Bulletin – May 6

In this week’s bulletin, Eucharistic Ministers for the hospital needed, Catholic Education Week, and registrations for the Children’s Faith Program.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

May 7th to May 9th, 2012

MONDAY – MARGHERITA ROTUNDO Requested by Nick Rotundo & Family
TUESDAY – D’ARCY ATKINS Requested by Pam & Pat Burrell
WEDNESDAY – PARENTS OF KEN & HILLY Requested by Ken & Hilly
THURSDAY – EMMA ABELA-PULIS Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – LORENZO GRECH Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – MARTIN SMEE Requested by the Smee Family

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS FOR NORTH YORK GENERAL HOSPITAL NEEDED

The parish is seeking volunteers to bring communion on Wednesdays to Catholic patients at North York General Hospital. It entails, on average, a two-hour commitment every other Wednesday morning throughout the year.

If you would like to know more about the ministry, please contact Fatima Lee at (416) 221-8866, or email her at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.

This is a volunteer position sponsored jointly by the parish as well as North York General Hospital. All potential candidates would have to go through a screening process as well as attend an interview at the Spiritual and Religious Care Office of the Hospital, where the final decision of suitability will be made.

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Senny Chung who was baptized, confirmed and received her first Communion on Sunday, April 28, 2012. Congratulations!

WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST: CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK – MAY 6TH TO 11TH

Our publicly funded Catholic schools invite parishioners to join them in celebrating Catholic Education Week 2012, which runs from May 6th to May 11th. During this week, the Catholic community celebrates the caring and committed staff, families and parishes who together inspire students to achieve our Catholic Graduate Expectations. For more information about Catholic Education Week visit the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s website at www.tcdsb.org or see the notice on the bulletin board.

Thanks to all those who provide leadership in our schools. In particular we thank the Principal and Staff of St. Gabriel’s School for the wonderful work they do. We pray for all educators and students, giving thanks to God for all those who faithfully spread the Good News.

AN INVITATION TO LEARN!

The Miracles of Jesus (Continued)
Tuesday, May 8th at 7:30 PM

To be Announced
Wednesday, May 9th at 10:30 AM

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, 2012.

URGENTLY NEEDED!

The Children’s Faith Program is looking for volunteers to be catechism teachers to a variety of grades from SK-7. All curriculum material will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lynette Fernandes at 416-502-1743 or by email at lynettefern@yahoo.com.

PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?

It is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic School Board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you (or if your adult child) is planning to apply to teach in a Catholic School a contact with the pastor before Thanksgiving is highly recommended.
Please plan to have a conversation with your Pastor early in the process, well before applications are to be submitted.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $13,750 per week.

Collection for April 22nd, 2012
Loose Change – $1,100
Envelopes (447) – $8,333
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (180) – $3,369
Total – $12,802

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 75 casseroles for April. For May, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of May 26th/27th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. There are now 3 different recipes available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website.

More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. If you require more information or would like to get copies of the recipes and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

SHARELIFE CHALLENGE

A donor has challenged parishioners, schools, employee groups and corporate supporters to match up to $650,000 in new and increased contributions to the 2012 ShareLife Campaign. Should we realize the maximum potential of this effort, over one million new dollars would be raised for the work of our agencies. At a time when our social service agencies are reporting increased demands for their services, these new funds would help to introduce new programs and reduce waiting times for services for the marginalized in our communities.

WORKING WONDERS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES…
Mark, 34, lives in a rural refugee camp in Ghana after surviving the genocide in Rwanda. He fled following a series of threats on his life. The refugee camp is isolated, with few job opportunities and little food support, financial or logistic assistance available. With the help of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, he completed training courses in security guarding and first aid and now volunteers in the camp. He has also been learning English and wrote this letter: “I am ready to work in a restaurant or bar; in a store or factory; agriculture or construction. I can do cleaning, washing clothes and cars. I am not a lazy man. I can use my strength to do any work. I want to have friends to talk to. I want to go to church to meet friends; and to overcome cultural barriers.” In 2011, ShareLife agencies assisted almost 40,000 newly arrived people in the GTA become productive and self-sufficient, through settlement programs.

3rd ShareLife collection – June 3, 2012
Please give generously. You can work WONDERS!

ShareLife Total for 2011: $184,642
ShareLife To Date: $71,832

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the wonderful reception on the occasion of my retirement. I enjoyed the speeches, the music, the gifts and especially meeting and talking to so many of you.
As I begin a new chapter of my life in Wasaga Beach, I will miss the good people of St. Gabe’s but I will never forget you. May God bless you.
Pat Burrell

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION

This Weekend, May 5th and 6th.

Bring your gently used clothing, footwear, textiles and household linens to share with others this weekend, May 5th/6th. A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot, so please share what you can with those less fortunate. They will donate or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support. The truck will be open on Saturday, May 5th from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and all day Sunday, May 6th until 4:00 PM. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.

MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE

5km Fundraising Walk in support of Paediatric Brain Tumour Research
Saturday, May 12th, 2012, 8:30 AM to 12 Noon

On Saturday, May 12th the 11th annual Meagan’s Walk: Creating a Circle of Hope. will take place. Meagan’s walk is an event for the whole community. The “Circle of Hope” sends a clear message to all within – the children, their families, the care giving professionals too – that they are not alone. Registration opens at 8:30 AM at Ontario Place and the Walk begins at 10:00 AM. The Walk concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”, followed by a Street Party and closing festivities including entertainment and a BBQ at SickKids. Proceeds from this event will be split between the Meagan Bebenek Endowment Fund and awareness, research and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids.

Register, Pledge, Donate at www.meaganswalk.com

A WEEKEND OF PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION

May 25th to May 27th
3377 Bayview Avenue

A weekend of prayer and contemplation is being offered by the Sisters of St. Joseph for single women ages 30 to 50 years. The dates are May 25th to 27th, 2012. For more information, please see the flyer on the Bulletin board. Please contact dschweitzer@csj-to.ca or call 416-927-0720.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH CELEBRATING 45 YEARS

May 27th
202 St. Patrick Street, Toronto

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, home of the first Chinese Catholic Centre in Toronto, is celebrating its 45th anniversary on May 27th, 2012. There will be Cantonese and Mandarin Masses at 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM. Bishop William McGrattan will confer the sacrament of Confirmation at the 2:30 Mass.

There will be a dinner of celebration at 6:00 PM at Dim Sum King Seafood Restaurant, 421 Dundas St. East, Toronto. Tickets are $25 for adults and $8 for children. They are available at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 416-598-3920 or through the Knights of Columbus at 416-250-6647.

FAITH CONNECTIONS

Small is Beautiful in an “Up Size It” World
Monday, May 28 – 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Duke of York Pub
39 Prince Arthur Ave (near Bloor St W & Avenue Rd)

Special guest: Luke Stocking, Development & Peace Animator for Central Ontario.
Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics! Munchies provided, cash bar available – come and bring a friend!
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.