July 19th, 2024
In recent weeks there has been a sharp increase in the amount of fake/scam emails being received by parishioners throughout the archdiocese. These emails – usually sent from Gmail accounts operated by scammers – appear to be from a priest and often request the purchase of gift cards or electronic payments. Please exercise caution should you receive an email like this and contact the parish via telephone to validate its authenticity.
| Posted in Notice |
January 11th, 2025
Come and be part of a committee that meets our marginalized brothers and sisters where they are at and helps them attain human rights, access, participation and equity. Our mandate will also be to help Mother Earth regain her dignity and bountifulness.
Please email stgabrieljpic@gmail.com if you would like to bring forth ideas and understanding on how best to help our brothers and sisters locally and globally as well as our crucified earth.
We will try to follow Christ’s example as well as live our Passionist motto “With You”.
Wednesday, January 15th from 1:00 to 2:30 PM
This a reminder that the next milk bag weaving session will take place on Wednesday, January 15th from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. New members are welcome. For more information, please contact Sharon at sharongusz@gmail.com.
January 13th – January 20th, 2025
MONDAY – GLADYS TONG ✞ – Requested by Michelle Tan TUESDAY – FLORA CUSI ✞ – Requested by her Family WEDNESDAY – FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY ✞ – Requested by the Chiu Gamily THURSDAY – GOOD HEALTH OF JULIET OTERO – Requested by Linda Llovit FRIDAY – DELPHINE OAKIE ✞ – Requested by her Family SATURDAY – MARIETTE LEBLANC ✞ – Requested by Chantal Wood SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – PHILIP TAYLOR ✞ – Requested by his Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – HELEN NG ✞ – Requested by her Classmates at Sacred Heart Canossian College
Lord, with the gift of courage, we can do all manner of things in service of you and our fellow men and women. Help us listen to the voice of your Son, Jesus, and so discover the truth about you.
With your grace, gift your Church with young men and women who are ready and eager to be living witnesses of your saving love and true servants of their sisters and brothers. Help them to discover in priesthood and consecrated life your call to love and service, and the fullness of life you promise. We ask this in your name, Jesus. Amen
Baptism of the Lord, January 12, 2025
Psalm 104
In response to the power of chapter 40 of Isaiah, Psalm 104 sings of the greatness of God and of God’s control over creation; the wisdom, providence and creativity of God who renews the face of the earth.
The psalm’s opening verse provides our psalm refrain today: O bless the Lord, my soul! Let this praise of God be in our hearts this week and always.
If you are planning to be a teacher, it is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor as part of your application.
The letter explaining that you belong to and participate in the community cannot be written if your pastor does not know you. It is recommended that you have a conversation with him early in the process well before the applications are to be submitted
Begins Wednesday, January 22nd at 10:00 AM
The Toronto Catholic District School Board welcomes families with junior kindergarten-aged children (born in 2021) to register for the September 2025/2026 school year.
The Elementary Student Online Registration 2025/26 is now available. Please complete an application at http://soar.tcdsb.org.
The following original documents for your child are required upon registration:
For more registration information, please email: admissions.registration@tcdsb.org or phone 416-222-8282 ext. 5320
Saturday, January 18th, 2025
2:00 to 3:30 PM Gabriel Room
Do you know that the Passionists had a mission in China in the early 20th Century (1921-1955)? And our much-loved Fr Thomas Berry was part of that mission?
If you are interested to learn more, Fr Robert E Carbonneau, CP, PhD, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Theology at Boston College, and a researcher of the history of the Passionists, will be sharing with our parishioners and friends the history of the Passionists in China on Saturday, January 18th, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room. All are welcome!
January 17th to 19th, 2025
Mississauga
Build a joyful marriage by learning the tools of healthy communication. Retrouvaille, a Catholic-origin program, welcomes all couples to help get their relationships back on track.
Join us on January 17th to 19th, 2025 in Mississauga.
Call 437-234-5610 or visit torontoretrouvaille.com or helpourmarriage.org.
Sunday, January 19th, 2025 at 4:00 PM
North City Church (Toronto District Christian High School, Highway 7/Kipling Ave.), 377 Woodbridge Ave., Woodbridge
Theme: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
Join Bishop John A. Boissonneau (Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto) and a wide representation of Christian leaders to pray for the restoration of full visible unity willed by Jesus Christ for His Church. This event is jointly organized by the Office for Promoting Christian Unity and the Greater Toronto Area Council of Christian Churches and celebrates the 1,700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea
Thursday, January 23, 2025 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
St. Peter’s Church, 840 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Join the Sisters of Life and the Office of Catholic Youth for an evening of prayer. Spend some time with Our Lord amidst your busy schedule with the source and summit of our faith – Jesus in the Eucharist. There will be some time for fellowship and refreshments after the Holy Hour. This event is open to all parishioners and visitors!
Holy hour with music: 7:00 PM Confessions available Social: 8:00 to 9:00 PM
Friday, January 24, 2025 7:00 PM to Sunday, January 26, 2025 1:30 PM
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre
A silent Ignatian Retreat for Men – Praying with Suffering. Suffering is something every human will have to encounter along their life journey. Some will carry big crosses and some small. Sometimes we are the ones who endure it and sometimes we knowingly or unknowingly will bring suffering to others. Suffering is meaningless, even inhumane by itself, but when we let the light of God shine upon it, everything changes. Facilitated by Fr. Henk van Meijel, SJ.
This silent weekend retreat begins on Friday evening and runs to Sunday, with lunch. The suggested offering is $260 per person which includes two nights’ accommodation with meals, spiritual direction and retreat program.
Contact Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre at manresaregistration@outlook.com, visit https://manresa-canada.ca or call 905-839-2864.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Rosalie Hall is an accredited children’s mental health facility focusing on the needs of pregnant and parenting youth ages 12-25, their children, and their families. Here the needs of young families are met, offering prenatal and parenting classes as well as staff to aid in the transition to parenthood. A school program enables clients to finish high school. The food we donate from our parish often replenishes their empty food bank.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals, clean clothes and shelter for the homeless in our city They help find housing and provide follow up support. They support the homeless who are working to overcome addictions and provide a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
Your food donations are so important as numbers of people in need continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Offertory envelopes for 2025 are still available in the Gathering Space. If there is no box with your name on it and you wish to use envelopes, please advise the parish office either in person, by email or by phone.
Boxes are usually not assigned to parishioners who are donating via Pre-Authorized Giving or Donate Now through the Archdiocese.
On the first few 2025 envelopes, please write your name and complete address so that the office can ensure they have your correct information when sending out 2024 tax receipts. If you have changed your address, please inform the parish office as soon as possible.
To ensure the proper recording for tax receipt purposes, please do not use any envelopes from 2024 or any prior year for any 2025 donations.
How do you make seven an even number?
Remove the s.
| Posted in Bulletin |
January 4th, 2025
The Epiphany of Christ is a shining light set at the turning of the year to illuminate all that has gone before and to guide us through the year ahead.
January 6th – January 12th 2025
MONDAY – DUO PAO SHAN ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam TUESDAY – NEI FUNG YUNG ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam WEDNESDAY – SZE CHING CHUN ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam THURSDAY – YEUNG CHEI SHEUNG ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam FRIDAY – SWATOW AUNTIE DA ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam SATURDAY – LYDIA McGRANN – Requested by Ron & Anne Ackber SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – KOK YAU FUNG ✞ – Requested by Kok Yau Lam SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – HELEN NG ✞ – Requested by Her Classmates at Sacred Heart Canossian College
With this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we close our celebration of Christmas and we look forward to a peaceful New Year. Sincere thanks to everyone who supported our various outreach programs and all other events held and organized by our Parish.
A special mention also goes to all our Parish Ministries and their volunteers. Your selfless contribution of your time and talents are certainly the greatest blessing that our Parish continues to have!
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 49 casseroles for December. For January, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 25th/26th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
You may pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan from the Parish Office. Three recipes are also available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. More volunteers are urgently needed to help feed the hungry in our city. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
Thank you for your support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre over Christmas. Once again, the people of St. Gabriel’s have been extremely generous.
Your food donations continue to be important as numbers of people in need increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
Which feast does the Church celebrate to move us into the New Year?
North City Church (Toronto District Christian High School, Highway 7/Kipling Ave.) 377 Woodbridge Ave., Woodbridge,
Join Bishop John A. Boissonneau (Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto) and a wide representation of Christian leaders to pray for the restoration of full visible unity willed by Jesus Christ for His Church. This event is jointly organized by the Office for Promoting Christian Unity and the Greater Toronto Area Council of Christian Churches and celebrates the 1,700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
Monday, January 27th, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Danforth Multifaith Commons, 310 Danforth Ave., Toronto,
A vigil on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, paying tribute to both survivors and liberators. We recommit ourselves to a culture of encounter, ‘living in an open and neighbourly spirit, sharing our joys and sorrows, our human problems, and preoccupations’ (Dialogue and Proclamation, #42).
This city-wide event is part of The Dialogue of Life “In Our Time”, a commemoration marking the 60th anniversary of the Vatican Declaration on Interreligious Dialogue Nostra Aetate.
Several boxes of offertory envelopes are in the Gathering Space awaiting pick-up. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
Under the Canadian Income Tax laws, a donor is entitled to an income tax credit against income taxes payable based on a tax receipt from a registered Canadian charity like St. Gabriel’s parish.
Please consider using offertory envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG) or Donate Now via Archdiocese of Toronto’s online giving for your offertory giving no matter the amount of your weekly donation. Envelopes are available at the Parish Office if you need them.
December 28th, 2024
“The most beautiful thing that God made, was the family…All of the love that God has in Himself, all of the beauty that God has in Himself, all of the truth that God has in Himself, He gives to the family.” Pope Francis
Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.
December 30th 2024 to January 5th 2025
MONDAY – FR. PAUL CUSACK CP ✞ – Requested by the Parish Staff TUESDAY – NEW YEAR’S EVE – No Announced Masses WEDNESDAY – NEW YEAR’S DAY – No Announced Masses THURSDAY – IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD – Requested by the Chiu Family FRIDAY – FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE LIVING MEMBERS OF THE CHIU FAMILY – Requested by May Chiu SATURDAY – KATHY MURPHY ✞ – Requested by Mary Anne Barnes SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – FOR WORLD PEACE – Requested by the Chiu Family SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – HELEN NG ✞ – Requested by her classmates at Sacred Heart Canossian College
Tuesday, December 31st 5:00 PM Vigil Mass No 9:00 AM Mass Office open ̶ 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Wednesday, January 1st 10:30 AM Mass 12:30 PM Mass No 8:30 or 9:00 AM Mass
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 the Principal of Elkhorn Public School for allowing Us the use of the school property.
Sunday, December 29th at 5:00 PM
St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica
You are invited to attend a Solemn Opening Mass this Sunday, December 29th at 5:00 PM at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica to formally launch the Jubilee Year in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The theme of the Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope”. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available prior to the Eucharist from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM. More information is available in the letter and document from Archbishop Leo which is available in the parish office.
What do you call a priest that became a lawyer?
A Father-in-Law.
ShareLife is grateful for your generous hearts this 2024!
Your gift will double in value! From November 1st until year end, your contribution to our parish’s ShareLife campaign will be matched by an anonymous donor up to a total of $500,000.
If you’ve shared your blessings through ShareLife in 2024, thank you. Because of you, a neighbor is healing, a young mother is finding stability, and someone struggling with hunger now has a meal. Your kindness has transformed lives through ShareLife.
There’s still time to touch more lives. If you donate online by December 31st, you will receive a 2024 tax receipt.
Please support the work of ShareLife agencies through sharelife.org/donate or by giving at our parish using a ShareLife envelope. Thank you for living the Gospel!
Monday, January 27th, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
East End United, 310 Danforth Ave., Toronto
An in-person event sponsored and recommended by the Office for Promoting Christian unity and Religious Relations with Judaism
The Archdiocese of Toronto, a member of the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto, invites you to join them as they honour the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, and recommit to a culture of encounter, “living in an open and neighbourly spirit, sharing our joys and sorrows, our human problems and preoccupations” (Dialogue and Proclamation, #42). This city-wide event is part of The Dialogue of Life “In Our Time,” a commemoration marking the 60th anniversary of the Vatican Declaration on Interreligious Dialogue, Nostra Aetate.
Your offertory envelopes are now available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
Under Canadian Income Tax laws, a donor is entitled to an income tax credit against income taxes payable based on a tax receipt from a registered Canadian charity like St. Gabriel’s Parish. You should consider using offertory envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG) or Donate Now via the Archdiocese of Toronto’s online giving for your offertory giving no matter the amount of your weekly donation.
If you do not presently have Offertory envelopes and would like to have a box, please let the office know and we will prepare a box for you.
Please note: All donations for 2024 must be received in the Parish Office no later than Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 by noon to be included in your 2024 Tax Receipt. Thank you.
December 21st, 2024
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
December 23rd to December 29th, 2024
MONDAY – CARMELA GRECH CAIA ✞ – Requested by the Grech Padova Family FRIDAY – CARMELA STANISCIA ✞ – Requested by Joanne Marchese SATURDAY – CHIARA INTINI ✞ – Requested by the Annibale & Oakie Families SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – THERESA LOUISY – Requested by Karen Crichton SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – GABRIELE FOSSALUZZA ✞ – Requested by Janet Candido
Wednesday, December 18th from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Tuesday, December 24th̶ 5:00 PM Family Mass 8:00 PM Mass 12:00 AM Midnight Mass No 9:00 AM Mass Office open – 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Wednesday, December 25th 10:30 AM Mass 12:30 PM Mass No 8:30 or 9:00 AM Mass
Thursday, December 26th No 9:00 AM Mass Office Closed
There will be a Nativity Play during the 5:00 PM Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children grades 5 and under are invited to participate where they will dress up in costumes as they reenact the birth of Jesus. There will be a dress rehearsal on Sunday December 22nd at 11:30 AM (after the 10:30 AM mass). Please contact our Youth Minister at youth@stgabrielsparish.ca to participate.
Children ages 7 and up are invited to sing carols and hymns before and during the Christmas Eve Family Mass on December 24th at 5:00 PM. There will be a mandatory rehearsal on Sunday, December 22nd from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The Advent time of preparation, for the God-with-us that is Christmas, ends at our Christmas celebration.
Today’s psalm responds to Micah, reminding that: God is ever with us. God shepherds his people. Psalm 80 introduces the “man of the Lord’s right hand”; “the son of man”. Jesus refers to himself in the Gospels as the son of man.
Our prayer in these last few days before Christmas: O shepherd of Israel, rouse your power and come to save us.
St. Michaels Cathedral Basilica
All are welcome to attend this special Mass on Sunday, December 29th at 5:00 PM at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica to formally launch the Jubilee Year in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The theme of the Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope”. More information is available in the letter and document from Archbishop Leo which is available in the parish office.
Weekend of December 28th/29th
Your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses next weekend, December 28th/29th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
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. Recipes are available in the parish office or on our website. Remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole.
Warming hearts with your support for ShareLife
As we shelter from the winter storm, we’re thankful for your ShareLife support, keeping many off cold streets and igniting hope for a brighter future. Wishing you a warm and safe Christmas season, and thanking you for your enduring compassion that extends the same to others.
How much does Santa pay for parking?
Nothing…It’s on the house.
Offertory envelopes for 2025 are now available in the Gathering Space. If there is no box with your name on it and you wish to use envelopes, please advise the parish office either in person, by email or by phone.
If you are donating via Pre-Authorized Giving or Donate Now via the Archdiocese, you might not have an envelope box assigned to you. If you would like envelopes for Maintenance and Special Collections, they are readily available from the pews or the Parish Office.
On the first few 2025 envelopes, please write your name and complete address so that the office can ensure they have your correct information when sending out 2024 tax receipts.
Please note: All donations for 2024 must be received in the Parish Office by Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 to be included in your 2024 Tax Receipt.
December 14th, 2024
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” Amen.
Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen
December 16th to December 22nd, 2024
MONDAY – DR. EUGENE JUWAH ✞ – Requested by Prescilla Juwah TUESDAY – CONVERSION OF ALL SINNERS IN THE WORLD – Requested by the Chiu Family WEDNESDAY – CHRISTOPHER CHOW – Requested by Jenny Lo THURSDAY – TINA INTINI ✞ – Requested by her Family FRIDAY – MARGARET HUI ✞ – Requested by Howa Hui SATURDAY – ANDREW HUI ✞ – Requested by Howa Hui SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – VICTOR PAUL ✞ – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – MARGARET HUI ✞ – Requested by Howa Hui
Wednesday, December 18th
On Wednesday, December 18th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Confessions will be heard from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
This week, the Liturgy does not take our response to the First Reading from the Psalms. Rather our song of praise is from Chapter 12 of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Using the words of the prophet we sing with Jesus and Mary, all the saints and countless others over the centuries, of our confidence and lack of fear because the Lord gives us strength, courage and joy.
And so our attitude is total thanks and praise.
“For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Could God be calling you to be a priest, a deacon, a brother or a sister and announce the Good News to His People asJohn the Baptist did?
Contact Fr. Matt McCarthy, Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Toronto at 416-968-0997. Email vocations@archtoronto.org www.vocationstoronto.ca
Living the Gospel through ShareLife Your support of ShareLife is improving the lives of our brothers and sisters in the Deaf and hard of hearing community.
“If you ever wonder what impact you are making – you are sending Deaf kids to an accessible American Sign Language (ASL) camp in the summer; you are connecting Deaf kids with Deaf mentors; you are inspiring Deaf kids to achieve their dreams; you are teaching family members ASL so they can communicate with their Deaf children. When you give, it goes a long way.” – Kelly Mackenzie, Silent Voice
Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
What do you call a snowman who plays the piano?
Meltin John
Thursday, December 19th from 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Enjoy an afternoon of singing your favourite Christmas carols while enjoying tea, coffee and cookies on Thursday, December 19th from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. To register please contact stgabrielmma@gmail.com or call the Parish Office.
November 11th, 2024 to January 13th, 2025
High school students aged 13 to 19 from the Catholic School Boards in the Archdiocese of Toronto are invited to participate in this annual event, which honours the global Week of Prayer for Christian Unity taking place from January 18 to 25.
Write a five-hundred-word essay that explores the 2025 theme. Great prizes await the top three submissions.
Students are encouraged to explore the resources at https://bit.ly/3zOVHly to gain insight into the meaning and purpose of the theme. They should also refer to the focus question available on the poster at https://bit.ly/3XCGGgo. Entries are to be submitted at https://www.catholicregister.org/writingaward.
Email ecumenical@archtoronto.org or call 416-934-3400 ext. 527 with any questions, or for more information.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
Learn about Passionists and our insignia »
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk