Bulletin – January 5, 2014

ANNOUNCED MASSES

January 6th – January 11th, 2014

MONDAY – JOVITA & FRANCISCO PINO – Requested by Josie Pino
TUESDAY –
WEDNESDAY –
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY – FRANK HAYWARD – Requested by Phyllis Hayward
SATURDAY – ELISEO BUMAGAT – Requested by Reyna & Family

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BRANDO

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thank you, good people, for your overwhelming generosity this Christmas season. Thanks to you, St. Gabriel’s was able to provide toys, food and gifts to Rosalie Hall, the Catholic Children’s Aid, the Good Shepherd Centre and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
A special thank you to our neighbours the St. Gabriel’s Village Condos for their generous support of our food and toy drives. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

THE LEPROSY MISSION OF CANADA
USED STAMP COLLECTION

At this time of year, many have received Christmas cards. 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.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 34 casseroles for December. For January, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 25th/26th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. There are 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.

THANK YOU FROM THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

A big Thank You to the students of St. Gabriel’s for their food drive and their help in sorting and packing. YOU made a difference.The generous support from parishioners was outstanding…The Giving Tree toys and mittens and donations were so appreciated. We thank Father Brando and all the staff for their continuing help and support.We are blessed with good people here at St. Gabriel’s. 32 families had a brighter Christmas, in spite of the ice storm! Thank you all. May God bless you and yours in 2014.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for December 15th, 2013: $13,852
Collection for December 22nd, 2013: $10,118
Christmas Collection To Date: $11,437
Collection for December 29th, 2013: $14,326

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014

Please pick up your 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes as soon as possible. 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 2014

We would like to remind you not to use envelopes from previous years as this number may have been reassigned to another family.

OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD

You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website
(www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.

Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.

NEW BEGINNINGS: CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICES

Tuesday, January 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street, 4th Floor

“Gratitude: A Powerful Attitude for Healing When We Have Suffered a Loss”

An Inspirational Presentation with Fr. Fred Scinto, C.R.at the Archdiocese of Toronto Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St. 4th Floor on Tuesday, January 7th from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. For more information, please call Deacon James Shaughnessy at 416-921-1163 ext. 2227 or email jshaughn@cfstoronto.com

MASS FOR THE WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Sunday, January 19th – 3:00 P.M.
St. Paul’s Basilica 83 Power Street, Toronto

Did you know that 160 parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto are involved in sponsoring refugees to resettle in Canada? Join us for a Mass to celebrate the many individuals and families who have escaped turmoil to resettle in Canada and to pray for those still seeking to leave areas of war and strife. Bishop McGrattan will preside. Mass is hosted by the Mission of the Vietnamese Martyrs. A special invitation is extended to those who have been involved in refugee sponsorship across the archdiocese. For more information, visit www.archtoronto.org. All are welcome.

FAITH CONNECTIONS

A Date to Remember: Catholic Speed Dating
Saturday, January 25th — 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Newman Centre, 89 St George St, Toronto

Faith Connections and the Newman Young Adult Ministry invite single young adults (18-39) to a Catholic Speed Dating evening, followed by a dance social! Tickets: $30 (if a concern, contact us). Registrants will be divided into age groups. Registration is required by January 17th. Please contact Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt by phone at 416-467-2645 or e-mail faithconnections@csj-to.ca

DANCE SOCIAL AND FUNDRAISER

Saturday, January 25th , — 9:00 P.M.
Newman Centre, 89 St George St, Toronto

Faith Connections and the Newman Young Adult Ministry invite young adults (18-39) to a New Year’s Dance Social and charity fundraiser! Tickets: $10. Snacks and refreshments provided. For more information, e-mail nyamtoronto@gmail.com or call Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt at 416-467-2645.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

January 26 – 3:00 P.M.
St. Paul’s Basilica
83 Power St., Toronto

An Ecumenical prayer service with His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, Slovak Catholic Bishop John Pazak, Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald and other local religious leaders will be held on Sunday, January 26th at 3:00 P.M. This service is the final event of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which will take place January 18th -25th.
For more information, contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400, ext. 344.