Bulletin – April 19, 2015

ANNOUNCED MASSES

April 20th to April 25th, 2015

MONDAY – JAN TRUDEL – Requested by Gilles Trudel
TUESDAY – HUI SOU LIN – Requested by Linda Law & Family
WEDNESDAY – ED KARTHAUS – Requested by Society of St. Vincent de Paul-St. Gabriel’s
THURSDAY – LEONARD MARCHIE – Requested by Theresa & Family
FRIDAY – JOSEPH RORAI – Requested by Sheila & Family
SATURDAY – DAVID POGSON – Requested by Cecilia Borbely

CLIMATE CHANGE IS UNDOING GOD’S GIFT

Our modern day lifestyle is slowly undoing the miracle of God’s work. Following Pope Francis’ April 2015 prayer intention, this month we pray and reflect on the goodness of creation and how our dependence on fossil fuels is putting life at risk, at home and around the world. We prepare for the forthcoming encyclical and reflect on what we are called to do, to act. Look out for more information and show your support by signing the petition online at www.CatholicClimateMovement.global.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders in our livelihoods…

“My worst day clean is better than my best day using” exclaims Suzanne, as she shares the details of her past use of drugs and other substance abuse. “I was on medication constantly to deal with the side effects and was a chronic pain patient for 35 years. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. With the support of Catholic Family Services, I was able to finally kick the habit.” The Closed Trauma and Sister mentoring program were crucial to helping Suzanne get her life back on track. The positive influence of CFS program supervisor Valerie Anderson and encouragement from other professional staff gave Suzanne the courage to try again. She sheds ‘tears of joy’ as she now speaks on behalf of CFS, sharing the detailed differences Catholic Family Services has made in her life. Over 79,000 individuals received help in getting their lives back on track through ShareLife-supported family services program.

ShareLife, 2014: $220,250
ShareLife to Date: $77,651
Next ShareLife Sunday – May 3, 2015
Please give generously. You can work wonders!

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Weekend of April 25th/26th

Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. Please get a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

MILK BAGS

Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? Schools churches and senior homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area would welcome your contributions. Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry.

For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com

FEED THE HUNGRY

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall or the Good Shepherd Centre. With everyone struggling at this time, these donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION

Weekend of May 2nd/3rd

The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 2nd/3rd. Bring your gently used clothing and household linens to share with others.

A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. We will donate or sell these donations to support our outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.

The truck will be open in the parking lot on Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and all day Sunday, May 3rd until 1:00 P.M. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.

PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?

It is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic School Board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you are planning to apply to teach in a Catholic School, a contact with the pastor is highly recommended. Please plan to have a conversation with your Pastor early in the process, well before applications are to be submitted.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 402 $ 7,195
Loose Change 792
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,153
Total 568 $ 11,140

FAMILY OF FAITH

The pledge total as of Monday, April 13th 2015 is $ 1,060,493. Thank you!

USE OF OLD OFFERTORY ENVELOPES

If you have prior year’s offertory envelopes, please do not use them!

Each year we go through the unused envelopes for which no donations have been received and may reassign that number to another parishioner.

If we then receive an offertory envelope from a prior year and there is no identification on the envelope, that offertory donation could easily be credited to the wrong person.

We are asking that you not use old envelopes, but if you do, please ensure your name is written legibly on the front.

REGIS COLLEGE BOOK SALE

April 21st to April 24th from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
100 Wellesley Street West

A reader’s paradise can be found at the Fourth Annual Regis College Used Book Sale! More than 20,000 gently used (many as good as new) fiction and non-fiction books on a range of subjects, including theology, spirituality, art, history, travel, biographies, cooking, hobbies, business, children’s books and more! Cash, cheque, debit, Visa and MasterCard accepted. Proceeds support Regis College.

Admission is free with the exception of $5 entry fee on Day One from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For more information, please visit www.RegisCollege.ca/BookSale or call 416-922-5474, ext. 244. Regis College is the Jesuit School of Theology at the University of Toronto.

SINGLE PRACTICING CATHOLICS GROUP

Speed dating Event

Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30 PM

Hi, if you’re a Single, Practicing Catholic, age 25 to 95 years, why not join our Group? On Saturday, May 2nd at 7:30 the group will hold a Speed-Dating Event for ages 25 to 40, 35 to 50 and 50+.

Membership is free. There is no speed-dating fee. The event will be at a restaurant near Lawrence and Don Mills Road.

For more information go to http://www.meetup.com/Practicing-Catholic-Singles-Aged-25-Up-Speed-Dating-On-line/

MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE

5km Fundraising Walk and Hug

Saturday, May 9th, 2015

Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York

10:00 A.M. Walk to SickKids

On Saturday, May 9th, the fourteenth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place.

Registration opens at 8:30 A.M. at Fort York and the Walk begins at 10:00 AM. The Walk concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”. The day includes live music and entertainment, face-painting, an opportunity to sign our Wall of Honour, and moving and powerful messages from Meagan’s Walk’s founder, youth ambassadors and world-leading doctors and researchers.

Proceeds from this event support the SickKids Foundation and are designated to the Meagan Bebenek Endowment Fund and awareness, research and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids!

MEN’S DAY OF RETREAT

May 9th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre

A Men’s Day of Retreat will be held at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, 1617 Blythe Road, Mississauga, Ontario, on Saturday, May 9th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The theme of the retreat is “A Biblical Journey into a Deeper Relationship with Christ.” The facilitator is Greg DeMarchi, deacon, doctor, surgeon, as well as a scripture scholar.

The day begins with coffee, tea, muffins and a wonderful four -course lunch will be served in our dining room at noon. The suggested offering is $35.00.

To register please contact the Centre at 905-278-5229.

INSPIRATIONAL TALK ON MARRIAGE AND ANNULMENT

May 11th at 7:00 PM

Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor

New Beginnings and Catholic Family Services invite you to join them for an inspirational talk entitled Marriage and Annulment. Fr. Brian Clough, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Toronto will provide you with an understanding of the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage and annulment.
The Catholic Pastoral centre is located at 1155 Yonge Street, adjacent to the Summerhill Subway Station. Free underground parking is also available.

For more information, please call 416-921-1163, Ext. 2227 or email alopechuk@cfstoronto.com

CELEBRATE YOUR MARRIAGE WITH A WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND!

May 22nd to 24th

Married couples: You deserve a weekend to cherish being together; to rediscover each other and focus on ways to make your relationship even better. A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend offers this opportunity. Consider giving each other or another couple you know the gift of a weekend away from daily pressures; time to be with each other and with God on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend.
The next weekend will be held on May 22nd to 24th, 2015

For more information and application, please go to www.wwme.org or contact: Gerard & Marge McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.