Father help us to live as the Holy
Family, united in respect and love.
The greatest blessing you bring to your family is the presence of God in your life.
The fragrance of His presence sweetens the atmosphere of your home.
The beauty of His presence warms the relationships within its walls.
The joy of His presence lightens every heart.
The glory of His presence fills all its chambers with rare and precious treasures.
-“From God’s Heart to Yours” by Roy Leesin
Let us pray for one another.
May God bless you and yours throughout this Christmas Season.
We wish you a happy and peaceful
New Year and always try to remember
“Holiness is in the ordinary.”
AN INVITATION TO LEARN!
Next Meetings:
Topic: What’s” Canon Law” all about?
Tuesday, January 5th at 7:30 PM.
Wednesday, January 6th at 10:30 AM.
TORONTO’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD WELCOMES NEW STUDENTS
Toronto’s Catholic Schools invite you to register your children for the 2010-2011 school year. Registration begins in January 2010 for Kindergarten and French Immersion at all Catholic elementary schools throughout the City of Toronto. For the convenience of families, most schools are open for registration on Wednesday, January 13th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact the Catholic school nearest you or call 416-222-8282, extension 5314 or visit the Board’s website at www.tcdsb.org.
BECOMING NEIGHBORS
Weekend of January 9th /10th
“Becoming Neighbours” is a joint ministry of nineteen religious
congregations of men and women in Toronto (the Passionists included), to serve as companions to new immigrants and refugees during the latter’s initial adjustment in Canada, so as to ease their adaptation to life in Toronto.
Most of us have been blessed with abundance. In the spirit of sharing, St Gabriel’s will be collecting gently used items such as clothes (esp. winter clothes), toys, children’s books, linens, kitchenware, for these new immigrants and refugees on the weekend of the 9th/10th January. Please help if you can.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Your prepared chicken (or turkey) rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses the weekend of January 2/3, 2010 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Please note that this is a week later than normal to avoid collection on the Christmas weekend. More volunteers are encouraged to get a copy of the casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
THE LEPROSY MISSION OF CANADA
Please keep on sending us your used postage stamps so that we can work towards the day when leprosy is eradicated. We are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border. Stamps may be deposited in the basket just outside the Parish Office.
Christmas Schedule 2009
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Thursday, December 31st – No Mass
Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Friday, January 1st – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Office Closed
ANNOUNCED MASSES
December 28th 2009 to January 2nd 2010
THURSDAY – ANA SOFIA NASCIMENTO Requested by the Family
FRIDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY)
SATURDAY – LIVING & DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE WROBEL/CHUCHRA FAMILIES Requested by Jack and Wanda Wrobel
ROSARY GROUPS
ENGLISH ROSARY GROUP
Saturday, January 2nd at 3:15 PM in the Library
CHINESE ROSARY GROUP
Saturday, January 2nd from 6:00 Pm to 9:00 PM in the Gabriel Room. Please note the change of time.
For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
ECO-SABBATH
Sunday, January 3rd at 11:30 AM
Gabriel Room
On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.
FAMILY MASS
There will be no Family mass in January 2010.
The next Family Mass will be celebrated on February 7th, 2010.
THANK YOU
A special thank you to all those who helped with our Christmas celebrations; those in the Music Ministry, the Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors, the Altar Servers and Ministers of Hospitality, those who organized and participated in the Christmas Pageant, those responsible for decorating, and the Pastoral Team. Your work helped to make Christmas a beautiful and uplifting time.
WELCOME! BAPTISMS
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Claire Mekayla Burke who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, December 6th. Congratulations!
SUNDAY COLLECTION
December 20th, 2009: $10,449
Mass | 4:30 | 8:30 | 10:30 | 12:30 |
Total | $3,158 | $2,165 | $3,030 | $2,096 |
Envelopes | 126 | 81 | 144 | 104 |
Number of Envelopes Used: 455
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2010
The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. 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 the first few envelopes so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes.
If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s Day, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. If you do not have envelopes but would like them for 2010, please contact the office at 416-221-8866.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thank you, thank you to performers, musicians and audience who helped make “For the Love of Singing” on November 28th a huge success! The charities of the East York Barbershoppers and our own new piano fund were well supported. Stay tuned for more concert offerings in 2010!
THE GREEN CORNER
Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees”, people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it – and often their possessions as well – in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources?
Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for the 2010 World Day of Peace