Bulletin – May 15

In this week’s bulletin, the school fun fair, the Faith Connections retreat, and Nous Parlons Francais.

DARCY ATKINS

It is with great sadness that we announce the recent death of Dr. D’Arcy Atkins, our organist, who has enriched the liturgies both at St. Gabriel’s and St. Bonaventure’s Parishes with his music for the last seventeen years. We would like to express our sincere sympathies to his wife, Linda and her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. His funeral was held here on Saturday, May 14th. He will be greatly missed.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

May 16th – May 21st, 2011

MONDAY – ROMUALDA RAMIREZ Requested by the Rementilla Family
TUESDAY – BERT SHEA Requested by Fran Murphy
WEDNESDAY – YVONNE GRANT Requested by Maryann & Fergus O’Connor
THURSDAY – EDNA & GERRY HATCH Requested by Jackie & Marilyn
FRIDAY – ANA SOFIA NAMSCIMENTO, MARIO FREIRE & LUIS FREIRE Requested by the Nascimento family
SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE Requested by Marie Calderone

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM REGISTRATION

Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program for next year are now available in the Parish Office. Please note that all registrations must be returned by June 30th, 2011. If your child will be receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist or Confirmation, please fill out a Registration form for the Sacraments. These are also available in the Office.

AN INVITATION TO LEARN!

The Story of the Mass
Wednesday, May 18th at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, May 24th at 7:30 PM

SHARELIFE

Working wonders for immigrants and refugees

The Shakar family left their home in Iraq in the face of anti-Christian sentiment in the area. They fled to Jordan where they struggled to survive – as refugees, the parents couldn’t work and the kids couldn’t go to school. With the help of the Office for Refugees, a ShareLife agency, the family found their way to Canada. Today, the Shakar couple are working and productive and their children enjoy going to school and meeting new friends. In 2009, ShareLife agencies assisted almost 40,000 newly arrived people in the GTA become productive and self-sufficient, through settlement programs.

3rd ShareLife collection – June 5, 2011
Please give generously. You can work WONDERS!

ShareLife Collection 2010: $187,836.42
ShareLife Collection To Date: $118,533.94

SHARE YOUR STORY WITH SHEPHERD’S TRUST

The Shepherds’ Trust is about caring for those who always cared for us – our priests.  They were with us to celebrate our marriage and blessed the exchanging of our vows.  They baptized our children and welcomed them into the faith. They were by our side to console and provide strength, during periods of uncertainty and great sadness. This is why thousands of parishioners give to the Shepherds’ Trust. They have a personal story. And a donation is one way to give thanks for making a life-long commitment to others. How has a priest played a meaningful role in your life? The Shepherds’ Trust wants you to share your story. Submit your story by emailing mrogucki@archtoronto.org or by visiting the website at www.shepherdstrust.org or mail them to:
The Shepherd’s Trust, c/o Marisa Rogucki
Catholic Pastoral Centre
1155 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1W2

NATIONAL CATHOLIC MISSION DVD

A DVD of the National Catholic Mission which took place here at St. Gabriel’s Church on April 4th and 5th will be on sale after all the Masses on the weekend of May 28th and 29th. The cost is $10. If you miss buying your copy, the DVD may be ordered from the National Catholic Broadcasting Council at 905-884-6899.

CONGRATULATIONS PATRICK BURRELL!

Congratulations to our own Patrick Burrell who was recognized by the Archdiocese of Toronto for 25 years of loyal service to St. Gabriel’s Parish at a special Mass held Monday, May 9th at St. Paul’s Basilica. He was presented with a pin and a certificate by Archbishop Thomas Collins and Bishop William McGrattan. We are all very grateful for Pat’s dedication and hard work.

GABRIEL SCHOOL FUN FAIR

May 28th, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s School

Join the St. Gabriel’s School Community for a day of food and fun in the summer sun for the whole family.

Car Wash, Giant Jurassic Slide, Snow cones and cotton candy, Hamburgers, hot dogs, Chips & drinks, Carnival games and more!

NOUS PARLONS FRANCAIS

Every Thursday at 10:00 AM, we meet for an hour in the library with our varying levels of fluency. We have talked about meeting at 11:00 AM as this may suit people better. We’ll give notice if this is decided.

FAITH CONNECTIONS VILLAGE EARTH OUTREACH

A Retreat for Young Adults (18-39)
May 27th at 8:00 PM to May 29th at 1:00 PM
Villa St. Joseph
445 Monk Street, Cobourg, Ontario.

There is a growing scientific awareness of the earth and of our current ecological crises — how does this connect with our faith journey?
Come for a weekend of exploration, reflection, prayer and celebration at the beautiful lakefront Villa St. Joseph in Cobourg, Ontario.
Cost: is $120, including accommodation and meals.
Space is limited!
Registration deadline is 2 weeks prior to the retreat.
To register contact Sr. Joan by email: villa@eagle.ca or by phone: 905-372-2741

QUEEN OF APOSTLES RENEWAL CENTRE DAY OF RETREAT FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS

Saturday, June 11, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre will hold a retreat for widows and widowers on Saturday, June 11 at the Centre in Mississauga. The theme is The Mystery of Jesus in our Loss. Lunch is included. The day concludes with Mass.
To register or for further information call 905-278-5229.

COLLECTION

Our operating expenses average $13,300 per week.
May 7th/8th

Loose Change – $1,323
Envelopes (425) – $8,259
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (158) – $3,167
Total – $12,749

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

The“Pre-Authorized Giving” plan allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal. This system is widely used in the Archdiocese of Toronto and is a safe and convenient method of giving for those interested. Forms, in a sealed envelope, may be placed in the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Office

GREEN CORNER

The production of farmed salmon in the North Atlantic is 600,000 tons a year—300 times greater than the wild salmon catch. Because farms are often sited along wild salmon migration routes, diseases pass easily between farmed and wild fish. Devastating outbreaks of sea lice in wild fish—with up to 98% mortality—in British Columbia, Scotland, and Norway have been linked to lice outbreaks on densely stocked salmon farms nearby. Some fish farm diseases can even spread to other wild species, including turbot, halibut, and sea trout.

Farm salmon live on pellets of compound feed composed primarily of fish meal and fish oil, which are produced by grinding up small, silvery, schooling fish like anchovies, mackerel, herring, and capelin. It takes about 5 tons of these fish to make a tone of fish meal, and about 10 tons to make a tone of fish oil. As a result, for every ton of salmon harvested on a farm, 3 to 4 tons of fish are removed from the sea.

John C. Ryan, “Feedlots of the sea”
World Watch 16, no.5 (2003): 24