Bulletin – January 22

In this week’s bulletin, the World Day for Consecrated Life, Philippines relief, and casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

January 23rd – January 28th, 2012

MONDAY
TUESDAY – ANNE GRACE THOMAS RAJAN Requested by Therese
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY – MANUEL COSTA Requested by Celeste Costa
FRIDAY
SATURDAY – JANE & BASIL MULLIGAN Requested by the Family

MEETING FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION AND HOLY COMMUNION

Thursday, February 9th, at 7:30 PM

On Thursday, February 9th at 7:30 there will be a meeting for parents only of children who will be receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion for the first time. The meeting will be held here in the Church.
The books We Discover God’s Path and We Share in the Eucharist will be distributed at that time. Please ensure that you get 2 books and help your child learn and review the content.

MASS FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

Sunday, January 30th, 2011 at 3:00 PM
St. Paul’s Basilica,

On Thursday, February 2nd, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

In the Archdiocese of Toronto, we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 1,050 religious men and women of over 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

All are welcome to come to a special Mass next Sunday, January 29th at 3:00 PM at St. Paul’s Basilica to celebrate with and pray for these men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our Diocese.

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Kenneth Takahiro Christopher Wakabayashi. He received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, January 15th, 2012. Congratulations Kenneth!

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 Miracles of Jesus
Tuesday, January 31st at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, February 1st at 10:30 AM

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,000 per week.

Collection for January 8th, 2011
Loose Change – $961
Envelopes (448) – $9,110
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (168) – $3,246
Total – $13,317

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

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.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2012

Please pick up your 2012 Offertory Boxed Envelopes in the Gathering Space. If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for next year, please contact the Parish Office. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations. If you have recently changed your address or phone number, it would be helpful if you would let us know at this time.
We would like to remind you not to use envelopes from previous years as this number has been reassigned to another family.

PAG MEMBERS

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. Your box can be found on the table beside the regular offertory boxes in the Gathering Space.

PHILIPPINES FLOOD RELIEF

Nearly 1000 people are reported dead and hundreds more are still missing after flash floods in the Philippines when Typhoon Washi hit southern Mindanao Island and surrounding areas in December. An estimated 40,000 people, many of whom were already desperately poor, are now living in evacuation centres after losing their homes and possessions.
Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways:

  • Online through the Archdiocesan website
  • By phone through the Development Office:
    1-800-263-2595 or 416-934-3411
  • Through the parish, making cheques payable to:
    St. Gabriel’s Parish – Philippines – Flood Relief

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 28th /29th, 2012 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to get a copy of the casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

WORLD LEPROSY DAY USED STAMP COLLECTION

Sunday, January 29th is World Leprosy Day. Please take a few moments to remember the children, women and men living with leprosy. Please remember to bring us your used postage stamps. These are passed on to the Leprosy Mission of Canada helping them work towards the day when leprosy is eradicated. They are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border. Stamps may be deposited in the basket on the cabinet just outside the Parish Office.

EVENING FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

Tuesday, February 7th at 7:30 PM in the Gabriel Room

Would you be interested in meeting other parents from the parish who are parenting young children, age 6 and younger?   If so, please come out on Tuesday, February 7th at 7:30 PM in the Gabriel Room to meet others and talk about the commonalities about parenting little ones. 

The evening will be facilitated by Judy Johnston, a parishioner of ours, who is a nurse-educator. Judy has facilitated parenting groups professionally. She had been a participant in parent networking groups when her children were small, and found that experience to be most beneficial.

To allow for a more focused discussion, this evening is intended to be for adults only, either mom, dad or both.  To register, please call or email the parish office (416) 221-8866, stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca.  If you would like to have further information about the meeting, please contact Judy Johnston at (416) 733-0024.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2012 ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICE

Sunday, January 22, 2012 – 3:00 p.m.
St. Michael’s Cathedral
200 Church Street (at the corner of Shuter & Church Streets)

Come and join us in prayer with His Grace Archbishop Thomas Collins, joined by His Grace Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse, Slovak Catholic Bishop John Pazak, Assyrian Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Mar Emmanuel and other city-wide religious leaders this Sunday, January 22nd at 3:00 PM at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Refreshments will follow in Parish Hall. For further information, please contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400 ext. 344.

ST. GABRIEL’S MULTICULTURAL POTLUCK DINNER

Sunday, January 29th 2012
5:00 to 7:30 PM
Gathering Space

Thank you for a phenomenal response to the Potluck Dinner! All tickets were sold on the weekend of January 7th/8th.
At last count, twenty-two different ethnic groups were represented.

We look forward to an evening of diverse culinary and cultural experience. It will also be a wonderful opportunity for us to meet on a more personal level.

Participants are encouraged to come to the Dinner in their ethnic costumes!

DREAMS OF FLYING CONCERT

Featuring the Sneak Peek Orchestra
St.Gabriel’s Church
February 4th at 7:30 PM

The Sneak Peek Orchestra is pleased to present its major concert of the 2011/12 season, Dreams of Flying.
on February 4th, 2012 at 7:30 PM. Toronto composer Rob Teehan’s Juno-nominated Dreams of Flying will open the concert, followed by Kevin Lau’s newest creation, Foundation. Dazzling soloist Rachel Mercer will perform this cello concerto. Finally, return to earth but let your spirit soar with Ludwig von Beethoven’s epic masterpiece, Symphony No. 7 in A major. The concert will take place here at St. Gabriel’s Church.
Tickets will be available after all the Masses this week and next and will also be sold at the door. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Check out www.sneakpeekorchestra.com for more information.

THEOLOGY ON TAP: RELIGION AND PUBLIC POLICY

Monday, January 30, 2012 – 7:00PM – 9:00 PM
Duke of York Pub
39 Prince Arthur Ave (near Bloor St W & Avenue Rd)

Special guest: The Very Rev. Lois M. Wilson, CC, retired Senator and first female moderator of the United Church of Canada.
For more information: visit our Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt by e-mail faithconnections@csj-to.ca, or phone 416-467-2645.