FAMILY DAY
Monday, February 17th
Monday February 17th is Family Day, a day to celebrate our families. The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no 9:00 AM Mass on that day.
GLUTEN-FREE HOSTS
Our parish is considering offering communion with celiac safe gluten-free hosts in the near future to parishioners requiring these. If this is your case, in order to help us assess the need, please let yourself be known, by visiting, calling or emailing the office. We do not require any specific information about yourself, other than what mass you usually attend.
Please stay tuned for further details about how and when communion with gluten-free hosts will be able to be received at St. Gabriel’s.
YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT GATHERING
Sunday, February 23rd after the 12:30 PM Mass
There will be a gathering for youth (Grades 5-12) and young adults (18 and older) on Sunday February 23rd after the 12:30 Mass. Join us for an afternoon of food, games, and activities tailored to our different age groups. All are welcome!
ANNOUNCED MASSES
February 17th – February 23rd, 2025
MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – CATHY & JOYCE DRAB ✞ – Requested by their Family
WEDNESDAY – MATILDA BARROS – Requested by Agnes Gaughan & Family
THURSDAY – MARY HIGGINS – Requested by Agnes Gaughan & Family
FRIDAY – SANDRA CANDIDO – Requested by Janet Candido
SATURDAY – DIVIA HAZA-BENAVIDES & LORENZO HAZA JR. ✞ – Requested by Andrea Mesa
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – KOK YAU MEI ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – HAU CHANG FAT ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam
PSALM MEDITATION
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 16th, 2025
Psalm 1
Blessed is the person who does not pursue wickedness, but delights in God’s Law.
Let’s look to today’s first reading from the prophet Jeremiah and to today’s Gospel as Jesus describes that blessing for us.
Blessed are we when we rely on God alone. For then we shall be filled, then we shall laugh, then we shall leap for joy!
OPENING 2025 JUBILEE YEAR MASSES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO CENTRAL REGION
All Parishioners are invited to celebrate the Opening Jubilee Year Masses in the Central Region of the Archdiocese of Toronto.
The masses include:
- St. Mary’s Church (588 Adelaide Street) on Thursday, Feb. 20th, celebrated by Bishop Kasun
- St. Edward the Confessor Church (75 Churchill Ave) on Tuesday Feb 25th, celebrated by Cardinal Francis Leo
All Masses begin at 7:00 PM
Confession time from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM
No need to register. Just come!
CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Next Weekend, February 22nd/23rd
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at all the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Many more volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city.
Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Pans can also be picked up here in the office. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791
CARING FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Rosalie Hall is an accredited children’s mental health facility focusing on the needs of pregnant and parenting youth ages 12-25, their children, and their families. Here the needs of young families are met, offering prenatal and parenting classes as well as staff to aid in the transition to parenthood. A school program enables clients to finish high school. The food we donate from our parish often replenishes their empty food bank.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals, clean clothes and shelter for the homeless in our city They help find housing and provide follow up support. They support the homeless who are working to overcome addictions and provide a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Your food donations are so important as numbers of people in need continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
FREE TRADE COFFEE
Free Trade coffee will be sold after all the Masses next weekend. The cost is $7.00 per bag.
PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?
If you are planning to be a teacher, it is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, there must be a reference form from your pastor as part of your application.
The form explaining that you belong to and participate in the community cannot be written if your pastor does not know you. It is recommended that you have a conversation with him early in the process well before the applications are to be submitted.
THE SOURCE – HOLY HOUR – FEBRUARY 2025
Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
St. Peter’s Church, 840 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Join the Sisters of Life and the Office of Catholic Youth for an evening of prayer. Spend some time with Our Lord amidst your busy schedule with the source and summit of our faith – Jesus in the Eucharist. There will be some time for fellowship and refreshments after the Holy Hour. This event is open to all parishioners and visitors!
Holy hour with music: 7:00 PM
Confessions available
Social: 8:00 to 9:00 PM
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY VIRTUAL TRAINING
Thursdays, February 20th, 27th, March 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th, From 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Registration is now open for the annual archdiocesan training for bereavement ministry. Training will be offered online on Thursdays, February 20th, 27th, March 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th, 2025 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.
This training is designed for new and seasoned parish bereavement ministers. Registrants are required to participate in all online sessions, complete pre-homework and pass final assessment to receive full training. There is no cost to attend but registration is required.
Please let Sr. Maria Lucia know via email if you are interested so she can have a conversation with you about it no later than February 1st. Capacity is limited, so contact Sr. Maria Lucia at: stgabrielbereavement@gmail.com so that she can register you directly for the training sessions.
DOMINICAN FRIARS YOUTH INTERFAITH VIDEO CONTEST 2025
February 5 to April 15, 2025
Theme: Faith as a Pathway from Division to Unity
High school students (aged 13 to 19 years) in the Catholic School Boards within the Archdiocese of Toronto are invited to participate in this annual celebration of the United Nations International Human Fraternity Day on February 4 each year.
Students are encouraged to create a three-minute video that captures this year’s theme. Please adhere to the guidelines provided on our website and submit your entries via the submission form at https://bit.ly/DFVCSubmission
For further information, please contact us at interreligious@archtoronto.org or call 416-934-3400 ext. 527.
2025 BLACK HISTORY MONTH/AFRICAN HERITAGE MASS
Saturday, February 22nd, from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 520 Sherbourne St., Toronto.
You are invited to our Lady of Lourdes Church for a Eucharistic celebration of African Heritage/Black History 2025 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.
Traditional or cultural attire is encouraged. For more information please contact Our Lady of Lourdes Parish at ollourdesto@archtoronto.org or phone 416-924-6257.
DISCERNMENT WEEKEND RETREAT
March 14 to March 16, 2025 at St. Augustine’s Seminary
The Office of Vocations will be hosting a Come & See Weekend Discernment Retreat for men 18 years and older, at St. Augustine’s Seminary on Friday, March 14 (6:30 PM) until Sunday, March 16 (2 PM). This Retreat offers a way for men to discern a possible call to priesthood at our seminary.
Registration must be done online at www.vocationstoronto.ca/comesee.
JUBILEE OF YOUTH 2025
July 23rd to August 5th, 2025
Calling all young adults (ages 19 – 39), join Fr. Paul Magyar and the OCY team for a pilgrimage of a life time! We will be embarking on a pilgrimage to Venice, Padua, Florence, Assisi and Rome from July 23rd to August 5th, 2025.
Please contact youth@archtoronto.org to receive the pilgrim information package and detailed itinerary.
FINANCE CORNER
Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website).
Offertory envelopes for 2025 are still available in the Gabriel Room. Boxes are usually not assigned to parishioners who are donating via Pre-Authorized Giving or Donate Now through the Archdiocese.
To ensure the proper recording for tax receipt purposes, please do not use any envelopes from 2024 or any prior year for any 2025 donations.
Please contact the parish office if you have any questions at 416-221-8866.
TRIVIA
What do you call group of rabbits marching backwards?
A receding hareline