May 11th, 2024
Wishing all mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, single mothers, foster mothers and mothers-in-law a very happy and wonderful Mother’s Day.
“Without mothers, not only would there be no new faithful, but the faith itself would lose a good part of its simple and profound warmth…” Francis, Amoris Laetitia n.174
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Sunday May 19th, 2024 at 3:00 PM.
In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation retreat will be held here on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from their service Ministry Coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated completion of volunteer service hours.
May 13th – May 19th, 2024
MONDAY – JOHN JOE HIGGINS – Requested by Agnes Gaughan TUESDAY – MARIA DIDIODATO ✞ – Requested by The Family WEDNESDAY – TERRY CLARKE – Requested by Karen Crichton THURSDAY – FRANCISCO KIT SANTOS ✞ – Requested by Levy and Erlinda Abalos FRIDAY – TINA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Chiara Intini SATURDAY – SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – GEORGE EGERTON HALE ✞ – Requested by His Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – JOSEPH LO ✞ – Requested by Jenny Lo
Ascension of the Lord 1st Reading: Acts 1.1-11 2nd Reading: Eph 1.17-23 or Eph 4.1-13 Gospel: Mark 16.15-20 – Jesus Commissions the Disciples
Before His ascension, Jesus tells His apostles, and us, to go into the world and spread the Gospel. To be authentic stewards we can’t hang up our faith on the door as if it were a jacket we took off when we walked into the office. Rather, we should realize that living as a disciple of Christ at all times and showcasing the joy of being a Catholic is perhaps the greatest good we can do in evangelizing our neighbour.
SHARELIFE AND WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
On this World Communications Day, your support of ShareLife is improving the lives of our brothers and sisters in the Deaf and hard of hearing community.
“If you ever wonder what impact you are making – you are sending Deaf kids to an accessible American Sign Language (ASL) camp in the summer; you are connecting Deaf kids with Deaf mentors; you are inspiring Deaf kids to achieve their dreams; you are teaching family members ASL so they can communicate with their Deaf children. When you give, it goes a long way.” – Kelly Mackenzie, Silent Voice.
Thus far we have raised $38,146 toward our goal of $193,500. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are always so important as numbers of people in need continue to increase.
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.
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.
Please check the expiry date before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Good Shepherd provides more than 240,000 meals a year to people who would otherwise go hungry. Please think about volunteering to help feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Parish website. Casserole pans are also available in the Parish Office.
Your support is a tremendous help and is appreciated in the fight to end hunger and chronic homelessness. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
Maya Land: Listening to the Bees tells the story of the conflict that erupted between Maya beekeepers and the Mexican government in 2011, fomented by the planting of genetically modified soy in the Yucatan peninsula. The film focuses on the role that Mayas’ pre-colonial and ongoing relationship with the bees and the bees themselves had in this conflict and how in the end the struggle transformed thinking about development in the region.
You choose your level of participation, from simply watching the movie at home to having a thoughtful and illuminating discussion with other parishioners at the following date, time and place:
Gabriel Room on Wednesday May 29th at 7:30 pm.
Note that the film is to be viewed at home ahead of the meeting. It is available on Youtube and Netflix.
Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding the Movie Club.
Sunday, June 2, 2024 (following Noon Mass) Saint Michael’s Cathedral Basilica All are welcome!
All are welcome to join the Most Reverend Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, for a Corpus Christi Mass & Procession at Saint Michael’s Cathedral Basilica (65 Bond St.) on Sunday, June 2, 2024 following the Noon Mass. A short procession (30-45 minutes) will take place in the vicinity surrounding the cathedral followed by Solemn Benediction followed by fellowship.
Saturday June 8th, 2024 at 10:00AM
Blessed Trinity Parish, 3220 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON.
Bring your family members or friends who are experiencing the trials of illness and affliction to come and receive God’s blessing and strength, and the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage.
Please register at the Blessed Trinity church office or by email to Kay Booker at kaymax@sympatico.ca
September 8–15, 2024
Join the Archdiocese of Toronto Delegation!
Traditionally every four years, the Holy Father invites pilgrims from around the world to join in an International Eucharistic Congress. This year’s event will take place in Quito, Ecuador from September 8–15, 2024. Limited spaces are available for pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Toronto to join with other Canadian delegates to travel to Ecuador. To learn more about the pilgrimage, visit www.archtoronto.org/iec. Registration deadline is June 6 with early bird pricing available until May 6, 2024.
On January 21, 2024, Pope Francis inaugurated a Year of Prayer ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, calling on the faithful “to pray more fervently to prepare ourselves to live properly this grace-filled event and to experience the power of hope in God.”
The Year of Prayer, the Holy Father explained, is dedicated “to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer, prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church, prayer in the world.”
Visit http://www.archtoronto.org/prayer for more information on this event.
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 letter of reference from your pastor as part of your application. The letter 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 Spring issue of our newsletter “Growing News” is now available from the home page and the Garden Ministry page of the Parish website. We hope you will enjoy it and look forward to your “letters to the editor”.
If you would like to receive the latest copy as soon as it is printed send us an email and we will gladly put you on our email list. Email us at: garden@stgabrielsparish.ca
If you are an experienced gardener, or interested in learning and would like volunteer or take on the leadership of St. Gabriel’s community garden, growing vegetables for the Good Shepherd Ministries, please get in touch. You will be welcomed with open arms.
To volunteer or to obtain more information please email garden@stgabrielsparish.ca
How did Jay’s computer catch a cold? Hint: What did mum say about leaving your Windows open …
| Posted in Bulletin |
May 6th, 2024
God has given our church enough ministerial vocations. Many of them have been given to women. Fatima Lee received one of those calls. Born in Hong Kong supported by a mother who believed in education, Fatima’s call to serve God was shaped when as a young women she left Hong Kong to study theology at Louvain in Belgium. Her vocation to serve the church was put on hold when she married Bernard and together they raised their two sons, eventually settling in Toronto. In the course of time she found her way back into ministry and served the People of God in a parish for many years. The sudden death of her husband eight years ago resurrected her original vocation to be a missionary. When the Archdiocese of Toronto invited local priests to serve in the north, Fatima asked Bishop Kasun if they would sponsor a layperson.
Six years ago she began a new chapter in the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. She serves as the Diocesan Religious Education Coordinator, creating and offering sacramental preparation programs for catechists, working with lay leaders and on various projects for the Bishop.
But her true heart’s work is as the spiritual leader of Village of Gameti where she shares reflections on scripture and leads their Sunday communion service whenever she can.
When I first visited the village with her, I thought of the winter north as something similar to their picturesque winter castle festival. The ice road is seen from the air as a straightforward, simple, smooth drive. But accompanying Fatima this year, I have begun to see that ministering in the north is a mix of breathtaking beauty and heartbreaking challenges.
On Wednesday of Holy Week, we drove the 300 km six-hour winter ice road to Gameti. Driving the winter ice road captures ministry in the north better than any other experience. We went through sections of forest surrounded by skeletons of trees destroyed by the fires.
Across vast frozen lakes where you could look down at a meter of the bluest ice fractured by fissures reflecting the sunlight at all angles.
Later using her hand drawn map of Mageti, Fatima explained the many different family ties and connections and I caught a glimpse of their closeness as well as similar fissures and fractures running through the four generations who have settled there. Her love of these people and her desire to serve them has inspired her many trips to St. Paul’s church over these years.
We like to think of ourselves as Easter people, but the people of the North, in many ways, have bonded more with Good Friday. Last year, we celebrated Cory Junior’s baptism. This year, Chantal introduced us to the newest member of the family. Cai is only a month old, but he’s already been on the winter ice road returning after his birth in Yellowknife. There will be health challenges in Cai’s future, but for now, he is simply being loved. And Fatima will be there to support this family as they work through those challenges.
On Good Friday we learned that the winter road was closed to day time travel. That kind of setback is a familar event to this ministerial pioneer. Fatima has had to deal with having many of her hopes for growth closed for different reasons. On Easter Sunday, it snowed all afternoon, and the wind shaped new drifts in the yard outside the trailer. Thankfully the snow ended around 9 pm, and a guardian angel had left tracks for us to follow.
Gone was the beautiful clear ice.. the open skies. The lakes and the forest we travelled through were now snow-covered, and the night was silent.
Gazing out into the landscape lit only by our headlights, Fatima remarked that having faith and ministering in the north was like driving the winter road at night. You can only see what the headlights show you. Only by trusting and moving forward will you discover that God has prepared a path for you.
Written by Fr. Tim Boyle for Faithfully. Fr. Tim is the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Calrgary, and he also serves as the Bishop’s Delegate.
| Posted in Events |
May 4th, 2024
Please join us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ordinations of Fr. Stephen Dunn, C.P. and Fr. Bernard McEachern, C.P. this Sunday, May 5th, 2024. There will be a reception after the 12:30PM Mass with an opportunity to congratulate Fr. Steve and Fr. Bernard on this milestone and to share our gratitude for all that they have contributed to the life of St. Gabriel’s Parish.
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Sunday May 19th, 2024 at 3:00 PM. In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation retreat will be held here on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
May 6th – May 12th, 2024
MONDAY – LYDIA MCGRANN – Requested by Ron & Anne Ackber TUESDAY WEDNESDAY – LAU KOON TING ✞ – Requested by Linda Law & Family THURSDAY – ALEMMA THOMAS ✞ – Requested by The Family FRIDAY – THE DESTITUTE, THE SICK, AND THE DYING – Requested by Lydia McGrann SATURDAY – RICHARD – Requested by Jack & Wanda Wrobel SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – FR. JOSEPH PAUL ✞ – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
6th Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 10.25-26, 34-35, 44-48 2nd Reading: 1 John 4.7-10 Gospel: John 15.9-17 – No Greater Love
As stewards, we are called to befriend Christ and lay down our lives for Him for there is “no greater love than this.” Since it’s unlikely that we’ll be called to martyrdom, we are instead called to lay down our lives by sacrificing our own wills and own comforts for the sake of the Kingdom. Let us strive to accomplish this through a renewed commitment to stewardship.
Live the Gospel by supporting our vulnerable brothers and sisters.
We call upon your compassionate hearts to support ShareLife. Through your love, Catholic agencies bring the hands of Christ to the most vulnerable members of our community.
Thus far we have raised $36,905 toward our goal of $193,500. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Weekend of May 12th, 2024
Chalice is coming to St. Gabriel’s Passionist parish! Canada’s largest Catholic Child Sponsorship organization will provide you the opportunity to begin a relationship with a child in the developing world through the benefits of Child Sponsorship. It is a powerful way to reveal God’s love for those most in need. Please visit chalice.ca for more information about Chalice and its mission.
Saturday, May 11th, 2024, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Hosted by Father Ed Murphy at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church – 3220 Bayview Ave. Toronto M2M 3R7. This retreat is presented at no cost. Email the parish office to register – office@blessedtrinityparish.ca
SEPTEMBER 8–15, 2024
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 51 casseroles last month.
May 5 to 10, 2024
“We Are Called To Love”
During Catholic Education Week (May 5 – 10, 2024), we give thanks for the gift of publicly funded Catholic Education in our province. Catholic schools foster supportive communities where children can experience the joy of God’s love and understand the Christian mission in the world. Together, our parishes, educators and families sow and nurture the seeds of faith with the next generation of Catholics, encouraging them to live lives of holiness and Christian witness as one body in Christ. To indicate your support of Catholic education and sign-up for email updates, visit: www.togetherinfaith.ca.
St. Gabriel’s Parish has received a Canada Summer Jobs grant from the federal government for a Youth Gardening Helper, to assist with gardening tasks 30 hours per week for 9 weeks, beginning mid-May. Work can include, but not be limited to watering, weeding, planting, transplanting, soil preparation, pruning, harvesting, mulching, cleaning up debris and care of garden tools. Applications will be accepted until May 8, 2024.
To apply, please send your resume to francisng@stgabrielsparish.ca.
Who do you think Maurice and Bertrand might be? Hint: We are celebrating them.
April 27th, 2024
Please join us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ordinations of Fr. Stephen Dunn, C.P. and Fr. Bernard McEachern, C.P. on Sunday May 5th, 2024. There will be a reception after the 12:30PM Mass with an opportunity to congratulate Fr. Steve and Fr. Bernard on this milestone and to share our gratitude for all that they have contributed to the life of St. Gabriel’s Parish.
Meeting appointments for children who are registered and preparing to receive their First Communion are now available.
Meetings are ongoing and will continue until Thursday, May 2nd. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment if you have not already done so.
April 29th – May 5th, 2024
MONDAY – TUESDAY – LESLIE CLARKE – Requested by Karen Crichton WEDNESDAY – CHIARA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Carmina & Aldo Filice THURSDAY – FR. BERNARD & FR. STEVE – Requested by Isabel, Jenny & Leonore FRIDAY – LIBERO VECCHIARELLI ✞ – Requested by Mary Papadatos SATURDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD ✞ – Requested by The Family SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – ANGELO DI FLUMERI ✞ – Requested by His Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
Last weekend 36 of our youth group members prepared and distributed 130 bagged lunches and 4 milk bag mats across downtown Toronto. They were accompanied by Fr. Dennis.
5th Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 9.26-31 2nd Reading: 1 John 3.18-24 Gospel: John 15.1-8 – Jesus the True Vine
In today’s Gospel Jesus says “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” We can abide in Jesus by placing ourselves in His presence whenever we pray and He likewise abides in us, especially through receiving Him in the Eucharist. This close relationship with Jesus is where our stewardship originates and is sustained so let us never fail to go to Him before we offer up our time and talents to the parish.
