Bulletin – February 14

In this week’s bulletin, the World Day of Prayer, the Wisdom of Thomas Berry, and Chinese New Year celebrations.

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Thank you, good people, for your outstandingly generous response to the needs of the people of Haiti. Donations are still arriving. To date we have received $80,000 to support Fr. Rick in his work at St. Damian’s Hospital. Please remember Fr. Rick, his staff and the people he serves in your prayers.

-Fr. Paul

JUST A REMINDER…

Monday, February 16th is Family Day. The Parish Office will be closed. There will be a 9:00 AM Mass.

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 17th, 2009

February 17th is Ash Wednesday. Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day. During Lent, we encourage your attendance at our daily weekday Masses at 9:00 AM.

DAYS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE

During Lent there are two days of Fast and Abstinence, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence means to abstain from eating meat. Fasting means that your two smaller meals combined should not be larger than your main meal. There is no eating between meals. This applies to healthy people between the ages of 16 and 75.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 15th to February 20th 2010
MONDAY –NICOLA MARASHI 7 & ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NO ONE TO
PRAY FOR THEM
Requested by Ricky Marashi
TUESDAY –MIGUEL CASAR Requested by The Lopez & Alvarez Families
WEDNESDAY – MARIA KANG Requested by Peter & Gemma Baik
THURSDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION Requested by John Chan & Family
FRIDAY – ARMANDO & WALTER DINARDO Requested by The Family
SATURDAY – JOSEPHINE BADAME Requested by The Badame Family

NATIONAL CATHOLIC MISSION COMES TO ST. GABRIEL’S

March 7th & 8th, 2010

This year’s National Catholic Mission, “A God For All Seasons,” will be taped for television at St. Gabriel’s Church on Sunday and Monday evenings, March 7th and March 8th from 7:15-9:00 PM. It will be hosted by Spiritan Father, Pat Fitzpatrick and Benedictine Sister, Joan Chittister. They will be joined by Richard Foty, Marilyn Calderone and the St. Michael’s Choir School Alunmi. Mike McManus, the producer of the Mission, asks that we have a good turnout those two nights to participate in this pre-recording. Please keep this in mind and pray for another successful Lenten Mission.
The Mission will be aired on Vision TV on Monday March 29th and Tuesday, March 30th at 9:00 PM and repeated at 11:00 PM.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday evenings during Lent, beginning Friday, February 19th at 7:30 PM.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church
Friday, March 5, 2010 at 1:30 PM

The theme for this year’s service is “Let everything that has breath praise God!” written by the women of Cameroon. This celebration which takes place throughout the world in Christian Churches, will be hosted by St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church

432 Sheppard Avenue East (north side
North of 410, 1 block west of Bayview Avenue)

STRENGTHENING THE CARING COMMUNITY

The Archdiocese of Toronto sets out the criteria for all volunteers who work in their Parishes, including all the volunteers who work in more than 20 Ministries at St. Gabriel’s. Each Parish has to have a “Volunteer Screening Committee” to assure that these criteria are met.
At St. Gabriel’s the “Volunteer Screening Committee” is in need of at least two new members. If you are interested in joining this Committee or if you have any questions concerning the work of the Committee, please call Joe Poncelet at 416-223-1416 or Jo Field at 416-498-4655.

THE WISDOM OF THOMAS BERRY

A Short Course Given by Fr. Steve Dunn
Four Consecutive Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM
Beginning February 18, 2010.

Good news! Father Steve Dunn, longtime collaborator with Thomas Berry, has kindly offered to give a short course on The Wisdom of Thomas Berry here at St Gabriel’s.
In l989, Time Magazine described Thomas Berry as “the most provocative figure among the new breed of eco-theologians”. His work has inspired many in the ecological movement.
The short course, in seminar style, with the help of videos, will be targeted towards beginners, who wish to arrive at a basic understanding of the thought of Thomas Berry. It will explore its key elements, giving guidance for what Berry terms the Ecozoic Era, including Christian cosmology, ethical living in cooperation with the dynamics of the earth and the new relationship between religion and science.
The course will run for four consecutive Thursdays, from 7:30 PM to 9 PM, beginning February 18, 2010. Suggested donation: $10 per session or whatever your means allow.
Please contact Fatima Lee, (416) 221-8866 ext 228, or by email stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca to register.

JUST COFFEE

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.

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

SUNDAY COLLECTION

February 7th, 2010: $7,498

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Total $2,039 $1,260 $2,369 $1,830
Envelopes 101 59 111 82

Number of Envelopes Used: 353

TAX RECEIPTS

Tax receipts for donations made in 2009 will be mailed to you this month. If you have changed your address or are moving out of the parish, please notify the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.

CHINESE NEW YEAR PARTY

Sunday, February 28th, 2010.

You are cordially invited to come and celebrate Chinese New Year which will take place on February 28th after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. This is an event organized for the whole parish community.
Please mark your calendars! We need volunteers. Donations are also welcome. Please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029 for more information.

NEW BEGINNINGS MINI RENEWAL PRESENTATIONS

For Widowed, Separated and Divorced Persons
St. Bonaventure’s Church (St Francis Room)
1300 Leslie Street, Toronto

March 2: The Power of Forgiveness
Rev. Fr. Paul Cusack, C.P.

April 13th:“Let’s Talk About Divorce”: Helping Children Cope
Ms. Liisa Kuuter, M.Sc., MFT

For more information, please contact New Beginnings at 416-921-1163, Ext. 2246.

TCDSB STAFF ARTS PRESENTS HARVEY

Brebeuf College School Theatre
February 26th, &27th, March 5th & 6th

TCDSB Staff Arts presents Harvey,
By Mary Chase, directed by Peter Hart
Performances take place at Brebeuf College School Theatre, 211 Steeles Avenue East (west of Bayview Ave)
When:

  • Friday & Saturday, February 26th & 27th at 7:30
  • Friday & Saturday March 5th & 6th at 7:30

Cost: Tickets: Adults – $17.50 Students – $10
TCDSB Staff Arts is a non-profit community theatre group composed of present and retired members of the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
For more information, call 416-222-8282, Ext. 2787
or visit www.tcdsb.org/staffarts.

THE GREEN CORNER

Our destructiveness can silence creation’s song of praise to God, our care for creation can be a true expression of our own praise.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
England and Wales
The Call of Creation, 2002