Bulletin – January 8

In this week’s bulletin, Phillipines flood relief, saving Toronto Community Housing run by the St. Vincent de Paul society, and a Mosaic Interfaith meeting.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

January 9th – January 14th, 2011
MONDAY – CATHERINE & MARGARET MORIARITY Requested by Teresa Sheldrick
TUESDAY – MILLICENT McCULLAGH Requested by the McCullagh Family
WEDNESDAY – PETER YANG Requested by Paul Yang
THURSDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE DAMPS & CONLISK FAMILY Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – ABANDONED SOULS IN PURGATORY Requested by the Nguyen Family
SATURDAY – MARTIN SMEE Requested by the Smee Family

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,000 per week.
Collection for Christmas Day – $28,287

Collection for December 25th, 2011
Loose Change – $3,023
Envelopes (298) – $10,211
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (163) – $3,194
Total – $16,428

Collection for January 1st, 2011
Loose Change $1,315
Envelopes (521) – $9,990
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (168) – $3,246
Total – $14,551

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

The “Pre-Authorized Giving” Plan (PAG), authorized and supported by the Archdiocese of Toronto, is a direct debit program. It allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal on or about the 20th of each month. Participation in the PAG provides a regular dependable cash flow of contributions to the parish and enables us to better manage the Parish finances. PAG brochures and sign-up forms are available in the Parish Office and on the tables at the back of the Church.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2012

The 2012 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for next year, please contact the Parish Office. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations. If you have recently changed your address or phone number, it would be helpful if you would let us know at this time.

We would like to remind you not to use envelopes from previous years as this number has been reassigned to
another family.

PAG MEMBERS

If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes, since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. Your box can be found on the table beside the regular offertory boxes in the Gathering Space.

AN INVITATION TO LEARN!

In past years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings have been devoted to religious topics decided on by those who wish to participate.

The Miracles of Jesus
Tuesday, January 17th at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, January 18th at 10:30 AM

PHILIPPINES FLOOD RELIEF

Nearly 1000 people are reported dead and hundreds more are still missing after flash floods in the Philippines when Typhoon Washi hit southern Mindanao Island and surrounding areas in December. An estimated 40,000 people, many of whom were already desperately poor, are now living in evacuation centres after losing their homes and possessions.
Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways:

  • Online through the Archdiocesan website: www.archtoronto.org
  • By phone through the Development Office: 1-800-263-2595 or 416-934-3411
  • Through the parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Parish – Philippines – Flood Relief

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 54 casseroles for December. For January, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 28th /29th, 2012 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. If you require more information or would like to get a copy of the recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL – WE NEED YOUR HELP!

In plans for cost-cutting, Toronto City Council is considering selling properties that they own. Eleven of these houses are run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. These homes and programs provide for recovering alcohol and drug addictive people. Selling them will mean that these programs will end. There are 86 beds and over 7000 people have been served over the years. The great majority have met with success.

St. Vincent de Paul is asking for an exemption for these homes from a proposed TCHC sale. So far, they have been met with vague official prevarication. Please contact the Councillors in Wards 13, 17, 18, 19, 28, 30, 32 and the councillors for Willowdale, John Filion and David Shiner, and convince them of the absolute need to retain these homes for the continuation of their present invaluable use.
Voting will occur in the next two weeks.

MOSAIC INTERFAITH

Sunday, January 15th
Thornhill United Church

Mosaic Interfaith invites you to attend an afternoon of inspiring stories from our various faith traditions on equality, justice and peace and a presentation on Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday January 15th at Thornhill United Church, 25 Elgin Street, Markham (one block east of Yonge St., entrance on Dudley Ave). To RSVP or for more information call Nora at
416 218 0680. See notice on bulletin board.

ST. GABRIEL’S MULTICULTURAL POTLUCK DINNER

Sunday, January 29th 2012

Please mark your calendar! The Multicultural Potluck Dinner is now scheduled for January 29, 2012 (Sunday). With multicultural food and “fun” events, it will be a wonderful expression of the diversity of our parish.
This will be an excellent opportunity for those who participate to not only enjoy great food from all over the world but also to mingle and get to know one another.
Tickets (at $5 each) will be available after all the Masses on the weekends of January 7/8 and 14/15. You will receive more detailed information about the potluck arrangements then. Seats are limited, so please make sure that you book yours early!

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2012 ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICE

Sunday, January 22, 2012 – 3:00 p.m.
St. Michael’s Cathedral
200 Church Street (at the corner of Shuter & Church Streets)

Come and join us in prayer with His Grace Archbishop Thomas Collins, joined by His Grace Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse, Slovak Catholic Bishop John Pazak, Assyrian Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Mar Emmanuel and other city-wide religious leaders on Sunday, January 22nd at 3:00 PM at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Refreshments will follow in parish hall. For further information, please contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400 ext. 344.

THEOLOGY ON TAP: RELIGION AND PUBLIC POLICY

Monday, January 30, 2012 – 7:00PM – 9:00 PM
Duke of York Pub
39 Prince Arthur Ave (near Bloor St W & Avenue Rd)

What role should religion play in formulating public policy in a secular state?
Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics! Munchies provided, cash bar available – come and bring a friend!
For more information: visit our Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt by e-mail faithconnections@csj-to.ca, or phone 416-467-2645.

DREAMS OF FLYING CONCERT

Featuring the Sneak Peek Orchestra
St.Gabriel’s Church
February 4th at 7:30 PM

The Sneak Peek Orchestra is at it again. After a sold-out chamber concert in the fall, the SPO is pleased to present its major concert of the 2011/12 season, Dreams of Flying.

On February 4th,, 2012 at 7:30 PM, this imaginative and visionary presentation will take audiences on a breathless trip through orchestral pieces new and old. Toronto composer Rob Teehan’s Juno-nominated Dreams of Flying will open the concert, followed by Kevin Lau’s newest creation, Foundation. Dazzling soloist Rachel Mercer will perform this cello concerto. Finally, return to earth but let your spirit soar with Ludwig von Beethoven’s epic masterpiece, Symphony No. 7 in A major. The concert will take place here at St. Gabriel’s Church. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 students. Check out www.sneakpeekorchestra.com for more information.