Share the love with our beloved seniors through ShareLife. ShareLife Sunday
Last year, ShareLife supporters like you offered quality care and companionship to over 2,300 vulnerable seniors.
“The largest thank you to all ShareLife donors for your continued generosity! With your support, our centre is able to provide assistance to seniors in need through our community programs.” – Jaymie Daunt, LA Centre for Active Seniors
The third ShareLife Sunday of the year is June 2. We ask you to share your blessings through the parish or at sharelife.org/donate.
Thank you for living the Gospel!
Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Your frozen casseroles will be collected at all Masses this weekend.
May 5, 2024 — “We Are Called To Love”
Our Community is enjoined to help them design their logo.
Entries will be received from March 22nd to April 30th. (Closing date extended from April 15th, 2024) The winning logo design will be announced on May 4th. Details are posted on the bulletin boards.
Where in the church will you find the symbol of “I am the vine; you are the branches.” John 15:5a
Hint: Look beyond the red globe.
April 20th, 2024
Meetings will begin next Wednesday, April 24th and continue until Thursday, May 2nd. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
April 22nd – April 28th, 2024
MONDAY – HUI SOU LIN ✞ – Requested by Linda Law & Family TUESDAY – MARY VALAVI ✞ – Requested by The Valavi Family WEDNESDAY – CHIARA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Annibale & Oakie Family THURSDAY FRIDAY – ELSIE LIN ✞ – Requested by Mary Chan SATURDAY SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – MERYLLA LAGUNO ✞ – Requested by Elsa Soriaso SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
4th Sunday of Easter 1st Reading: Acts 4.7-12 2nd Reading: 1 John 3.1-2 Gospel: John 10.11-18 – Jesus the Good Shepherd
As stewards, we are called to imitate Jesus in all ways, including His role as the Good Shepherd. The most important step in effectively shepherding others is to first become a holy sheep in Jesus’ flock. God also calls many people to more closely shepherd His people in the priesthood and through our prayers, we can help young men answer the call.
Our youth group will be preparing and distributing sandwiches across downtown Toronto this Sunday April 21st. All interested youth ages 12 & up may contact youth@stgabrielsparish.ca for more information and to register.
Invest in our Church’s future by giving to ShareLife ShareLife Sunday is April 28th
There will be a ShareLife collection next weekend.
Your kindness and devotion enable St. Augustine’s Seminary, along with the Office of Vocations and Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, to provide an excellent formation for our seminarians as they pursue a life of service. This past year, you invested in our Church’s future by supporting 58 seminarians at St. Augustine’s Seminary and Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary.
This Sunday, April 21st, we celebrate the 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations. There has never been a better time to support and pray for our seminarians, wherever they may be on their journey. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
Your frozen casseroles will be collected at all Masses next weekend.
Earth Day is Monday, April 22nd, 2024! The theme of Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs Plastics”. Get informed about how plastic production, consumption and disposal are impacting human and planetary health”. Educate yourself about “Our Throwaway Culture”! Take action, reduce plastic pollution and care for creation! Together for our common home!
What concrete actions can you take individually or collectively to respond to the Cry of the Earth? End plastic pollution NOW! Build a plastic-free planet for future generations! For ideas, visit https://www.earthday.org
Hosted by Father Ed Murphy at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church – 3220 Bayview Ave. Toronto M2M 3R7. This retreat is presented at no cost. Email the parish office to register – office@blessedtrinityparish.ca.
St. Gregory of Narek, a revered saint in the Oriental Orthodox Church, has recently come into our Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Join Archbishop Francis Leo and Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan (Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada) who will co-preside at a jointly prepared Armenian Vespers to celebrate this remarkable event on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 at 6:00 PM, hosted at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church on 920 Progress Ave., Scarborough, Ont. M1G 3T5. A wide representation of church leaders in the Greater Toronto Area is expected at this event.
The Garden Ministry would like to invite you to help us celebrate and partake in Earth Day. After each mass this weekend come join us for 10 minutes to clean up our beloved garden by picking up all the garbage that has been scattered over the winter months.
We will have a table set up in the main entrance where you can pick up a glove and a small garbage bag. There will be a garbage can outside of the parish office doors for you to dispose of the garbage and glove before you leave.
Come help us celebrate Earth Day and take part in helping to clean up a small part of the world that we so lovingly share with our community. Looking forward to seeing you in the garden and don’t forget to take the time to admire the first signs of spring.
If you were a geep or a shoat, would the good shepherd lay down his life for you? Hint: Hybrid
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
Learn about Passionists and our insignia »
Read about Fr. Tim Boyle’s visit with Fatima. Check out the original blog post with even more pictures.
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk