Happy Mother’s Day!
Wishing all mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, single mothers, foster mothers and mothers-in-law a very happy and wonderful Mother’s Day.
Heavenly Father, I lift up to you today all mothers. Bless them with strength to continue to care for their children, with the same bold, selflessness Mary showed Jesus. Help all mothers feel our gratitude and truly know their impact.
SEEKING NEW MINISTERS OF CARE
Anyone who is interested in becoming a Minister of Care to the Hospital or to the Homebound, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at stgabrielem@gmail.com
ANNOUNCED MASSES
May 12th – May 19th, 2025
MONDAY – BORIS CELIS ✞ – Requested by his Family
TUESDAY – GABRIELLE NDUKWE – Requested by her Family
WEDNESDAY – MARIA DIDIODATO ✞ – Requested by her Family
THURSDAY – TERRY CLARKE – Requested by Karen Crichton
FRIDAY –
SATURDAY – TINA INTINI ✞ – Requested by the Annibale & Oakie Families
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – TINA INTINI ✞ – Requested by Carmina Filice
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – B.X. JEYARAJAN ✞ – Requested by Marino Jeyarajan
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Sunday May 25th, 2025 at 3:00 PM. All are welcome.
In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation retreat will be held here on Saturday, May 24th, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from their service Ministry Coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated completion of volunteer service hours.
SHARELIFE
Sow the seeds of hope for the next generation
The future of the Church depends on men and women heroically answering God’s call. When you support ShareLife, you enable the discernment, formation and education of those who will serve in our parishes through the Office of Vocations and seminaries. Your kindness makes it possible for future priests to attend St. Augustine’s Seminary and the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary where they learn to tend to the Lord’s vineyard and work for the salvation of souls. In addition, St. Augustine’s Seminary educates permanent deacons and lay people serving our parishes. Thank you for your prayers and commitment towards young people on their journeys of faith.
Thus far we have raised $38,412.30 at the parish toward our goal of $169,000. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
ROSALIE HALL & THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
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.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals, clean clothes and shelter for the homeless in our city. 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.
LIFE-GIVING WOUNDS: A HEALING RETREAT FOR ADULT CHILDREN OF DIVORCED OR SEPARATED PARENTS
Friday, May 16th at 6:00 PM to Sunday, May 18th at 3:30 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Rd, Scarborough
The Life-Giving Wounds retreat invites participants to move through the broken image of love that appeared to them in their parents’ relationship to their deepest origin and identity as God’s beloved, capable of great love.
Must be 18 or older to attend. Cost: $340 per person ($200 for students), which includes meals, lodging and retreat material. Limited subsidies are available if cost is a concern. Please contact lgwtoronto@proton.me.
For university/college students, contact your campus minister for more information. Space is limited.
To register, visit: https://bit.ly/LGW-TO-Retreat-Register2025
DAY OF REFLECTION: FINDING GOD IN A BUSY LIFE
Monday, May 26th, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering
We often wonder where God is as we live our lives in a busy world. We go from day to day without standing still and reflecting on our life journey with God, how God has been there all the way along, even in times when we felt dry or abandoned in our spiritual life. The hope of this retreat for men and women is that retreatants come to a higher awareness of their individual unique earthly journey with God.
The retreat will be facilitated by Fr. Henk van Meijel, SJ.
The suggested offering is $65 per person which includes lunch, coffee/tea break and talks.
To register, email manresaregistration@outlook.com or visit https://manresa-canada.ca or call 905-839-2864.
A DAY WITH MARY
Saturday, May 31st, 2025 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Villanova College, King City
On Saturday, May 31st, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a new archdiocesan event called “A Day with Mary” will be taking place at Villanova College in King City.
During this Jubilee Holy Year, spend a day with our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Hope, and deepen your devotion to her through a keynote address by Dr. Josephine Lombardi, a number of inspiring witnessings and Holy Mass presided over by His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo. This family-friendly event will have music, food, fellowship, children’s catechesis and activities – something for everyone.
Online registration is now open. For more information and to register, visit archtoronto.org/mary.
SEEING WITH HEART – A DAY OF REFLECTION FOR PARENTS OF LGBTQ YOUNG ADULTS
Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM
Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, 2325 Liverpool Rd., Pickering
This day of reflection will provide parents with an opportunity to share their stories, listen to presentations, reflect on the gifts and talents of their children, and participate in group discussions. The day ends with Mass.
We hope to provide a relaxed and supportive environment for parents to meet and interact with other parents, reflect and discuss concerns, learn about resources, strengthen their love, and grow closer to God. Fr. Bernie Carroll, S.J. – Superior of the Pickering Jesuit Community will facilitate.
A suggested offering of $65 per person. Includes lunch. For more information or to Register: Call Mike Hyland – 647-296-2499.
TRIVIA
Motherhood is like a fairy tale, but in reverse. You start out in a beautiful ball gown and end up in stained clothes cleaning up after little people.
PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?
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.
GARDEN SHED
OPENING: SUMMER GARDENING POSITION FOR YOUTH
St. Gabriel’s Parish has received a Canada Summer Jobs grant from the federal government for a Youth Gardening Helper, to assist with gardening tasks 30 hours per week for 9 weeks, beginning at the end of May. Work can include, but is not be limited to, watering, weeding, planting, transplanting, soil preparation, pruning, harvesting, mulching, cleaning up debris and care of garden tools.
Applications will be accepted until May 20th, 2025.
To apply, please send your resume to apply@stgabrielsparish.ca
GARDEN MINISTRY NEWS
Our Garden Ministry will be having an outdoor seedling planting in the community boxes next Sunday, May 18th during the 10:30 AM mass. If you are available to help, come and join them!
This particular Garden work has immediate and direct impact because it helps to provide a fresh food supply for the homeless who accesses the services of The Good Shepherd Ministry in Toronto.
The Garden Ministry Spring Newsletter is off the presses. Please access it through the Parish website. Printed copies are posted on the bulletin boards. Letters to the Editors are always welcome!
Day of Reflection and Prayer for the Bereaved
Saturday, May 10th, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 5:00PM
FINANCE CORNER
Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website).
Offertory envelopes for 2025 are still available by the Gabriel Room. Boxes are usually not assigned to parishioners who are donating via Pre-Authorized Giving or Donate Now through the Archdiocese. Please contact the parish office at 416-221-8866 with any questions.