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Our Parish Newsletter:

Spreading the news of Christ at work in our community.

SaintSall

A Stewardship Parish

In the Catholic Church, we designate a particular devotion for each month — and May is when we

honor our Blessed Mother Mary. Thus, this is a good time for us to think about and concentrate on our devo-tion to the Mother of God. Perhaps we can add a few more Marian prayers to our daily routine. Praying the Rosary might be even more important. Of course, that assumes that daily prayer is part of our daily routine — which it should be.

Our Blessed Mother is important to our faith and to our Church. Her willingness to serve in a way that allowed the Lord to take human form really made our salvation a possibility. Because of her complete trust in God, she lived her life free from sin, and after her life, she was assumed into heaven by the power of God and crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

She is, of course, not divine. We worship only our Lord Jesus Christ, but we honor Mary as a saint and in many other ways. We honor God when we remember the role of Mary in our salvation. Devotion to Mary always leads to Jesus Christ Himself.

A Letter from Our Pastoral Administrator

Inside

May 2018

Dear Saints,

The Month of Mary: A Time for Celebration and Joy

continued on back cover

2 St. Isidore’s Simple Stewardship

3 Young Adult Ministry Creating Community through Prayer

4 All Saints Trifecta By SHANA DRUFFNER, Director of School

6StrengthfortheDifficult Journey: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

7 Making Sure Our Community is a Safe Environment: Reporting Child Abuse

Volume 15, Issue 5

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St. Isidore’s Simple Stewardship

When we consider the lives of the saints, the first that usually come to mind are more than likely classed

into four categories — martyrs, priests, religious, and great miracle workers. St. Isidore was none of these, and yet he is revered in Spain as one of “the five saints,” which include St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Philip Neri, all of whom were canonized with him in the same year. His feast day is May 15.

The life of St. Isidore is a great testimony to how, with God’s grace, we can take the occurrences of a simple, mun-dane, and even sometimes difficult life and use them as op-portunities for sanctification.

Isidore was born near Madrid, around the year 1070, into a peasant family. While still a young boy, he began working as a day laborer on the farm of Juan de Vergas, a wealthy landowner, just outside of Madrid.

Despite the hard work on Vergas’ farm, where Isidore spent the rest of his life in service, he did not complain and always tried his hardest to meet the tasks requested of him. Above all things, he upheld his relationship with Jesus. As he walked behind his plow, he would talk to God, offering up his work as a prayer. He rose up extra early each day before work to attend daily Mass. He would even spend his vacations touring the dif-ferent churches of Madrid and the surrounding areas.

As hardworking as Isidore was, his fellow workers complained to Vergas that the pious laborer always arrived late for work because he attended Mass every day. Isidore could not deny the accusation, but he assured his employer that he always made a special effort to compensate for the extra minutes he spent in prayer. One day, Vergas decided to see for himself whether Isidore was really slacking in his work. Hiding in the bushes, he watched as Isidore came out of church, went directly to the fields, and began his plow-ing. To Vergas’ astonishment, he saw a “man” with another plow beside Isidore, driving a team of white oxen. When he ran toward the mysterious team, it disappeared and Isidore only looked puzzled when Vergas asked him about it. “Sir, I work alone and know of none save God to whom I look for strength,” Isidore said. No doubt, God had sent His angels to

help ensure that Isidore’s work would not suffer because of his placing the spiritual above the temporal.

While working for Vergas, Isidore fell in love with and married a young woman, Maria Torribia, who shared his devotion and faith. They had one child, a son, who died while still a boy. A model of sanctity herself, Maria — also a canonized saint — served her husband faithfully all her life. Together, Isidore and Maria would look for ways to serve the poor, even though they had very little themselves. One story says that when Isidore brought a number of hungry people home with him one day, Maria realized as she scraped the bottom of the pot that there was no more stew. Isidore asked her to check one more time, and she was able to spoon out enough to feed everyone. They could not refuse an act of kindness to anyone.

At times, we might be tempted to think that we do not have the talents or the assets to be good stewards. But St. Isidore shows us by his simple, humble example that we can live out the call to discipleship in the smallest actions of char-ity and piety — that we only need do as much as we can, and trust that God will do the rest.

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It’s not typical to walk into a bar and see a sign advertising “free prayer” — but then again, nothing about the Young

Adult Ministry is typical!Every Wednesday evening, you can find a group of

parishioners in their 20s and 30s hanging out at Flying Saucer in Addison. As they share drinks, appetizers and fellowship, they also offer to pray for anyone who wants to join them.

“We’ve really only had three people take us up on that, but it was really special when they did,” says Elizabeth Horsley, parish Safe Environment Director and group coordinator. “One man came over and wanted to ask us some questions. We were so excited to get to talk to him and then he bought us all a round of beers.”

That excitement is built upon a firm foundation of prayer and worship that starts earlier on these evenings with adoration. Starting at 7 p.m., the group meets in the All Saints Chapel to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament.

“We have an hour of adoration with worship music, and we pray either the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet,” Elizabeth says. “We read the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel and one of the leadership team members gives a reflection on that Gospel. After that, we go out for fellowship.”

Once a month, guest speakers are invited to adoration and fellowship to share a reflection before hosting a question-and-answer session during the evening’s fellowship at Flying Saucer. For the month of May, the group was joined by Tori Harris Gray, author of Holy Spirit 101 and director of Arise Worship Ministry.

“One of the main focuses of our group is to build community, so that’s why fellowship is such a big part of it,” Elizabeth says. “It’s not just another social group — the community is also built around prayer.”

On Mondays, the Young Adult Ministry divides into groups of men and women to meet in small-group sessions at members’ homes. These meetings are mainly focused on studying Scripture or a text and allowing time for discussion and prayer. Elizabeth says she hopes the ministry will grow soon so that it can expand to include other meeting opportunities.

“I’d like to start other programs, but those require more people to take it on,” she says. “We’ve done service projects on Saturdays. We had a party for Thanksgiving called Friendsgiving where we did a potluck. It takes more people to say, ‘I want to make that happen.’”

The group is open to all young adults in the parish, whether they be single or married, and though it’s geared to those in their 20s and 30s, Elizabeth says older parishioners can support the Young Adult Ministry by serving as guest speakers.

“We’ve had guest speakers who are older come in and talk about their life experience, and they always really enjoy hanging out with the young adults too,” she says. “This is a great place to make friends who are also strong Catholics and want to grow in their faith.”

Young Adult Ministry Creating Community through Prayer

If you would like more information on the Young Adult Ministry, please contact Elizabeth Horsley at ehorsley@allsaintsdallas.org or 972-778-0311.

Members of the Young Adult Ministry mix worship and fellowship that is built on a strong foundation of prayer.

Weekly adoration and small groups help enhance the spiritual lives of these parishioners, while opportunities for fun, like the

gathering pictured here, encourage supportive friendships.

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Ben Gitzinger, Valedictorian

The last time I heard the word “trifecta,” I was accompanying

my father to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Needless to say, I am not much of a gambler and we didn’t win. Happily, this year’s Trifecta was a sure bet. The top three ranking students of the Class of 2018 at John Paul II High School are All Saints Catholic School graduates. In a high school that draws a diverse student body from all over the diocese and indeed

from north Dallas and Collin County, it is truly remarkable that Benjamin Gitzinger, Morgan Steele and Katie Abel went 1-2-3!

At ASCS, we educate the whole child. We strive for excellence in faith, academics, character and service. I had the great privilege of watching Morgan and Katie grow up from the time they entered kindergarten and I taught all three students in Orchestra during their middle school years. I can unequivocally

say that these three students embody excellence in each of these four areas.

Ben, the Valedictorian of the Class of 2018, will attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Ben was the recipient of the UT Engineering Honors Scholarship. He is a National Merit Finalist, captain of the Cross Country and Track team, plays in the JPII HS Orchestra, is an Officer in the National Honor Society, and is President of the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, among other things.

Morgan, the Salutatorian of the Class of 2018, will attend the University of Delaware in the fall, majoring in Applied Molecular Biology

and Biotechnology. Morgan is the recipient of the University of Delaware Telkes Scholarship. Morgan is the Vice President of the Senior Class, plays in the JPII HS Orchestra, and is an Officer in the Orchestra, Mu Alpha Theta, and Ambassadors. She is also involved in the Pro-Life Club, Key Club and is a Eucharistic Minister, among other things.

Katie will attend the University of Notre Dame in the Fall. Katie is the Student Council President, is involved in the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, is an Officer in the Mu Alpha Theta, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Ambassadors, Volleyball, Cross Country and JPII HS Orchestra, among other things.

When I asked Ben how ASCS helped prepare him for high school, he remarked, “The small supportive community of All Saints helped me become a better leader and more confident in myself in academic settings.”

Morgan commented, “ASCS definitely prepared me for high school. Thanks to the time management skills that I developed at All Saints, I was able to quickly adjust to the new routine and additional homework at JPII.”

Katie added that, “ASCS instilled in me a work ethic that allowed me to easily adjust to the rigor of high school classes. Also, similarly to JPII, All Saints

Trifecta All Saints

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By SHANA DRUFFNER, Director of School

encouraged each student to develop as a leader by being involved in numerous extracurriculars, such as Orchestra, Student Council and more.”

All share favorite memories, from singing Mass songs with Mrs. Koss in kindergarten, to winning the Quiz Bowl at the Beta Club convention in eighth grade, to winning the volleyball championship in eighth grade.

When asked what advice they would give to the ASCS Class of 2018, Ben remarked, “I would advise getting

involved in as many activities as possible, because it’s a great way to find friends and to learn more about yourself. Be open to new opportunities and experiences.”

“I would ensure that the graduating class knows that every choice you make in high school could have an effect on your future. If you choose to make good decisions like doing your homework and getting involved in activities on campus, you’ll be rewarded with many options for college!” Morgan said.

Katie added, “High school can be challenging, but if you establish a strong relationship with your teachers, you will always be able to

turn to them when you need help.”Lastly, faith plays an integral part

in all of their lives. They were each involved in their parishes during high school — Ben at Our Lady of Angels, and Morgan and Katie at All Saints. All three plan to be involved in campus ministry in their respective universities.

I distinctly remember our final orchestra concert in eighth grade. The Class of 2014 played “Viva la Vida” — “Long Live Life” — without a conductor. It’s a tradition we have every year symbolizing their independence as they begin a new phase of their lives. We wish Ben, Morgan,

Katie and their families the best in the years to come. May God go with you as you venture forth. All Saints will always be your home and we are proud of you! Congratulations and best wishes.

Katie Abel

Morgan Steele, Salutatorian

To learn more about our school, please call All Saints Catholic School at 214-217-3300 to schedule a private

tour. We will be happy to show you how your child can achieve Excellence in Faith, Academics,

Character and Service.

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Strength for the Difficult Journey:The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Most of us have witnessed a Baptism, attended a Con-firmation Mass or shared in a couples’ celebration of

the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Or perhaps you have been present at a priest or deacon’s Ordination Mass. And as prac-ticing Catholics, we regularly have the opportunity to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. However, there is one of the seven sacraments with which the majority of Catholics are far less familiar — the Sacrament of Anoint-ing of the Sick.

Some might be familiar with the sacrament under a dif-ferent name, such as “Extreme Unction” or “Last Rites.” To-day, it is celebrated with greater frequency than in times past, including any time someone is seriously ill or approaching surgery, advanced in age, or when a person is nearing death.

The basis of this sacrament comes from the Book of James: “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick takes place when the priest — or bishop — anoints the sick person with oil on their forehead and hands with the words, “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”

Anointing of the Sick, along with Reconciliation, is a Sacrament of Healing. Although the healing may take dif-ferent forms — sometimes physical, or sometimes men-tal, emotional or spiritual — the sacrament is always an opportunity for the person to have an encounter with God, the Divine Physician.

Parishioner Doyle Kitchen has had several recent experi-ences with the sacrament, as he has undergone three major back surgeries in the past eight months.

“When I receive the Sacrament of Healing, it provides me with hope — hope that God is there with me and for me and hope that the operation will be successful,” Doyle says. “Faith carries my heart into the sacrament and I leave with hope and full confidence in my Lord that He will guide me and protect me through the operation. “Before any surgery, a person will feel anxiety and fear,” he adds. “But with Fr. Paul, I receive hope and confidence. I

Parishioner Doyle Kitchen has experienced God working in powerful ways through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

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am ready. The anxiety is gone, so is the fear and doubt. This last surgery, I was very anxious and flat-out scared. All that dissipated during the sacrament. I was confident in faith and confident the Lord will be there.”

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is often celebrated on an individual basis, as well as occasionally in a communal setting, such as at a parish Mass, which takes places several times a year.

“Fr. Paul makes the sacrament an extremely moving experience,” Doyle says. “You feel like you are some-where between heaven and earth during the sacrament. It goes way beyond just a quick prayer and oil. It enters

into a more mystical experience where you can feel our Lord listening to your petitions.”

For those who are suffering, Doyle believes the Sac-rament of Anointing of the Sick serves to remind them of God’s infinite love and care.

“You are not alone,” he says. “God is with you to give you hope and comfort. This is a beautiful experi-ence. I went into my last Sacrament of Healing with every doubt, anxiety and fear you could dream of. Two days [after receiving the Sacrament] I was still confident and ready for the surgery. I had hope. What could bother me now?”

If you or a loved one is in need of receiving the Sacrament of Anointing oftheSick,pleasecontacttheparishofficeat972-661-9282.

Spotlight on the SacramentS

Anointing of the SickSaintSall

Making Sure Our Community is a Safe Environment: Reporting Child Abuse

All adults have a moral and legal obligation to report suspected child abuse. However, when you suspect a child is being abused or when a child tells you about an abusive situation, it can be terrifying. If you ever find yourself in that situation:

1. Remain calm. Assure the child that he or she has done the right thing by telling you and believe the child! Children rarely lie about such painful topics.

2. Report to the proper authorities. If the situation is an emergency, call 911. Alternatively, make a report to the Texas Department of Family and Protective services at 1-800-252-5400 or www.txabusehotline.org within 48 hours. Your obligation to report abuse cannot be delegated to another person. If the incident involves someone from our All Saints community, additionally contact our Safe Environment Director, Elizabeth Horsley at 972-778-0311 or ehorsley@allsaintsdallas.org.

For more information on what to do when you suspect child abuse, please visit the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center website at www.dcac.org.

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Mary was joyous when she said “yes” to God. That is the kind of joy we need to seek — and we, too, must say “yes” to the Lord. Let us be grateful to Mary for bringing us her Son. This is why we crown her on our Catholic version of Mother’s Day. Through Mary, we are given an invitation into the Catholic fold. Her femi-nine presence and the safety of her motherhood may help us grow.

For most of us, this time of year is a month of growth in relation to nature. It is difficult not to have May as one of our favorite months for so many reasons. May is a beautiful time. We are called to make it even more beauti-ful, and we can do that as we serve and love one another.

I am deeply blessed to be your pastoral administra-tor. I may say that often, but it is true. My priesthood has been a blessing, and serving you all has made that blessing even more significant. I pray for you daily. Please pray for me. God bless you and keep you al-ways.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alfonse NazzaroPastoral Administrator

The Month of Mary: A Time for Celebration and Joy continued from front cover