Bulletin – June 21, 2015

PROBING POPE FRANCIS’ ECOLOGICAL ENCYCLICAL: AN OPEN FORUM

Tuesday, June 30th, from 7:30 to 9:00 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment was released on June 18th, 2015. To consider the content, significance, and potential impact of the new encyclical, we will be holding an open forum on Tuesday, June 30th from 7:30 to 9:00 PM here at St Gabriel’s.

Dr. Dennis O’Hara, Director of the Elliot Allen Institute for Theology & Ecology at St Michael’s College of the University of Toronto, and Father Steve Dunn, C.P., Director of the Passionist Center for Ecology and Spirituality, will be facilitating the forum.

Everyone is welcome! No pre-registration is necessary. For further information, please contact Fatima Lee at 416- 221-8866 or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca.

PARISH PICNIC

Sunday, June 28th after the 12:30 Mass

The Parish BBQ Picnic will be held on Sunday, June 28th after the 12:30 Mass in the parking lot. There will be hot dogs, games, face painting, lucky draws, music and more…..

Tickets are $2 each.

Please bring your families, friends and neighbours to enjoy a summer afternoon with your parishioners.

We need volunteers to help and make this event happen. Please sign up by putting your name and phone number on the sheets at the back of church. For more information, you may call Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

June 22nd to June 27th 2015

MONDAY – ERNA REBHOLZ-MILIMONKA – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes
TUESDAY – FRANCES PALAYATHIL – Requested by the Family
WEDNESDAY – JUANITO G. GAVIETA – Requested by Estrella, Cherrie, Stella & Isabel
THURSDAY – WALTER DINARDO – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong
SATURDAY – FRANCIS PEREIRA & DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE PEREIRA & PAUL FAMILIES – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira

RESPECT FOR THE SACREDNESS OF THE CELEBRATION

As a sign of respect for the celebrant and others attending Mass, please do not let your children roam around freely during the liturgy

CHANGE OF GRADE FOR CONFIRMATION

The method of implementation for the Sacrament of Confirmation for 2015/16 for both Grades 7&8 is dependent on the total number of candidates that will register. If the number of registrants exceed 60 candidates, they will be organised into two groups.

Registration for this Sacrament will be accepted in the Summer through to Fall 2015, and we strongly urge you to register early to assist us in planning for this unique situation. Please remember to bring along your child’s baptism certificate when you register. Registration without a baptismal certificate will not be accepted.

We are planning for the Confirmation ceremonies to be held May 15th, 2016 and June 5th, 2016 if a second group is required. Both ceremonies will be at 7.30 pm. These are tentative dates only and may be changed as we get more information.

Please watch our bulletin or check our website for further information.

ANNUAL MASS FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

Wednesday, August 12th, at 7:00 PM

Holy Cross Cemetery or Mount Hope Cemetery

Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services, Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to invite all families within the Archdiocese of Toronto to participate in the Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed on Wednesday, August 12th at 7:00 PM at Holy Cross or Mount Hope Cemeteries.

In the event of rain, the Mass at Holy Cross will be held in the mausoleum and the Mass for Mount Hope will move to St. Monica’s Church, 44 Broadway Avenue.

ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT

R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) meetings begin in the fall. These evenings are for persons interested in learning about the Catholic Faith. Because the Parish Community itself is considered the official teacher and guide for potential new members, it is important that some parishioners participate by being present and by sharing their Faith in various ways. It is also an opportunity for “Born Catholics” to deepen their understanding of the faith. Adult Catholics who wish to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist and/or Confirmation are welcome. For more information, please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM REGISTRATION

Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program for next year are now available in the Parish Office. This program is for those children attending private or public schools. Please note that all registrations must be returned by August 30th, 2015.

If your child will also be receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation or Confirmation, please complete a Sacramental registration form which is also available in the Parish Office. Please note that a Baptismal Certificate must accompany registration for First Communion or Confirmation.

FEED THE HUNGRY

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall or the Good Shepherd Centre. As summer approaches, food donations tend to drop off. These donations are more important than ever as families struggle to make ends meet.

Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders for people locally and around the world…

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the 2015 ShareLife Parish Campaign. You have made a dark path to a brighter future much easier for thousands of the most vulnerable in our communities by your generosity.

For those who wish to make a contribution, you are still welcome to do so. You can drop your ShareLife envelopes in the offertory basket until July 31, 2015 or donate online at www.sharelife.org. Thank you!

ShareLife, 2014: $220,250.
ShareLife to Date: $137,153

Thank you for your generosity.
Together we can work wonders!

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE GROUP AT ST GABRIEL’S WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Are you concerned about justice and social issues? Would you like to help promote a greater awareness in our parish of the situation of the poor in the developing world? If you are interested, please consider becoming a part of our parish’s Development and Peace group. For further information, please call Fatima at 416 -221-8866 or email her at fatimalee@bellnet.ca

Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. For the past 48 years they have been supporting and empowering the poor in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Here at St Gabriel’s, besides participating in the various Development and Peace campaigns during the year, we also support their efforts by making available to you every month the fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolates produced by farmers in the Global South.

MILK BAGS

Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? You may drop the colourful outer bags into 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

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL – MARYGROVE CAMP

Thank you for your generous support of Marygrove Camp. $3,635 was raised to support this important work of the Society for St. Vincent de Paul

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Weekend of June 27th/28th

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 especially during the summer months. 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 the summer, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekends of July 25th /26th and August 29th/30th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

CHURCH BULLETIN ADVERTISING

Liturgical Publications will be setting up the advertisements for our church bulletin. The advertising will begin in September 2015 and supports the bulletin service. Please support the bulletin and advertise your product or service.

Call Liturgical Publications at 905-624-4422.

STREET PATROL

Wednesday, July 8th at 6:30 PM

St. Patrick’s Church, 141 McCaul Street

Young adults (18-39) are invited to join us walking the streets of downtown Toronto, offering food and friendship to those in need.To share with the people we meet… please bring sandwiches and drinks. Other things that are greatly appreciated are soft fruits, veggies, snacks or sweets.

For yourself… please wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a backpack or comfortable bag to carry the sandwiches and drinks in, and water or drinks for yourself.

RSVP is required as space is limited. Please call John-Paul Markides at 416-467-2645 or email faithconnections@csj.to.ca. For more information about the Street Patrol program go to http://www.stpatrickstoronto.ca/streetpatrol/faq.php.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 384 $ 7,594
Loose Change 1,096
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,103
Total 570 $ 11,793