The Diocese of Dallas’ Community of Disciples initiative is reshaping how parishes understand belonging, disability, and the shared life of the Church. Rooted in the belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God, the initiative works to form parish communities where people with disabilities are not only welcomed but recognized as “fully indispensable” members of the Body of Christ, said Alison Wire, associate director for the diocesan office for Persons with Disabilities.
St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church
In the Smyth Pastoral Center of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, diapers pile high, onesies crowd clothing racks, and car seats, feeding chairs, and strollers are parked nearby. The space, stocked with a cornucopia of baby items, is home to the St. Mark Baby Shop, a volunteer-led ministry at the Plano parish that provides an array of materials for families in need.
Dale and Joyce Szyndrowski of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano listened carefully to Deacon Luis Boy preach his Sunday homily. For this past year, they have participated in the St. Joseph’s Preachers program, a lay listener course offered through the Institute for Homiletics where parishioners learn how to listen attentively during homilies.
When Father Parker Thompson walked through the doors of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Frisco for his ordination last year, the occasion marked the grand culmination of years of prayer, discernment, and formation, according to the priest’s parents, Kathi and Bryan Thompson.
After nine years, the moment Father Peter Whitfield had been waiting for had finally arrived; he would celebrate Mass for the first time.
On March 29, several Diocese of Dallas priests and deacons will make their way beneath underpasses and alongside busy service roads for the inaugural Bella House Miles for Moms fundraiser walk. The 18-mile walk will begin at the Bella House in Dallas and end at the Bella House in Plano with stops at Dallas and Plano parishes along the way.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church welcomed nearly 300 women into its Parish Hall Feb. 22 for the 25th Annual Women’s Retreat.
As those grieving the death of a loved one attempt to navigate the challenges of loss, they can look to their church communities for support. Across the Diocese of Dallas—from McKinney to Plano to Frisco to Allen—parishes have resources to accompany those who are grieving, both during the holidays and through the whole year.