A Stewardship Parish Loshon Hora

All
Saints
September 2011
A Stewardship Parish
\
Inside
A Letter from Our Pastor
Loshon Hora
2 Paving the Way for
Worship
The Founding Members
of All Saints Church
4 C ome Out for the Annual
Parish Festival!
6 U nderstanding the New
Roman Missal
The Concluding Rites
7M
etroplex Breakfast
Dialogues
Fellowship With a Twist
Our Parish Newsletter:
Spreading the news
of Christ at work
in our community.
Negative Speech
Dear Saints,
A
s we re-enter our activities with school and
other organizations, perhaps this is a good
time to raise for your consideration an activity that
does more to damage the life of a community than
any other. We rightly fear today an immoral class
of weapons we have come to know by their acronym as WMDs, Weapons of Mass Destruction. It
is appropriate to fear any weapon that can kill and
maim indiscriminately, not distinguishing between
the guilty and the innocent. We rarely allude to the
fact that we all have within our mouths a WMD of
enormous power, capable of enormous harm. The
weapon to which I refer is our tongue when used to
speak negatively of another person or a group.
Many people today are unaware of how much harm this all too common variety of speech
does or of how seriously sinful it can be. Every person has a God-given right to a good reputation (see the Catholic Catechism, #2479). Even if the negative speech in which we engage is
true, disclosing another’s faults, except when that person poses a serious threat to the other, is
the sin of detraction. Likewise, one should always be careful to interpret insofar as possible
their neighbor’s thoughts, words and deeds in a favorable way. This is what people who love
one another do. They presume the good intention of the other and thus avoid the sin of rash
judgement.
In this we have much in common with our Jewish predecessors in Faith. This wise advice
is summed up in an article that was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Rabbi Chaim Feld, a Cleveland, Ohio Orthodox Jew, is at the center of a growing
national movement to curb gossip and hurtful speech. “Loshon Hora,” is a phrase
in Hebrew roughly translated as ‘negative speech’ or ‘negative tongue.’ “The Talmud equates loshon hora with murder,” Feld says. “If you’ve never met Michael, and
continued on back page
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Paving the Way for Worship
The Founding Members of All Saints
Sal and Jackie Calabrese
W
hen Sal and Jackie Calabrese joined the new parish
of All Saints upon its inception in 1976, they were
impressed at the overwhelming sense of community that its
original parishioners fostered, despite being absorbed from
various other parishes and locations.
“We would attend some of the planning meetings, and one
of the things that was so important to everyone was having a
large gathering place, so that it would feel like a community,”
Jackie says. “It was very important that the facilities were
constructed so that people could gather, talk and be there for
one another; and I think that, from the very beginning, forming
a true community was a very important priority at All Saints.”
That sense of community was important to the Calabreses,
who were re-assigned to All Saints from St. Rita, a parish at
which they had been very happy and where their two daughters
attended school. Nevertheless, they were excited to actively
participate in their new community, and attended many of the
early meetings, including the Town Hall meeting to select a
name for the church.
“There were several people there, and different people kept
saying it should be different names of saints,” Jackie recalls.
“Finally, somebody stood up and said, ‘I know – let’s just call
it All Saints!’ That’s how I remember it!”
From there, Sal, Jackie and their four children became
very active in parish life at All Saints. Sal was a member of the
inaugural Men’s Club at the parish, and Jackie participated in
the first Women’s Club – buying ornaments for its first Christmas party at the original temporary rectory. She also belonged
to the Our Lady of the Snows Circle, and subsequently helped
out with the Vacation Bible School program when her grandchildren participated. Jackie currently serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion, and she coordinates the Funeral
Reception Committee, helping prepare meals for members of
our parish family who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
All four of the Calabrese children were married at All
Saints, and their son, Rick, was even confirmed at Prestonwood
Elementary School before the church building was built. The
Calabreses have certainly found the sense of community they
were seeking when they joined All Saints 35 years ago.
“The first years of our parish, even when we didn’t have
all the things we have now, may have been some of the best,
just because of everybody working towards a common goal,”
Jackie says. “But it is still a great parish, and I wouldn’t want
to change it. I like to be able to go to church and see familiar
faces; and no matter what Mass I go to, I always see familiar
faces. That’s a great feeling.”
Like Sal and Jackie, Warren and Dianne Norris were happy
members of St. Rita Parish when it was announced that they
would soon be living within the borders of a new parish community. And also like Sal and Jackie, they were excited to be a
part of that new community from the outset.
“We were happy at St. Rita, and we had a child who was in
CCD classes at St. Rita and had just received his First Communion there, so it was kind of like we were leaving our home
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Warren and Dianne Norris
when we went to our first meeting at All Saints,” Dianne says.
“But we were happy to see all the talented people who had
wonderful credentials – who had taught at schools, been on
other parish councils – and realize we could be part of something better than we could have possibly imagined. We went
to one of the first meetings that was held at one of the schools,
and from there on we were All Saints members.”
The Norris family was particularly impressed with thenFather (and later Monsignor) Raphael Kamel, the first pastor of
All Saints, and his emphasis on hospitality.
“There was a warmth about him, and he was a good listener,” Dianne says. “He used to remind those of us who helped
desire to help shape what was to take place inside it – namely,
the liturgical celebrations at All Saints. Dianne served on the
inaugural Liturgical Committee, and she served as All Saints’
first female lector – a role she wanted to be sure to carry over
from St. Rita, which had only recently allowed women to
proclaim God’s Word at Mass.
“I just thought it would be an exciting way to help at the
church,” she says. “We were in Atlanta before we moved here,
and there was not as much parishioner involvement in our parish there. Whereas, when we came to All Saints, the people that
came to the parish were so talented and had so much going on
for them that we just wanted to be a part of it in some way, and
enjoyed helping out.”
Over the years, both Warren and Dianne have served on
the Parish Council at separate times. Warren was involved with
the Men’s Club, and he was instrumental in making sure that
the bleachers on the playground were installed. In addition to
her duties as a lector, Dianne coordinated the lectors and altar
servers for many years and was a member of the Women’s
Organization. Through it all, they have seen the parish evolve
and grow in many wonderful ways.
“You can see how many different committees and ministries there are now in the parish, so it is a diverse group,” Dianne says. “There was a time recently where we had probably
the top young adult group in the area, and people would come
from all over Dallas to attend. We definitely seem to have a
more vibrant teen Mass and youth group, and the school has
attracted some young families to the parish.”
For both the Calabrese and Norris families, being an active
part of starting a new parish community is something they will
never forget.
“When we came to All Saints, the people that came to the parish were so
talented and had so much going on for them that we just wanted to be a
part of it in some way, and enjoyed helping out.” – Dianne Norris, parishioner
build the church that we would have new people coming along
who were holding back until they saw that we had a church,
and emphasized that we must be kind and welcoming to them,
even though they were ‘taking our spot.’”
The Norrises also took a keen interest in the construction of the new church building, visiting the site as often as
they could. That interest in the building itself led to a strong
“I just think of how excited we were to meet the new people who were so talented, and brought their thoughts and ideas
as to how the parish could have been set up,” Dianne says. “It
was just so exciting to us, because we had never started a new
parish before, and we knew there would be a time when someone else would take over, but it was fun to be in that position.”
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Come Out for the An
O
n Sept. 24-25, parishioners and members of the
greater community are invited to enjoy delicious
food, play games, and generally have a great time at All
Saints’ annual Parish Festival!
“This is such a great opportunity for the parish to come
together, and it is the largest single parish event that involves
all of the ministries, the school, and the parish,” says Charlotte Fitzpatrick, festival chair. “With our hectic schedules,
people go to Mass and see each other passing through the
doors Sunday mornings, and it’s events like this that give
people an opportunity to get to know each other not only as a
community at church, but the rest of the time, as well.”
This year’s festival will offer a few changes from what
longtime participants may be used to. For starters, Sunday’s
festival will begin at 10:30 a.m. instead of the usual 9:30 a.m.
This will allow for a breakfast to take place following the 9:15
a.m. Mass; the festival will end at 3 p.m. that day. In addition,
the kick-off dinner and dance that traditionally takes place the
weekend before the festival will not be held this year.
“The reason for this is that plans are in the works to
have a separate dinner/dance event in celebration of the 35th
anniversary of the parish,” Charlotte explains. “We decided
that having one more along with all of the other activities
surrounding the festival would be overkill.”
Despite these changes, visitors can expect many old
favorites and new surprises at this family-friendly event.
There will be plenty of delicious food and beverages, including Woody B’s Barbecue, hamburgers, bratwurst, pizza, chili,
and a beer and wine garden. In addition, several of our parish
ministries will be setting up their own food booths with homemade goodies, and all proceeds from the food sold will benefit
each ministry in its mission of serving our community.
The festival entertainment will be non-stop, starting
Saturday at 1 p.m. A host of musicians and performers will
entertain patrons, including the All Saints Jazz ensemble,
featuring a group of parishioners on Saturday afternoon,
and the Treble Hook Band, headlining on Saturday night at
8 p.m. For the children, a new crafts area sponsored by the
school will be available. Also, the youth can look forward to
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nnual Parish Festival!
being part of the “All Saints Idol Experience,” a karaoke
DJ competition on Saturday evening. And of course,
there will be classic carnival games and rides for all ages.
For those who enjoy games of chance, there will be
a silent auction offering a wide variety of items up for
bids, and the parish Men’s Club will be selling tickets for
an Oct. 15 car raffle. The festival is free to attend, and
game and ride tickets will be available for sale. Proceeds outside of the ministry food booths will benefit the
parish-at-large.
“It’s events like this that give
people an opportunity to get to
know each other not only as a
community at church, but the rest
of the time, as well.”
– Charlotte Fitzpatrick, festival chair
The Parish Festival only takes place thanks to the
help of parishioners. In all, over 700 “man hours” are donated toward the cause. Everyone is invited and encouraged to volunteer, and there is also a need for financial
contributions and auction donations. Charlotte points out
that this is an extremely fun and rewarding way to share
of one’s talents, and is an especially good way to share
the Faith with our younger parishioners.
“There are so many things out there that kids can be
tempted by today, and if you have a strong faith and a
strong community of faith to help you, it helps the kids to
make the right decisions,” she says. “We want our young
people to see that it’s cool to come back to church and
socialize, and the festival gives them an opportunity to
relax and have that fellowship.”
Please refer to the weekly parish bulletin for more
information about the Parish Festival. For questions
about offering your time as a volunteer, please contact
Charlotte Fitzpatrick at 972-733-0734, or via e-mail at
[email protected].
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Understanding the New Roman Missal
The Concluding Rites
“These new formulas were promoted by a recent synod of bishops in Rome. When Mass
concludes, we do not just leave the building. We enter the world with a mission.”
– Fr. Paul Turner, Understanding the Revised Mass Texts
F
or our last reflection on the changes to the English translation of the Roman Missal that will be implemented
during Advent, we will take a look at the Concluding Rites.
This section of the Mass is much shorter than the three parts
that precede it. Thus, there will be significantly fewer changes
to the words that both the priest and the congregation will say
in comparison to earlier portions of the Mass.
The Concluding Rites will begin with any brief announcements that need to be made, if necessary. Then, the priest will
greet the congregation as he has always done: “The Lord be
with you.” Following the precedent set throughout the Mass
to this point, those assembled will respond, “And with your
spirit.”
The priest or deacon will then invite the congregation to
bow their heads, so that he may offer a prayer or solemn blessing. These blessings will be more formal in tone than in the
previous translation, and the priest will conclude the blessing
by making the Sign of the Cross over the congregation, as he
always has.
The biggest change in this portion of the Mass may occur
during the priest or deacon’s dismissal. This is because he now
has four options of what to say when he is sending forth those
assembled. The priest or deacon has the option of either saying,
“Go forth, the Mass has ended,” “Go and announce the Gospel
of the Lord,” “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life,”
or just “Go in peace.” The reason for these changes, as Fr. Paul Turner points out in Understanding the Revised Mass Texts, is
that “These new formulas were promoted by a recent synod of bishops in Rome. When Mass concludes, we do not just leave
the building. We enter the world with a mission.”
The Mass will then end as it always has: the congregation will respond, “Thanks be to God,” and the liturgical ministers
will then process out, either in silence or to an optional closing hymn.
For more information on the new English translation of the Missale Romanum, please visit the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ Web site at www.usccb.org/romanmissal.
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Metroplex Breakfast Dialogues
W
Fellowship With a Twist
arren Norris has found a
unique, enlightening way
to grow in his faith and share it
with others – and he’s not alone.
“The speakers and discussions at the Metroplex Breakfast
Dialogues are very interesting and
thought-provoking,” Warren says.
“Being involved with the dialogues is cause for me to refresh
my knowledge of my Faith, and
ensure that I know just how I should address certain topics as
a Catholic.”
On second Fridays (September, October, November,
January, February, March, April and May only) at 8 a.m., the
Metroplex Breakfast Dialogues group meets at the Canyon
Creek Country Club. Together, group members listen to an
engaging speaker, enjoy discussion on the topic presented and
have breakfast. The group usually includes 35 to 40 male and
female participants from over 20 different North Dallas area
Catholic parishes and other Christian churches. About eight
to 10 parishioners from All Saints regularly attend, with Warren coordinating their participation and acting as the group’s
treasurer. The speakers have included people, mainly Christians, from all kinds of positions in society, such as university
professors, public officials, city attorneys, doctors, and even a
newspaper columnist.
“We cover an interesting series of topics,” Warren says.
“Those who come find it very beneficial. They learn many
new things, and like to hear the
stimulating presentations and ask
questions. The aspect of it I really
appreciate is being able to go out
into the community and interact with people of other faiths.
Furthermore, in some sense, it
can also be a way for Catholic
participants to share their beliefs
with others and make known the
teachings of the Catholic Church.
Overall, our goal is to bridge local and global issues with
matters of peace and justice.”
In the past few years, topics have included: the IsraeliPalestinian issue in the Middle East, healthcare, terrorism,
end of life issues, the relationship between science and
religion, and psychotherapy. In February, Judge Jeffrey
Rosenfield presented ‘Disrobing the Judge,” a talk about the
judiciary bench, and how the legal process works. From his
words, many gained light on how to elect various judges.
For more information on the Metroplex Breakfast Dialogues, contact Warren Norris at 972-239-4525. Those who
would like to participate may simply show up, or indicate
their interest on their annual stewardship commitment card
this fall. Come, challenge your mind, and be invigorated!
Upcoming speakers are listed in the parish bulletin the week
before the group meets.
Upcoming Dialogue Topics
September 9, 2011- Liz Cedillo-Pereira on “Immigrant and Immigration Issues”
October 14, 2011 - Lisa Oglesby Rocha, Head of “Avance” working with Dallas
Independent School District, helping mothers and children learn English
and succeed in American society, on “Unlocking America’s Potential.”
November 11, 2011 - Victoria Cummins, Professor of History at Austin College
“History of Immigration in America”
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Loshon Hora
continued from front cover
someone tells you he is a jerk, then Michael has been
murdered for you, before you even meet him.”
From Feld, the Rules of Loshon Hora:
1.Say only positive statements. Derogatory statements,
even if true, are forbidden.
2.Promote people’s well being. Any statement that can
cause someone emotional harm is also loshon hora.
3.Humor is great, but make sure jokes aren’t at someone
else’s expense.
4.Be kind to yourself. Speaking badly even about yourself is loshon hora.
7.Communicate with your spouse, but not loshon hora.
8.It is forbidden to listen to loshon hora.
9.Always give people the benefit of the doubt.
10.Loshon hora is permitted, or even required, when
warning a person about potential harm.
(Original story by Karen R. Long for The Cleveland Plain
Dealer, Sunday, November 26, 2000.)
Let’s see how we at All Saints can do this as we practice
the rules of Loshon Hora, that others may marvel at us as they
did at the first Christians and say, “See how they love one another.”
5.Loshon hora cannot be communicated in any manner,
be it through writing, body language, or verbal hints.
In Christ,
6.It is loshon hora to speak against a community or to
make harmful remarks about children—even your
own.
Bishop Mark
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