Bulletin – December 13, 2015

EXCITING NEWS ABOUT OUR REFUGEE FAMILIES

Exciting news! Our refugee families are expected to arrive soon. Household items will be collected in the Gathering Space this weekend.

DENTIST NEEDED

The Refugee Sponsorship Committee is looking for a dentist who would be willing to treat the 2 adults and 2 children of our Syrian refugee family. If you are interested or could recommend someone from outside the parish, please contact Claire Speed (416) 222-1071 for more information.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 14th to December 19th, 2015

MONDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by Mary Leung
TUESDAY – PAUL, MIA, ADAM & CHRISTINE – Requested by Wai Chin Hwang
WEDNESDAY – TOMMASO RUSCICA – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – FRANCIS, VIITA, VIJAY & VINAY – Requested by the Palayathil Family
FRIDAY – BERNARDO CABRERA – Requested by Olivia Cabrera
SATURDAY – UMBERTO INTINI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini

ADVENT-SOLSTICE REFLECTION

“Shifting from Darkness to Light: Through Creative Action and Dialogue.”

Tuesday, December 22nd from 7:30 to 9:30 PM in the Gabriel Room

The hopeful expectation of the Advent season requires our active participation to effect change. Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si`, and the recent climate change meetings in Paris have initiated creative action and dialogue. Reflecting on these events, we will seek signs of active hope and reflect on the Church’s calls for ecological justice.

Please contact Elliott Allen Institute for Theology & Ecology at eaite.contact@utoronto.ca or Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or call 416-926-1300, ext. 3408 to register or for more information.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR FAMILY MASS –

CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM

Rehearsal: Sunday, December 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information

Christmas Schedule 2015

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS

Saturday, December 19th:10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Thursday, December 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group

Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Friday, December 25th
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Open 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM

BOXING DAY – Saturday, December 26th Mass 4:30 PM
Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28th
Office Closed
No 9:00 AM Mass

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Thursday, 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 – Friday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Closed

Parking

While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.

Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT DRESS REHEARSAL

Sunday, December 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. The rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Church

DAY OF CONFESSION

December 19th

On Saturday, December 19th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will be heard from, 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon. from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM and from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

JUST COFFEE

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.

Regular ground coffee: $5.50
Decaffeinated: $6
Whole Beans: $5.50
Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00
Teas: $5.00

FEED THE HUNGRY
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

There but for the Grace of God…..

Please help feed the hungry and homeless this Christmas by participating in the St. Gabriel’s annual Christmas Food Drive. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Food collected will be sent to the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall. Thank you for your generous support.

GIFTS FOR CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S AID, ROSALIE HALL & ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Thank you so much for your wonderful response to our appeal for gifts for the Catholic Children’s Aid “Hope for the Children campaign, Rosalie Hall and St. Vincent de Paul. This weekend is your last chance to bring in gifts. Please include the mitten, stocking or gift tag with your gift.

Toys for Hope for the Children may be left in the large box in the Gathering Space. Items for Rosalie Hall and
St. Vincent de Paul may be left beside the Christmas tree in the boxes provided. If you were unable to get a tag, you may still contribute. Just bring your gift and place it in the appropriate place.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Weekend of December 19th/20th

Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Please note that because of the holiday, casseroles are being collected one week earlier.
More volunteers are urgently 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.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.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE

St. Gabriel’s Parish
Weekend of April 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2016

A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of April 22nd to 24th, 2016. Please note the change to a later date.

The course will be held Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and
Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
For a registration package please
email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca.

SERAPHIM & CHERUBIM CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Church of St. Bonaventure
1300 Leslie Street
Saturday December 19th at 7:30 PM

Christmas, Christmas time is near!

Come join the “Seraphim and Cherubim Chorus” singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” concert at the Church of St. Bonaventure on Saturday, December 19th at 7:30 PM. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics, with a bit of Disney flare!

Tickets are now available online. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Proceeds in support of Romero House.

For additional dates and locations of performances, please visit www.seraphimandcherubim.ca

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Offertory Collection for last weekend:

Envelopes 408 $ 9,503
Loose Change 953
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,145
Total 573 $ 13,601
Maintenance Fund 224 $ 3,970

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 2016

The 2016 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please pick your box up as soon as possible.

For 2016, a small box of envelopes is not being provided for parishioners who contribute through PAG or Donate Now. Those parishioners are asked to use the Maintenance, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas envelopes available in the pews. Please provide your complete name and address in order to be properly credited.

If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. You must provide your full name and address.

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.