Bulletin – 17 January

In this week’s bulletin: The Wisdom of Thomas Berry, registering your kids for Kindergarten at St. Gabe’s, and New Beginnings for widowed, separated and divorced persons.

WELCOME!

We want to welcome Father Vincent Nguyen and Father William McGrattan, who were recently appointed as Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Toronto by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Congratulations!

THE WISDOM OF THOMAS BERRY

A Short Course Given by Fr. Steve Dunn
Four Consecutive Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM
Beginning February 18, 2010.

Good news! Father Steve Dunn, longtime collaborator with Thomas Berry, has kindly offered to give a short course on The Wisdom of Thomas Berry here at
St Gabriel’s.

In 1989, Time Magazine described Thomas Berry as “the most provocative figure among the new breed of eco-theologians”. His work has inspired many in the ecological movement.

The short course, in seminar style, with the help of videos, will be targeted towards beginners, who wish to arrive at a basic understanding of the thought of Thomas Berry. It will explore its key elements, giving guidance for what Berry terms the Ecozoic Era, including Christian cosmology, ethical living in cooperation with the dynamics of the earth and the new relationship between religion and science.

The course will run for four consecutive Thursdays, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm, beginning February 18, 2010. Suggested donation: $10 per session or whatever your means allow.
To register, please contact Fatima Lee, (416) 221-8866 ext 228, or by email stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca

ST.GABRIEL SCHOOL JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Registration for Kindergarten in all Catholic elementary schools began one month earlier this year on January 4th. Children, who will turn four by December 31st, are eligible to begin Junior Kindergarten in September 2010. Documents required for registration are:

  • Baptismal Certificate
  • Birth certificate
  • Immunization records
  • Landed Immigrant Status (if not born in Canada)
  • Child’s Health Card Number and other relevant telephone numbers

Please call to book an appointment at 416-393-5256 and speak to Mrs. Sallese.

AN INVITATION TO LEARN!

What’s “Canon Law” all about?
Tuesday, January 19th at 7:30 PM.
Wednesday, January 20th at 10:30 AM.

FIRST RECONCILIATION MEETING

Wednesday, January 20th, at 7:30 PM

On Wednesday, January 20th at 7:30 there will be a meeting for parents only of children who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. The meeting will be held in the Church.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

January 18th to January 23rd, 2010

MONDAY – PETER YANG Requested by the Family
TUESDAY – HWAT LIAN Requested by Hilly Tan & Family
WEDNESDAY – GUMERSINDO PALADO Requested by Saida Elep
THURSDAY – DAVID & ANDREA Requested by Andrea
FRIDAY – JOSEPH HINCH Requested by Marilou Wight & Family
SATURDAY – STEPHEN & LUCYA GARDIAN Requested by Richard, Sally & Caitlin Gardian

MASS FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 3:00 PM
St. Paul’s Basilica,

Tuesday, February 2nd the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. In the Archdiocese of Toronto, we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 1,100 religious men and women of over 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

All are welcome to come to a special Mass on
Sunday, January 31st at 3:00 PM at St. Paul’s Basilica
to celebrate with and pray for these men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the
life and ministry of the Church in our Diocese.

SUNDAY COLLECTION

January 10th, 2010: $9,052

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Total $2,412 $1,601 $2,828 $2,211
Envelopes 115 81 159 118

Number of Envelopes Used: 473

TAX RECEIPTS

Tax receipts for donations made in 2009 will be mailed to you by the end of February. If you have changed your address, please notify the Parish Office at 416-221-8866. Please notify the office as well if you are moving out of the Parish.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2010

The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Office hallway. It is important that you throw away all envelopes from previous years as your number might have been assigned to another family. Please enter your full name and address on the first few envelopes so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes.

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING

If you are on the Pre-authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. If you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2010, please contact the office at 416-221-8866.

THANK YOU!

Thank you, good people, for your overwhelming response to the “Becoming Neighbors” collection which took place last weekend. Your generous donations will go a long way toward helping the new immigrants and refugees in our midst to adapt to their new lives in Toronto.

CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES

Monday, January 25th from 2:30 to 7:00 PM

Canadian Blood Services will hold a Blood Donor Clinic here at St. Gabriel’s Church on Monday, January 25th from 2:30 to 7:00 PM. For more information please contact the Canadian Blood Services Office at 416-974-9900.

FAITH CONNECTIONS – THEOLOGY ON TAP

Monday, January 18th at 7:00 PM
Duke of York Pub,
39 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto

Young adults (ages 19 – 39) are invited to a social evening of thought-provoking discussion on “Proclaiming the Word of God; Spoken Word as Testimony”. The guest speaker will be Marie-Lauren Gregoire B.A., B.J.,
a spoken word artist, writer and communicator.
Munchies will be provided. There will be a cash bar. Come and bring a friend!

NEW BEGINNINGS MINI RENEWAL PRESENTATIONS

For widowed, separated and divorced persons
First Tuesday Evening of the Month
St. Bonaventure’s Church (St Francis Room)
1300 Leslie Street, Toronto

February 9thDealing with Loneliness in a Couples’ World
Mr. John Dubeau & Ms. Stephanie Ozorio

March 2The Power of Forgiveness
Rev. Fr. Paul Cusack, C.P.

April 13th“Let’s Talk About Divorce”: Helping Children Cope
Ms. Liisa Kuuter, M.Sc., MFT

For more information, please contact New Beginnings at 416-921-1163, Ext. 2246.

A WOMEN’S LENTEN RETREAT WEEKEND

February 12-14, 2010.
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga

A Women’s Lenten Retreat Weekend is being offered at the Queen of Apostles renewal Centre February 12th to 14th. The centre team will preach this retreat. Come join us to rest, renew, pray and grow in your personal relationship with Jesus. Please call 905-278-5229 to make a reservation or for more information.

THE GREEN CORNER

“When you say you are going to
throw something away, where is away?
There is no such thing.”

Julia Butterfly Hill