In this week’s bulletin, the National Catholic Mission returns, and the Sharelife collection.
From the desk of Fr. Paul
While Lent and Easter come a little later than usual this year, it is nonetheless fast approaching. This year the parish will be launching a special Lenten program: Lent 4.5.
The Lent 4.5 program is developed by the Passionist Earth & Spirit Centre based in Kentucky, USA (It is an unusual name, but in time you’ll hear more about it). Through the program, we approach the Lenten season of purification and repentance with a particular focus on how our lifestyles affect creation, as well as the poor of this world. It gives the traditional Lenten practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving a whole new meaning.
Beginning February 27th, each week during Lent, there will be an additional insert to our Parish Bulletin, covering a variety of themes, such as Christian simplicity, food, energy, water. Each week the particular theme will be explained in the insert, along with what the Church teaches on the subject. There will also be simple actions suggested so that if we decide to, we can make a difference in caring for the poor and for God’s creation.
We encourage you to take a few moments each week, using the insert to ponder and reflect. Hopefully this Lent will be for you a new experience of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
March 28th to April 2nd 2011
MONDAY – ELOISA JEREZ Requested by Ivana, Eduardo Carlos & Ruth Korman TUESDAY – JOSEPH DOAN Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – Requested by the Family THURSDAY – BARRY BRADBURY Requested by Peggy & Family FRIDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD Requested by the Persaud Family SATURDAY – BURT & EVA BURTON Requested by Diane & Sylvia Burton
Wednesday, April 13th at 7:30 PM
This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God. Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin. Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God. For those who wish, individual confessions will be celebrated after the service. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.
Stations of the Cross Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM Reconciliation Service Wednesday, April 13th at 7:30 PM Palm Sunday April 17th
Holy Thursday April 21st
Good Friday April 22nd
Holy Saturday April 23rd
Easter Sunday April 24th: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Easter Monday April 25th
Extra parking at Elkhorn Public School
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Shawniqua Coke and Abigail Ella Taweel. These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 20th, 2011. Congratulations!
Wednesday, April 20th at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room
This annual parish event is again being sponsored by the Pastoral team. Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. Passover is a religious family meal celebrating Jewish freedom from slavery. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. Why do we celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 by Friday, April 15th to book your table of 6 or 8, or to have your name added to a table.
Sunday, April 3rd at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
The Story of the Mass Tuesday, April 5th at 7:30 PM Wednesday, April 6th at 10:30 AM
During the Good Friday Service, our parish in communion with the Church turns itself towards Jerusalem. It commemorates Jesus, his sorrowful passion and his love for us and all humanity. That is also where we share a common solidarity towards the Holy Sites and the faithful who live there. Our gesture of solidarity becomes an extension of the Pope’s hand that reaches out to the Holy Sites where Jesus has lived and given testimony. On Good Friday, there will be a Pontifical collection for the Holy Land in support of Christian communities, the work of the Holy land, the upkeep of the Holy Sites and the formation of future priests. Let us give generously and shoe solidarity to respond to the needs of the Church in the land of Jesus.
Working wonders for people with special needs
George, 64, a man with developmental challenges, was sick, undernourished, facing eviction, and had no place to turn. Mary Centre, a ShareLife agency, advocated for George to transition to a nearby nursing home. They were convinced George’s life would have been in great jeopardy if he had been evicted – he likely would have died anonymously in squalor. Today, he receives care and support, sharing the small joys of life with people around him on a daily basis. ShareLife funded agencies assisted over 20,000 people with special needs last year, affirming their value to our society.
Next Sunday, April 3, 2011 is ShareLife Sunday. Please give generously. You can work WONDERS!
Easter Egg Sale April 2nd /3rd
To raise funds for the Marguerite Bourgeoys Family Centre, the St. Gabriel’s Youth Group will be selling hand-made dark chocolate Easter eggs for $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00 before and after the Masses on April 2nd and 3rd. Your support will help the Centre promote and maintain their service in the Diocese.
The Heart of the Matter April 3 and 4th from 7:15 – 9:00 PM
This year’s National Catholic Mission, “The Heart of the Matter,” will be taped for television at St. Gabriel’s Church on Sunday and Monday evenings, April 3 and 4th from 7:15 -9:00 PM. It will be hosted by Father Jack Lynch from the Scarborough Missions and our speakers will be Fr. Donald Senior and Sr. Melannie Svoboda. They will be joined by Richard Foty, Marilyn Calderone, Carina Sandejas, Mike Nasello, Alesandra Trimmeliti, and some of the Alumni from St. Michael’s Choir School. Please join us for one or both evenings and help us create a special Lenten celebration for the faithful of Canada.
Next weekend, Vision TV will be here at St. Gabriel’s to set up for the taping of the National Catholic Mission to be held here on April 3rd and April 4th. Due to this, Eucharistic Adoration, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary Groups and the Family Mass will be cancelled for this month.
March 19/20th Our operating expenses average $14,000 per week.
Loose Change – $1,144 Envelopes (472) – $8,751 Weekly Portion of PAG (150) – $2,976 Total – $12,871
Highlights from the Bulletin insert:
Creator God, Your waters refresh our bodies and give life to the Earth. From the hardness of our hearts, bring forth the waters of compassion and care. Open our hearts to the water crisis of our world. Teach us to use our sacred waters wisely. Amen.
Creator God, Your waters refresh our bodies and give life to the Earth. From the hardness of our hearts, bring forth the waters of compassion and care. Open our hearts to the water crisis of our world. Teach us to use our sacred waters wisely.
Amen.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Sunday, March 27th, 2011.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
Learn about Passionists and our insignia »
Listen to the audio
Watch Fr. Paul Cusack’s Funeral Mass (video)
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk