letter from Our Pastoral Administrator
Dear Saints,
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Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas
hen I think of December, the first thing that comes to my mind is Christmas. While that may seem obvious, there are several other possibilities. I could think of Advent, which prepares us for Christmas. I could think of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation, and the patronal festival of the United States. I could think of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose popularity has spread far beyond the Hispanic community. December also brings the winter solstice. And it brings the end of the secular calendar year, which means getting my financials together for the upcoming income tax season. But instead, I think of Christmas — one of the greatest feasts of the Christian year, along with Easter and Pentecost. The basic truth of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, God Incarnate, is plenty of reason for us all to rejoice and worship. But we’ve piled so much extra baggage on our Christmas observance, and worship is often almost lost in the shuffle. We send Christmas cards to people we contact at no other time of the year. We put up wreaths, Christmas trees, and lights. We host parties for family and friends. We visit relatives. We plan and prepare Christmas meals. And we have Christmas gifts to buy. No wonder the Christ Mass becomes an afterthought! Maybe, though, we can combine our Christmas activities with our stewardship commitments. Treasure is the simplest. Shouldn’t the most expensive Christmas present we give be the one to Jesus whose birthday we’re celebrating? Risen and glorified, He needs nothing we have. But His Body — the Church — continues Jesus’ mission here on earth and always needs additional resources. Time and Talent may be a little more complicated, but can’t we spend a little more of our time in worship and
prayer? Stop by the church for a visit to the Christmas Crib and offer a prayer of thanks for the gift of God’s Son. Attend Mass each day of the Christmas Octave. Gather your family for prayers together in the morning or at dinner in preparation for Christmas Day and through the Christmas season. And Talent? There are lots of possibilities: Sing in the choir for the Christmas Masses. Help decorate the Church. Cook or bake for someone who is homebound. Invite someone who will be alone to share Christmas dinner with your family. Offer to work in a soup kitchen if you will be alone. The possibilities are endless. Yes, December means Christmas. But with some planning, we can make this hectic time a real blessing both for ourselves and others. Pray for me that I can keep Christmas properly, and I’ll pray for you. And by the way, have a Merry Christmas! Remain Ever Blessed,
Fr. Jovita Okoli Pastoral Administrator
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The Music Ministry:
Drawing Us into the Beauty and
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The All Saints Brass and St. Gregory Choir
ere at All Saints, a wide variety of music fills our liturgies and our halls. From the Children’s Choir to the Handbell Choir, from the St. Gregory Choir to the St. Raphael Choir, from the Teen Band to our cantors, we celebrate throughout the liturgical year with music. “The music lets people know we care about them,” says Shelbi McMullen, Assistant Director of Music. “Everybody feels welcome.” Shelbi works primarily with the Children’s Choir, St. Gregory Choir, and Handbell Choir. Serving alongside Jordan Peek, Director of Music, Shelbi especially loves her role this time of year — Advent and Christmas include beautiful music that gets everyone involved. Working with the Children’s Choir has allowed Shelbi to talk with the kids
about why we sing certain musical selections during Advent and others for Christmas. “We spend a lot of time in Children’s Choir talking about the magic of the season of waiting,” Shelbi says. “We save certain music like a big prize. I try to relay to them how special this is because it only comes one time a year.” The late Christmas Eve Mass is a favorite of Shelbi’s. After the quiet expectation of Advent, the Christmas Eve Mass is the culmination of all the preparation that has been happening in everyone’s hearts and homes. Shelbi loves to see the wonder in the faces of the children. Staying up late, going to church, and seeing everyone there together is new and exciting for the kids — this brings back that sense of wonder for Shelbi.
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True Purpose of the Liturgical Seasons “I love seeing the kids get into it and learn about the liturgy,” she says. “Seeing them make those little discoveries all the time is worth it.” When Shelbi plans the music, whether it’s her own composition or an arrangement of a favorite, she hopes to draw the parishioners in with enough familiarity that everyone feels comfortable and is able to join in song. “Our goal is to always make sure that we’re contributing to their experience,” Shelbi says. “We don’t want to take away or distract. When we keep it familiar, people feel a sense of homeyness.” There are many options for someone who would like to get involved with the music at All Saints. If you sing, there’s a choir for you in both contemporary and more traditional styles. We have a handbell choir that contributes so much to the Christmas liturgies and the All Saints Brass plays on special feast days. Our Music Ministry hopes that everyone feels welcomed and at home through the music.
Jordan Peek, Director of Music
Shelbi McMullen, Assistant Director of Music
If you would like to learn more about the Music Ministry, or to join a choir, you can email Shelbi McMullen at sherndon@allsaintsdallas.org or Jordan at music@allsaintsdallas.org.
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Stewardship AND Hospitality
FOR THE ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SEASONS
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e’re in the midst of the Advent season, with Christmas on the way. You’ve extended invitations, planned the menu, and decorated your home. You are ready to be hospitable. But what does it really mean to live the stewardship of hospitality? The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 4: 8-11, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever.” When we read Peter’s words, we see that hospitality is more than good manners. We see that hospitality is part of what it means to be a faithful steward. So, during the hustle and bustle of Advent and Christmas, how can we be hospitable? Open your home to strangers: The holidays can be an especially painful time for people. This year, do something about it. If you’re already expecting strangers, welcome them warmly. Decide ahead of time that showing love is more important than passing judgment.
Be truly cheerful: When you open your home for the holidays, you may be a happy host, but are you a cheerful one? Believe it or not, there’s a difference. A happy person feels happiness. A cheerful person causes happiness. Use your gifts to serve: Hosting and serving go together. You bake the turkey, pour the drinks, and slice the pie. To some degree, this is expected and normal. What’s not normal is for a host to truly serve — to look for the needs in others and the gifts in themselves and find even a small way to help. Give God glory: When family, friends and strangers enter your home, it’s an opportunity for them to see Christ in you. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes in people’s lives or how much an encounter like this might mean to them. So when you welcome and serve your guests, remember that your ultimate goal is to give God glory. Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word, and through hospitality we can live that calling.
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ASCS Looking Ahead
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s the year reaches its midpoint, it’s important to both look back at all that has been accomplished while at the same time continue to recognize all that lies ahead. This fall semester has included a lot of newness for our community — new faces, a new leadership model, a new pastoral administrator, new pandemic challenges, and much more. In the midst of these new realities, we have set a high priority on two things — transparency and a collaborative vision for the future. A few weeks ago, the School Advisory Council — along with some key parents and volunteers from our school community — gathered for a brief work session designed to lay the foundation for us to update the school’s strategic plan. This process is only just beginning, but from the earliest stages, I want to include the whole community in our conversations. Our conversations revolved around three main topics: Mission Identity, the Student Experience, and Operational Vitality. Each of these form a crucial piece of
By COLIN CAMPBELL
the puzzle that is ASCS — each relies on the others and none is separable from the rest. In hopes of representing the interconnectedness and the enthusiasm of these conversations, we were joined by a very talented graphic recorder who took notes live in the room. Today, I’m sharing the notes from the Mission Identity topic. As you can see, we asked more questions than we answered, but some exciting themes began to emerge. We’ve been given an awesome opportunity and a tremendous responsibility to build towards the future of All Saints Catholic School at a time when the landscape of education is moving and adapting so quickly. We are challenged to grow in our pursuit of excellence while protecting what makes our community so unique. If you have ideas or questions and would like to share them with me, please don’t hesitate to reach out. In the meantime, thank you for your prayers and your support. I’m excited for what God has in store for our students.
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The All Saints Men’s Club Catholic men can look around the secular world and feel like they are very alone — the ASMC seeks to strike down that thought. Men are there for one another to share experiences and provide a support system in the Catholic faith. The ASMC also hosts two major fundraisers —the FORE! All Saints Golf Tournament and a vehicle raffle. The FORE! tournament supports the school’s endowment, and the Kraig Frick Memorial Scholarship, which provides tuition assistance at the school. The tournament is held in early May. The ASMC vehicle raffle raises funds for the capital needs of the parish. Over the past two years, the ASMC has raised
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more than $50,000 for the church to replace and repair the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units. Gabe has enjoyed getting to know other men of the parish on a much deeper level. It has also been a great way for him to volunteer and just get more involved in the All Saints community. With the separation brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gabe also just enjoys the opportunity to be around other people. “All men of the parish are welcome to join us at our monthly meetings,” Gabe says. “Join us for fellowship, food, and friendship. The ASMC is a great way to stay informed and make a difference in the life of our parish.”
If you would like to learn more about the All Saints Men’s Club, please email AllSaintsMensClub@yahoo.com. 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.