“God is with us”: Bringing hope to those living in darkness
Saturday, December 6th from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
NOT TO BE MISSED – reflection with Fr. Rick Frechette CP on our Christian commitment that will be both inspiring and enriching!
Father Rick is a Passionist who went to Haiti 27 years ago to serve as a priest. Seeing the poverty and the dire need of the people there for medical care, he went back to the U.S. in his 30s, took up medical studies, and returned to Haiti as both a priest and a medical doctor. The needs of the people whom he served prompted him to give himself to their service by not only ministering to their spiritual needs, but their physical needs as well. His presence among the people of Haiti is truly an amazing witness of love.
At the beginning of the season of Advent, when we are preparing for Christmas, Fr. Rick will talk about our Christian commitment to share the Good News, especially with those who are living in the darkness of poverty, injustice, and slavery in its many forms. It will be an excellent opportunity for all parishioners to pause and look deeply. We encourage especially our young people to join us!
A simple lunch will be provided. Cost is $5 per person. To register, please call the Parish Office at (416) 221-8866 or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca.
A Note on Donations To Fr. Rick’s Mission in Haiti We have also been asked if there is a way to donate to Fr. Rick’s mission in Haiti. If you are so inclined, and would like to contribute to Fr. Rick’s work, there will be a donation box at the back of the church on the day of the retreat itself, as well as at all the Masses on the weekend of Dec 6th/7th. You can donate either in cash or by cheque. Please note any cheque must be made payable to “Passionist Missionaries”. They will issue tax receipts for all donations of $20 or more. Please also make sure you write clearly your name and address on the envelope provided.
Our Youth group wishes to thank you for your very generous support of their bake sale last Sunday. In total, $1,170 was raised to support Youth Group activities and send two youth on a service trip to the Philippines.
December 1st to December 6th, 2014
MONDAY – ABANDONED SOULS – Requested by the Doann & Nguyen Families TUESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – GIOVANNA SESSA – Requested by Michele Padova & Family THURSDAY – DAVID SHELDRICK – Requested by the Teresa Sheldrick & Family FRIDAY – MARIA DI DIODATO – Requested by the Family SATURDAY – POONA JOSEPH – Requested by the Family
Day of Confession: Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM Saturday, December 20th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
CHRISTMAS EVE – Wednesday, December 24th No 9:00 AM Mass 7:00 PM: Family Mass – Carol Singing 9:00 PM: Contemporary Group 12:00 AM: Midnight Mass – Adult Choir, Carol Singing Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only
CHRISTMAS DAY – Thursday, December 25th 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
BOXING DAY – Friday, December 26th No Mass, Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Wednesday, December 31st No 9:00 AM Mass Mass at 4:30 PM for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM only
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Thursday, January 1st FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Closed
Sunday, December 7th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.
Friday, December 5th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon
Chinese: Sunday, December 7th st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. English: Saturday, December 6th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
Wednesday, December 10th from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M.
On Wednesday, December 10th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Archdiocesan Day of Confessions. At this time, let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In our parish, confessions will be heard on Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance.
If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for little ones sizes 6 months to 4years.
If you wish to buy a toy, please take a”Gingerbread Boy” tag. Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 14th.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space. The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child.
We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.
If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society.
Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church from Saturday, November 29th until Sunday, December 14th.
The Concert “Elgies and Remembrance” originally scheduled for this Sunday, November 30th has been cancelled.
Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Hall, 3220 Bayview Avenue
Bring a dish, bring a friend!
The Blessed Trinity CWL invites all ladies of the parish to our Christmas Pot Luck Dinner on Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM in the parish hall.There’ll be carols, games, good food and good company! We will also be accepting contributions of non-perishable food items for donation to the food bank.
Weekend of December 13th/14th St. Gabriel’s Church
The St. Gabriel’s School Me to We Committee will be selling rafiki chains for $10 in the Gathering Space after all the Masses on the weekend of December 13th/14th. In Swahili, the word rafiki means friend. Every rafiki friend chain is handmade by a “mama” in Kenya. $5 will go back to the “mamas” to help their families. The rest will be donated by the school towards clean water. Rafiki chains make great gifts for Christmas! For more information, please visit www.metowe.com
There will be catalogues available in the Gathering Space for those who wish to make a larger donation. The catalogues offer options such as buying a goat, which would provide milk for a family or a source of income to buy food and necessities.
Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 PM” ST. BONAVENTURE PARISH
Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim Men’s and the Cherubim Women’s Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love to hear as part of their “All I Want for Christmas” concert series. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics, with a bit of Disney flare! Please join us at St. Bonaventure on December 13th at 7:30 PM. Advanced tickets are available online at www.seraphimchorus.ca. Proceeds will go to support of the St. Clare Inn.”
The Parish’s 2013 budgeted operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Offertory Collection for last weekend: Envelopes 410 $ 8,251 Loose Change 1,323 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,057 Total 573 $ 12,631
If you are a regular Parish member and you do not contribute to the Offertory collection, the Finance Council reminds you that “the financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow”.
For those parishioners who contribute to the offertory on a regular weekly basis, we thank you for your constant support.
Have you considered using PAG or Donate Now?
The 2015 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible. If you have a PAG or Donate Now account, 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 2015.
If you are moving out of the Parish or have a change of address, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 so that we can update our records. Thank you.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Sunday, November 30th, 2014.
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.
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Listen to the audio
Watch Fr. Paul Cusack’s Funeral Mass (video)
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk