bulletin – December 14

WE NEED YOUR HELP

“As we pass the basket from person to person, we are reminded that the financial burden of the Church is a responsibility we all share.”

St Gabriel’s parishioners have always been generous. Over the past year, however, our weekly collections have not been keeping up with inflation and our operating expenses.

  • If you already contribute regularly, thank you. If you are able, please consider increasing your weekly donation.
  • If you have not been contributing, we ask you to start – every donation is important, no matter how small.

We encourage everyone to use envelopes. This is the only way you can receive a tax credit for your donation. Pick up a box in the Parish Office.

Thank you.
The Parish Financial Committee

Christmas & New Year’s Schedule

CONFESSIONS SAT DEC 20th 10:00 am to 12 Noon and
7:30 to 9:00 PM
CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES WED DEC 24th 7:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM Mass – Adult Choir – Carol Singing

12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group
CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES THUR DEC 25th 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
OFFICE CLOSED – BOXING DAY WED DEC 26th NO MASS
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY SAT DEC 27th 4:30 PM
SUN DEC 28th 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
NEW YEARS’ EVE WED DEC 31st NO MASS
NEW YEARS’ DAY MASSES THUR JAN 1st 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
December 16 9:00AM HAMON YVON Requested by Noel Yvon
December 18 9:00AM MARIA DIDIODATO Requested by the Rochford Family
December 19 9:00AM UMBERTO INTINI Requested by the Chiara Family
December 20 4:30PM KATHI WATTS Requested by Philip & Kathi Leah

SUNDAY COLLECTION: December 6-7, 2008

Total: $17,058

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $4,462 $2,492 $3,588 $6,516
# of Env. 132 85 160 96

Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136
Number of Envelopes Used: 473

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2009

The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are ready for pick up in the Gathering Space today. It is important that you throw away all envelopes from previous years as your number might have been assigned to another family. Please enter your full name and address on each envelope so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes. If you do not have envelopes and would like a box, contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.

UPDATING OUR PARISH RECORDS

We are updating our Parish Records. If you are a new parishioner and have not yet registered, please fill out a registration card which may be obtained at the Parish Office. If you have recently moved, please let us know your new address so that our records will be correct. Parish Office: 416-221-8866

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

Wednesday, January 7th at 10:00 AM
Topic: Movie: “Romero

Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 PM
Topic: The Bible: How the New Testament was written

CHILDREN’S CHOIR FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM

Practice: Sunday, December 21, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00PM. There is only one practice and it is mandatory. Practice is on Sunday, December 21st from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. For further information you may call Marilyn Calderone at 416-221-8866, Ext. 227

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st, 3:00PM to 4:30PM

S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call Anne Murphy at 416-512-0340.

“SURPRISE IS TO GRATITUDE AS COSMOGENESIS IS TO ADVENT”

THE Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality in cooperation with
The Elliot Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology University of St. Michael’s College, Faculty of Theology Presents

ADVENT/WINTER SOLSTICE EVENING OF REFLECTION

The annual Advent/Winter Solstice Evening of Reflection will be held on Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gabriel room. Because the feast of Christmas was deliberately timed to coincide with the darkness of the winter’s solstice, there is a link between theological meaning and cosmological setting. Join us for a guided exploration of the relevance of these theological and cosmological connections to today’s ecological challenges. This year’s theme is: “Surprise is to Gratitude as Cosmogenesis is to Advent.” To register or for more information, please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408. No fee.

ST.VINCENT DE PAUL

Christmas Offering envelopes for the St. Vincent de Paul Society are available at the back of the Church. Your donations enable the Society to help those in need. At this time of year, they try to provide a little extra to add to their Christmas celebration. Your generosity is much appreciated.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

Sunday, December 14th

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until next Sunday, December 14th.

CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

The brothers could use our help during the Christmas Season. Please bring non-perishable food items such as: canned soups and stews, powdered milk, instant and ground coffee, canned tuna or salmon, canned meats, canned fruit juices, powdered soup bases, hot chocolate, cooking spices and cold breakfast cereals. Kindly leave donations at the doors of the Church in the designated containers.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

Tuesday, December 16th at 7:30 PM
Forest grove United Church
43 Forest Grove Drive, North York

This ecumenical service is sponsored by the Bayview-Sheppard Ministerial Group (including Chaplains of North York General Hospital and Seniors’ Health Centre) with the hope that the light of Christ will bring peace and comfort to people in the North York community who are bereaved or troubled, or for whom Christmas may be a difficult time.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT – A CONCERT LIKE NO OTHER!

On Saturday, December 13th at 7:30, a group of talented youth from St. Margaret Mary Church in Woodbridge and Cardinal Carter will come together to celebrate the Christmas season with a fabulous MULTILINGUAL Christmas Concert, hosted at St. Gabriel’s Church. The evening will feature traditional and non-traditional festive songs that encompass different genres of music such as classical, pop, soul and jazz! Instruments include the violin, bass, guitar, drums and piano. This is a holiday community concert that you do not want to miss! The concert is $5 at the door, with proceeds going to support the Passionist Missions.

CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY
“HOPE FOR THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION”

The Catholic Children’s Aid Society is inviting families to assist them in providing some little extras, such as new clothing, new toys, food vouchers and /or gift certificates to bring the joy of the season to one of their families. If you are willing to provide a donation or adopt-a-family, please call 416-395-1634 or email info@hopeforthechildren.ca.