In this week’s bulletin, registration for the Children’s Faith Program, Catholic Education Week, and the St. Vincent de Paul Bundle-up collection.
To the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto: In my years of pastoral ministry as priest and bishop, I have become sadly aware of the grievous suffering experienced by individuals and families because of gambling dependence. We are now engaged in debating a plan for a major new casino in our area. Although at the moment this debate concerns Toronto, many of the other proposed sites are also within our archdiocese, and so I am writing to offer pastoral guidance to our Catholic community. This current discussion is an appropriate occasion for each of us to reflect more deeply upon the effects of gambling in our community. In recent years governments have more and more used gambling to increase tax revenue, proposing as well that gambling benefits the economy. It is understandable that governments are tempted by the prospect of what seems to be an easy way to do that. Even if there were significant long-term economic benefits, however, and that is far from clear, the establishment of a new casino will have a negative social impact that outweighs such benefits, and will have an adverse effect on the vitality and social health of our community. As a Catholic community, we should ponder carefully the proposals before our elected officials and add informed commentary to the discussion. Is yet another major casino a truly wholesome development that enhances the quality of life in our community? Does even more gambling make for a better society for individuals and for families? Can we support the further extension of a reality which already causes significant harm to the most vulnerable among us?
To the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto:
In my years of pastoral ministry as priest and bishop, I have become sadly aware of the grievous suffering experienced by individuals and families because of gambling dependence.
We are now engaged in debating a plan for a major new casino in our area. Although at the moment this debate concerns Toronto, many of the other proposed sites are also within our archdiocese, and so I am writing to offer pastoral guidance to our Catholic community.
This current discussion is an appropriate occasion for each of us to reflect more deeply upon the effects of gambling in our community.
In recent years governments have more and more used gambling to increase tax revenue, proposing as well that gambling benefits the economy. It is understandable that governments are tempted by the prospect of what seems to be an easy way to do that. Even if there were significant long-term economic benefits, however, and that is far from clear, the establishment of a new casino will have a negative social impact that outweighs such benefits, and will have an adverse effect on the vitality and social health of our community.
As a Catholic community, we should ponder carefully the proposals before our elected officials and add informed commentary to the discussion. Is yet another major casino a truly wholesome development that enhances the quality of life in our community? Does even more gambling make for a better society for individuals and for families? Can we support the further extension of a reality which already causes significant harm to the most vulnerable among us?
Sincerely in Christ, Thomas Cardinal Collins Archbishop of Toronto
To read the letter in its entirety, please visit. the archdiocese website: www.archtoronto.org/gaming where you will also find additional resources, questions for reflection and assistance for those who may be struggling with a gambling addiction. May we join together in offering our prayers and support for the most vulnerable among us.
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, April 21st, 2013. Congratulations!
April 29th to May 4th, 2013
MONDAY – STELLA LO Requested by Winnie & Nick Woo TUESDAY – VICTOR JOSEPH Requested by the Family WEDNESDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD Requested by the Persaud & Goldenberg Families THURSDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE NGUYEN FAMILY Requested by the Family FRIDAY – ABANDONED SOULS Requested by the Nguyen Family SATURDAY – MARTIN SMEE Requested by the Smee Family
Tuesday, April 30th at 7:30 PM or Thursday, May 2nd at 10:30 AM
An Overview of the Old Testament – now known as the ‘Hebrew Scriptures’. For information please call Mary at 416-293-3760.
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, 2013.
Celebrating Excellence in Catholic Education May 5th to May 10th, 2013
We invite all parishioners to join in celebrating Catholic Education Week 2013, which runs from May 5th to May 10th. For more than 160 years, Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools have been integrating our faith into all aspects of school life, empowering one another to serve as faithful disciples. We celebrate the distinctive contribution that Catholic schools make, giving thanks and offering our prayers for all those who diligently nurture this precious gift. For more information about Catholic Education Week or to find your local school board, visit goodnewsforall.ca or the Archdiocese of Toronto online at: www.archtoronto.org.
Weekend of May 11th & 12th
The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 11th/12th. Bring your gently used clothing and household linens to share with others. A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. We will donate or sell these donations to support our outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support. The truck will be open on Saturday, May 11th from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and all day Sunday, May 12th until 4:00 PM. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.
Working wonders for refugees and immigrants…
Immigrants who are internationally trained professionals are finding it difficult to access regulated professions. Prohibitively high barriers to accreditation (barriers that many Canadian born and educated professionals couldn’t meet) mean that many of our most promising immigrants are unable to fully participate in their new country.
ShareLife agencies are working hard to deal with these difficulties and remove the accreditation barriers. In 2012, ShareLife agencies assisted nearly 40,000 newly arrived people in the GTA to become productive and self-sufficient.
SHARELIFE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Through the ShareLife Community Challenge, a generous parishioner in the Archdiocese of Toronto will match all new or increased gifts to the 2013 ShareLife Campaign up to a total of $800,000! Together, as a Catholic community, we have an opportunity to respond to this challenge and make a significant impact on the work of our agencies.
ShareLife Total for 2012: $208,317 Share Life to Date: $103,452.18
Third ShareLife collection – May 26, 2013. Please give generously. You can work wonders
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for April 21st, 2013
Envelopes (422) – $7,564 Loose Change – $1,226 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving (186) – $3,555 Total – $12,345
Please remember to put your full name(s) on your Offertory envelopes.
May 2nd to May 5th
A Women ACTS Retreat will take place on May 2nd – 5th, based on the theme of Adoration, Community, Theology and Service. For further information or to register for either retreat, please call 905-278-5229.
Weekend of May 3rd to May 5th
RETROUVAILLE: Help for Troubled Marriages is a live-in weekend program followed by a number of Post sessions to help married couples through difficult times in their marriage relationships. It provides the tools necessary to rediscover each other and examine their lives together in a new and positive way. For confidential information or to register for a weekend, visit the web site at: www.torontoretrouvaille.com or call 416-281-6007.
For those who have lost a loved one through Death, Separation or Divorce.
May 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Archdiocese of Toronto Pastoral Centre – 1155 Yonge St., 4th Floor (on the North East corner of Yonge and Shaftesbury, beside the Summerhill subway station. There is free underground parking off Shaftesbury)
Come and join us for an informative evening: Our Facilitator is Father Brian Clough J.C.D., Topic: “Annulment: Healing the Wounds of Divorce.” Pre-registration is NOT required.
For more information, please contact Deacon James Shaughnessy, MSW., RSW., Psyn.D. at 416-921-1163 ext 2227 or email jshaughn@cfstoronto.com.
5km Fundraising Walk and Hug Saturday, May 11th, 2013 Beginning at Fort York 8:30 AM to 12 Noon
On Saturday, May 11th, the twelfth annual Meagan’s Walk: -Creating a Circle of Hope will take place. Registration opens at 8:30 AM at Fort York and the Walk begins at 10:00 AM. The Walk concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”, followed by closing festivities, a brief stage presentation and a BBQ at SickKids. All proceeds will be split between the Meagan Bebenek Endowment Fund and awareness, research and treatment of paediatric brain tumors at SickKids.
Register, Pledge, Donate at www.meaganswalk.com
This Bulletin entry was posted on Sunday, April 28th, 2013.
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 »
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk