Bulletin – March 24, 2019

PARISH LENTEN RETREAT

“Finding Increasing Light When Right Seems Wrong and Wrong Seems Right”

Saturday, April 6th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Fr. Rick Frechette will lead our Parish Lenten Retreat on Saturday, April 6th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The theme of this year’s Lenten Retreat is “Finding Increasing Light: When Right Seems Wrong and Wrong Seems Right.” Fr. Rick gave our Parish Advent Retreat in 2014 and is back with us for an afternoon of inspirational talk that will hopefully shape our Lenten experience and praxis.

Fr. Rick who is a Passionist priest is also a medical doctor who founded St. Luke Foundation for Haiti and continues to serve our impoverished brothers and sisters in Haiti. Paul Haggis, an Oscar-winning writer-director lauded Fr. Rick as “a man who does daily battle with cynicism and hatred” but that Fr. Rick’s works “threaten to make an old atheist,” like Paul Haggis himself to “believe in God.”

Please come and invite your friends and family from other parishes to attend this retreat. It is open and free to everyone.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 25th – March 30th, 2019

MONDAY –
TUESDAY –
WEDNESDAY – DIANA STAHL – Requested by Geoge Stahl
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY –
SATURDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHUCHRA & WROBEL FAMILIES – Requested by Jack & Wanda Wrobel

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who are preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.

Interviews will begin on Tuesday, April 23rd and continue until Friday May 10th. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment with Fr. Brando or Fr. John as soon as possible.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM.

We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2019

Stations of the Cross:
Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM

Parish Lenten Retreat:
Saturday, April 6th
From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Reconciliation Service:
Wednesday, April 10th at 7:30 PM

Individual Confessions: Wednesday, April 17th
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Palm Sunday, April 14th:
Masses
Sat., 4:30 PM
Sun., 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Holy Thursday, April 18th:
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM

Good Friday, April 19th:
10:00 AM – Morning Prayer
3:00 PM – Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM – Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, April 20th:
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 21st:
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Easter Monday, April 22nd:
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office Closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:

Benjamin Agravante Blanco
Adrian Kai-Ming Hubert Dabrowski.
Arielle Keianne Liu
Emmaline Lilly Versteeg
Mila Penelope Fernando Sy

These little ones received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 17th, 2019. Congratulations!

THE GIFT OF RECONCILIATION

We have already begun the preparation for the greatest feast of all: The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. During this time of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, the Church endeavors to remind parishioners of the gift of Reconciliation, as a loving act through which the Father restores us to the fullness of life and to call them to full participation in the Holy Week and Easter liturgies. We will have a Reconciliation Service on Wednesday April 10th at 7:30 PM. Our Day of Confession will be April 17th from 3:00 PM to 6:00PM.

SHARELIFE

How can you “Live the Gospel” when life is so busy?

Many people help those in need by volunteering at a local organization. But if your schedule doesn’t allow for it, you can still make a huge impact in your community by supporting ShareLife-funded agencies. Next Sunday is the first ShareLife collection. Over the next week, please reflect on your ability to “Live the Gospel” by making a sacrificial gift to our parish ShareLife campaign.

Next Sunday, March 31 is ShareLife Sunday.

Please give generously.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend. Each month, the casseroles are picked up early on Monday morning for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. We encourage you to pick up 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. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.

Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.

Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.

Your food donations are more important than ever as the winter continues and numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.

WALK-IN COUNSELLING CLINIC

Two Locations, Open Tuesdays or Thursdays

Catholic Family Services of Toronto in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Ontario Government offers walk-in counseling services for individuals, couples and families. The single-session consultation is aimed at helping clients set goals and build on their strengths and resources. No appointment or referral is required and fees are geared to income. Clients are served on a first come first serve basis

There are 2 locations:

1155Yonge Street, suite 101 open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

245 Fairview Mall Drive, suite 201 open on Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

For more information, contact 416-921-1163-or 416 222-0048.

VATICAN FLAG RAISED AT CITY OF TORONTO TO HONOUR ST. JOHN PAUL II

Nathan Philips Square, near the Courtesy Flag Pole 100 Queen Street West

Sunday, March 31st at 2:00 PM

To celebrate St. John Paul II, the City of Toronto will raise the Vatican flag in a ceremony, taking place on Sunday, March 31st at 2:00 PM at Nathan Phillips Square. All are welcome to attend. While Pope John Paul II Day in Ontario takes place on April 2nd, the weekend event will also recognize the significant contributions of the late pontiff.

THE GARDEN SHED

GARDEN MINISTRY COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT

Workshop – Organic Gardening This Weekend

This Saturday, March 23rd from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room.

This Sunday, March 24th from 1:45 to 4:00 PM in the Gathering Space.

This two part workshop will teach you everything you need to know about organic vegetable gardening, from basic garden mapping skills to planning and planting your vegetable garden. Maintenance, pest management, disease control, seed saving, processing, and composting will also be discussed. Feel free to attend both days or just one and to bring a friend.

Indoor Seed-Planting Event

On Sunday, March 31st the children who attend the Children’s Liturgy at the 10:30 Mass will participate in a liturgy that connects scripture and their faith with the planting of seeds for our community garden: lettuce, tomato, pepper, kale and cabbage. The seed trays will then be put in locations where they, and you, can watch the germination. Parents may want to consider having the children dress in their “gardening best!”

For more information on the Garden Ministry and workshops, please contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.

FINANCE CORNER

The Finance Council wishes to share this with all who come together as our worshipping community …

“The financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow.””.

Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website). Please come by the parish office if you have any questions