Bulletin – January 20, 2013

In this week’s bulletin, a meeting for parents of children receiving First Reconciliation, an energy savings workshop and casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

January 21st – January 26th, 2013

MONDAY – JOHN & CHRISTOPHER DI LALLO Requested by the Family
TUESDAY –  JOE HINCH Requested by Marilou Wight
WEDNESDAY – ANITA WONG Requested by T. Doan
THURSDAY – CHILDREN OF LUAN & MINH Requested by Theresa
FRIDAY – MANUEL COSTA Requested by Celeste Costa
SATURDAY – PATRICK & HELEN DERRANE Requested by Fran Moscall

MEETING FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION

Thursday, February 7th, at 7:30 PM

On Thursday, February 7th at 7:30 there will be a meeting for parents only of children who will be receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation for the first time. The meeting will be held here in the Church.

The book, We Prepare for Reconciliation, will be distributed at that time. Please ensure that you get a book and help your child learn and review the content.

SAVE THE DATE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6th

Catholic Church Energy Savings Workshop
St. Gabriel’s Parish,
Wednesday, February 6th 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Better Buildings Partnership, City of Toronto, is holding an informative and important energy workshop about “How to save Money and Energy” on Wednesday, February 6th at St. Gabriel’s from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Those who attend will learn about saving money and saving energy in their church. The SaveOnEnergy savings program includes 50% of the cost of building audits and up to 50% on lighting, cooling, electric heating, building envelope and temperature control system updates. Please contact Heather Bennett at 416-787-9919- or email her at heathermjb@gmail.com for more information.

BIBLE FOR BEGINNERS

Wednesday, January 23rd at 7:30 PM or
Thursday, January 24th at 10:30 AM

Topic: An Overview of the Old Testament – now known as the ‘Hebrew Scriptures’. For information please call Mary at 416-293-3760

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. The Centre serves more than 1100 hot meals each day to the needy of Toronto, up 13 percent over last year. They desperately need your help.

More volunteers are encouraged to get a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available here. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Please mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

WORLD LEPROSY DAY – JANUARY 27TH: USED STAMP COLLECTION

Sunday, January 27th is World Leprosy Day. Please take a few moments to remember the children, women and men living with leprosy. Please remember to bring us your used postage stamps. These are passed on to the Leprosy Mission of Canada helping them work towards the day when leprosy is eradicated. They are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border. Stamps may be deposited in the basket on the cabinet just outside the Parish Office.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for January 13th, 2013

Envelopes (454) – $8,414
Loose Change $1,175
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (184) – $3,474
Total – $13,063

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2013

The 2013 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please pick them up as soon as possible. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records and label your box correctly.

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

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. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2013.

BLOOD CLINIC

Monday, January 28th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Canadian Blood Services will hold a Blood Clinic here at St. Gabriel`s on Monday January 28th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. To book an appointment please contact Canadian Blood Services at www.blood.ca or phone 1 888-236-6283.

MOSAIC INTERFAITH

Sunday, January 20th from 2:30 to 5:00 PM
240 Duncan Mills Road, 6th Floor

Mosaic Interfaith invites you to attend the third in their series of interactive discussions on “From Abraham: Three Faiths” on Sunday January 20th at 240 Duncan Mills Road, 6th floor from 2.30 to 5:00 PM. This will address concerns about the perceived connections between violence and religion. Duncan Mills Road runs west of Don Mills Road between Sheppard and York Mills. Please RSVP to Nora at 416 218 0680. For more information see the poster on the bulletin board

THEOLOGY ON TAP: CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF FAITH

Monday, January 28th at 7:00 PM
Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto

Special Guest: Fr. Thomas Rosica, CBS, CEO of Salt & Light Television

As the opening of our Year of Faith`s series, Fr. Rosica will inspire and challenge us with the message of hope carried by the followers of Christ, reflecting the true meaning of the word `faith`. Join them for evenings of thought-provoking theological discussions and presentations in a comfortable and relaxed setting. Munchies will be provided and there will be a cash bar. Come and bring a friend!

12th ANNUAL MEAGAN’S WALK GALA

Atlantis at Ontario Place
955 Lakeshore Blvd., Toronto
Friday, February 1st, 2013

The 12th Annual Meagan’s Walk Gala will be held on Friday, February 1st, 2013 at Atlantis at Ontario Place. A cocktail reception will begin at 6:00 PM followed by dinner at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $150 per person. Join host television personality Alicia Markson in raising Hope, Awareness and Funds for Paediatric Brain Tumour Research. Enjoy a full evening of live music featuring award winning Canadian singer Kim Stockwood.

For more information, please phone 416-239-7843 or visit www.meaganswalk.com.

RAISING THE ROOF FOR A SCHOOL IN HAITI

Bake Sale – Sunday, February 3rd after all the Masses

Through the fundraising efforts and personal involvement of two of our parishioners, Eric and Helen Pierre, a new Catholic school is being built in Corail, Haiti (in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince) for children of displaced citizens living in tents.  With the walls now standing, the school is already in use. A roof (instead of tarp) is needed to better protect the children from the elements.

On this the third anniversary of the big earthquake that devastated Haiti, Eric and Helen are seeking help from their fellow parishioners at St. Gabriel’s.  If you enjoy the sweet things in life (or even if you don’t), please join them at a Bake sale on Sunday, February 3rd after each of the Masses.  There will be sweets of every kind, coffee and tea as well as an opportunity to talk to members of Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire, the organization they spearheaded, about Haiti after the earthquake and their school construction projects.

QUEEN OF APOSTLES MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT WEEKEND

February 8th to 10th

Good Marriages, like dependable cars, need tune-ups. Refresh and rekindle your love for each other by treating yourselves to a marriage enrichment weekend at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, or give a weekend as a gift. The Centre offers comfort, excellent cuisine and an inspiring program.

The next weekend is February. 8th to 10th. To register call Queen of Apostles at 905-278-5229 or for more information please call Fr. Tomy at 905-278-5229 ext. #225.