In this week’s bulletin: the Christmas schedule, the Rosalie Hall and St. Vincent de Paul Mitten Tree, and the Christmas toy drive.
As you may have noticed we have a new arm at the Sheppard end of the parking lot. This is to eliminate unauthorized parking. The arm will be open to allow parishioners to park for weekday Masses but will close at 9:15 AM. To leave after Mass, please use the Elkhorn exit. If you are visiting the Church at other times, also use Elkhorn Drive to enter and exit. On the weekend, both arms will be open as usual.
November 28th – December 3rd, 2011 MONDAY – VITO STEFANO VIRGILIO – Requested by the Virgilio Family TUESDAY –ELIO RANCATI – Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – GIUSEPPINA SMERIGLIO – Requested by Lina Giannotta THURSDAY – GENEVIEVE VONNEGUT – Requested by M. J. Dell FRIDAY – DANIEL MORIARTY & DAVID SHELDRICK – Requested by Teresa Sheldrick SATURDAY – IRENE DIAS – Requested by Wanda & Jack Wrobel
There will be a Book of Remembrance placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.
The Message of the Christmas Stories in Matthew and Luke December 7 and 14, 2011 (Wednesdays) 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
When biblical writers wanted to express important insights about Jesus’ message and God’s role in human lives, they did not write theology books or history books; they wrote stories. In our Advent series, Noel Cooper will explore the meaning of the familiar Christmas stories found in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Noel Cooper was the Co-coordinator of Religious Education for the York Catholic School Board until his retirement. He has taught children and teachers about the Bible for more than forty years. Noel holds degrees in Theology and Scripture, and has published three books about Scripture. For more information about him, please go to www.noelcooper.ca
Hope you can join us. The suggested donation is $10 per session, or whatever your means allow. To help us with our planning and set up, please call the Parish Office at 416 221-8866 to register; or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca.
IMPORTANT: Please bring your bible with you for both evenings.
CONFESSIONS Saturday, December 17th
MASSES CHRISTMAS EVE Saturday, December 24th No 4:30 PM Mass Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only
CHRISTMAS DAY Sunday, December 25th Office Closed
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26th No Mass, Office Closed
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27th No Mass, Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S EVE Saturday, December 31st Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S DAY – FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD Sunday, January 1st Office Closed
MONDAY, JANUARY 2nd No Mass, Office Closed
Tues, December 13th at 7:30 PM Trinity Presbyterian Church 2737 Bayview Avenue (just south of the 401)
Will Christmas be difficult to celebrate this year because of the loss of a loved one? St. Gabriel’s, the other Christian Churches and the North York Hospital Chaplaincy are offering a Christmas Service for Those Who Mourn on Tuesday, December 13th t at 7:30 PM at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM Rehearsal: Sunday, December 18th 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. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 18th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 18th 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.
Sunday, December 4th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
Sunday, December 4th at the 12:30 PM Mass.
The Miracles of Jesus Tuesday, December 6th at 7:30 PM Wednesday, December 7th at 10:30 AM
In past years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings have been devoted to religious topics decided on by those who wish to participate.
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society and Rosalie Hall. 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 18th.
This Christmas, St. Vincent de Paul is looking to provide mittens for 36 needy kids. If you are able to participate in this drive please look for our Christmas “mitten” tree in the Gathering Space by November 26th. There you can select a “mitten” tag from the tree that describes the gender and age of the child you would like to support. You may also choose a “Christmas Stocking” tag to buy mittens for a toddler at Rosalie Hall. Mittens should be gift wrapped with the original tag attached and delivered to the drop box by the “mitten” tree no later than December 16. Thanks for your generosity.
Thank you for your generous gift of music in this year’s Mass to End Woman Abuse. Your willingness to share this wonderful talent and waive the fee for this Special Mass is gratefully noted. Many are still talking about the Mass and the heartwarming music which you all provided. We are blessed to count you among our dear friends.
Our operating expenses average $14,000 per week. Last week’s collection: Loose Change – $1,100 Envelopes (366) – $7,724 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (163) – $3,194 Total – $12,018
The “Pre-Authorized Giving” Plan (PAG), authorized and supported by the Archdiocese of Toronto, is a direct debit program. It allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal on or about the 20th of each month. Participation in the PAG provides a regular dependable cash flow of contributions to the parish and enables us to better manage the Parish finances. PAG brochures and sign-up forms are available in the Parish Office and on the tables at the back of the Church.
The 2012 Offertory Boxed Envelopes will soon be available in the in the Gathering Space. We ask that you do not use envelopes from previous years as the number may have been reassigned. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records and label your box correctly. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2012.
In the 60 years since the founding of our Parish, we have grown not only in numbers, but also in diversity. Today St. Gabriel’s is a community that is very multicultural. Our parishioners come from all corners of the world, yet we remain this One Body of Christ.
We are looking into organizing an international potluck dinner in January – to celebrate and experience this diversity of culture – provided that there is enough interest. Different ethnic groups will bring in their traditional foods to share with others. This way we hope to get to know and appreciate more one another’s culture.
If you are interested and/or wish to help organize this event, please contact Fatima Lee at (416) 221-8866 or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca. Hope we’ll get an array of cultures and traditions!
This Bulletin entry was posted on Sunday, November 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.
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