Bulletin – December 5

In this week’s bulletin, the Youth Group hold a fundraiser for a water system for indigenous people in the Philippines, the Christmas service for those who mourn, and the Good Shepherd Centre food drive.

Christmas Schedule 2010

CONFESSIONS
Saturday, December 18th

  • 10:00 AM – 12 Noon
  • 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

CHRISTMAS EVE
Friday, December 24th

No 9:00 AM Mass

  • 7:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing
  • 9:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing
  • 12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group

CHRISTMAS DAY
Saturday, December 25th

  • 10:30 AM
  • 12:30 PM

No 4:30 PM Mass Office Closed

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY, BOXING DAY
Sunday, December 26th

  • 8:30 AM
  • 10:30 PM
  • 12:30 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27th
No Mass, Office Closed

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28th
No Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE
Friday, December 31st

  • 9:00 AM

No Evening Mass Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S DAY
Saturday, January 1st

  • 10:30 AM
  • 12:30 PM

No 4:30 PM Mass Office Closed

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 6th- December 11th 2010

MONDAY – ESTER CASTILLO Requested by Ricardo Castillo & Family
TUESDAY – JOHN CHUNKUN YEUNG Requested by Rosaline Yeung
WEDNESDAY – HWAT LIAN Requested by the Tan Family
THURSDAY – DENIS D’ROSARIO Requested by Herb & Hazel D’Rosario
FRIDAY – ABRAMO & DESOLINA DINARDO Requested by theFamily
SATURDAY – JANE MULLIGAN Requested by the Family

ST. GABRIEL’S YOUTH GROUP CONCERT

Sunday, December 19th @ 7:00 PM

The Youth Group, together with Fr. Brando, will hold a concert on Sunday, December 19th @ 7:00 PM here at St. Gabriel’s Church in order to continue to raise funds for a water system for the indigenous people in the Philippines.
Free will donations will be accepted.

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

Rehearsal: Sunday, December 19th
2:00 PM to 4:00 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 6:00 PM for this Mass. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 19th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

Wednesday, December 15th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church

Will Christmas be difficult to celebrate this year because of the loss of a loved one? St. Gabriel’s, the other Christian Churches in our area and the North York Hospital Chaplaincy are offering a Christmas Service for Those Who Mourn on Wednesday, December 15th at 7:30 PM here at St. Gabriel’s Church. All are welcome to attend.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 19th
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

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

AN INVITATION TO LEARN!

In past years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings have been devoted to religious topics decided on by those who wish to participate.

The Story of the Mass
Tuesday December 7th at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, December 8th at 10:30 AM

WEEKLY COLLECTION

Our operating expenses average $14,000 per week.

Last week’s collection:
Loose Change – $1,406
Envelopes (385) – $8,218
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (134) – $2,738
Total – $12,362

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2011

We are presently preparing the offertory envelopes for 2011. If you already receive envelopes and have changed your address or phone number, please inform the Parish Office so that we can update our records.
If you do not receive offertory envelopes and would like to do so, please call the office at 416-221-8866 and we will prepare a box for you.
The “Pre-Authorized Giving” plan allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal. Forms, (in a sealed envelope please), may be placed in the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Office.

“ME TO WE” CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SALE

December 4th/5th after the Masses

The St. Gabriel “Me to We” Social Action Committee will be selling Christmas ornaments after the Masses on December 4th/5th. Each glass ornament is hand-painted by a St. Gabriel student and will sell for $5.00. All proceeds from the sales will go to the work of Dr. Michael Nwabuogu, a retired Loretto Abbey teacher, who is now the Executive Director of “Canadians for Love of Humanity”. His mission is to build clean and safe potable water boreholes in Eastern Nigeria. Each water borehole is a community led initiative which will save lives, provide local jobs and enhance community involvement and governmental awareness. Please support this worthy cause.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

There but for the Grace of God

Your help is urgently needed. The situation is critical! Please help feed the hungry and
homeless this Christmas. Make a difference in the lives of those most in need within our community by participating in the Good Shepherd Centre’s annual Christmas Food Drive

Urgently Needed Items:

  • Rice, pasta and sauces, breakfast cereals, powered fruit juices;
  • canned items – fish, meats, vegetables, fruit, soup or stews;
  • peanut butter, jams, tea, ground and instant coffee, sugar;
  • cookies and crackers
  • ketchup, mustard and relish

Donations may be left in the designated containers at the doors of the Church. We thank you for your generous support

CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 63 casseroles for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 1st /2nd, 2011 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Please note that this is a week later than normal because of Christmas; also note the revised Mass schedule for January 1. 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.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

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 Sunday, December 19h.

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

You are invited after all the Masses on December 11th/12th 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.

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.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul tries to bring help to our neighbours who are in urgent need of assistance. Anyone looking for help should call 416-740-6006 and leave their name and phone number. They will then be contacted in order to determine their needs and arrange a meeting.

THE GREEN CORNER

Having the experience of planting a seed and having the faith that it’ll grow into a plant that will eventually sustain me is a spiritual experience. And ultimately I really, really feel like food is a sacred gift from God and that’s something that we tend to forget about in our culture.

Anathoth Community Garden in North Carolina