Social and Community Needs

Casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre

Once a month, casseroles prepared by parishioners are collected and sent on to the Good Shepherd Centre, a drop-in center for homeless men. Volunteers from the parish also help to serve lunch at the Centre once a month. Some recipes are available below.

Fair Trade Coffee

Every third Sunday of the month, a group of volunteers provide parishioners with the opportunity to buy fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate bars. Fair trade practices raise our awareness of injustices inherent in our trade relations with the developing world and ensure that the farmers concerned receive a price that recognizes the true cost of labour and production.

Ministry to the Sick

St Gabriel’s assists chaplains at the North York General Hospital in ministering to the sick. Three times a week communion is brought to Catholic patients at the Hospital who wish to receive the sacrament. The pastor usually visits the hospital every Friday morning, and as needed in emergencies. Volunteers from the parish visit on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Communion is also brought on a regular basis by volunteers to those who are confined to the home. Arrangements can be made through the parish office should there be a need.

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

This organization assists families within the parish who are in material need. Funding for this work comes from the donations of our parishioners to the St. Vincent de Paul boxes.


CHICKEN RICE CASSEROLE

Ingredients:
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup flour
2 cups stock or broth (Oxo is fine)
3/4 to 1 cup milk
2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
6 cups cooked, diced chicken or turkey
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped tomato or red pepper
4 cups cooked rice

Directions:
Whisk flour into butter to make a roux.
Add stock, milk, and seasonings, and whisk and cook until thick.
Remove from heat, and add chicken and all other ingredients.
Transfer to pan and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cool, cover, and freeze.

HAM NOODLE CASSEROLE

Ingredients:
2 cups diced ham
1 cup celery chopped
4 cans Cheddar cheese soup
2 cups milk
½ tsp pepper
½ tsp paprika
16oz bag medium sized noodles

Directions:
Cook noodles.
Mix all other ingredients together.
Layer noodles in pan and alternate with ham mixture.
Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 30 minutes

Cool, cover and freeze.

MACARONI AND BEEF CASSEROLE

Ingredients:
3lb ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 x 28oz canned tomato sauce
2 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano
10 oz elbow macaroni
¼ lb Cheddar cheese

Directions:
In a large pot, brown meat and onions.
Drain.
Stir in tomato sauce and spices.
Simmer 15 minutes.
Prepare macaroni and add to mixture.
Turn into casserole pan; lay cheese on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Cool, cover and freeze.