bulletin – December 7

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 9 9:00AM ABRAMO DESOLINA DINARDO Requested by the Family
December 11 9:00AM TULIO RAMIREZ Requested by the Family
December 12 9:00AM ANITA MARKLE & MARJORIE SKAZIN Requested by the Family
December 13 4:30PM GUS CALDERONE Requested by Marie and Family

SUNDAY COLLECTION: November 29-30, 2008

Total: $11,232

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $2,232 $2,878 $3,717 $2,405
# of Env. 125 112 167 99

Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136
Number of Envelopes Used: 503

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, please contact the Parish Office.

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 can 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

Next Meetings:
Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM
Topic: Movie: “Babette’s Feast”
Wednesday, January 7th at 10:00 AM
Topic: Movie: “Romero”

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

December 10th marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On December 6th and 7th after all the Masses, you are invited to sign an Amnesty International petition and/or send a greeting card to a prisoner of conscience or human rights defender who is under threat.

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.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 68 casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at all the Masses on the weekend of December 27th and 28th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Turkey rice casseroles are a welcome alternative. More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. If you require more information or would like to get a copy of the recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.

JUST COFFEE

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend. Please note that this is a week earlier than normal.

Regular ground Coffee: $5
Whole Beans $5
Decaffeinated ground and beans: $6
Chocolate Bars: $4 including taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa; $4.50
Teas: $3.25 to $4.00 by variety

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.

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.

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.

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.

BLESSED TRINITY CWL – POT LUCK SUPPER

Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 PM

The Blessed Trinity CWL is having their annual Pot Luck Supper on Tuesday, December 9th at 6:00 PM. Bring a friend, your favourite dish to share and join in the festivities of the season. There will be a sing-a-long, raffles and other surprises!