Bulletin – March 2, 2014

Just a reminder…

Daylight Savings Time begins next weekend. Please remember to set your clocks forward 1 hour on Saturday evening.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who wish to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.

Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: March 31st, April 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 28th, 29th, 30, May 1st, or May 2nd.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th or 16th.

Please call the Parish Office to book your appointment with Fr. Brando as soon as possible.

ASH WEDNESDAY

March 5th, 2014

March 5th is Ash Wednesday. Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day. During Lent, we encourage your attendance at our daily weekday Masses at 9:00 AM.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 3rd to March 8th, 2014

MONDAY – ANNE IHNAT – Requested by Rachel Lim
TUESDAY – ST. ANTHONY & ALL THE SAINTS – Requested by Mrs. Olga D’Souza
WEDNESDAY 12:00 NOON – NIKOLA PETRANOVIC – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – ALEC CHAN – Requested by Mary Chan
FRIDAY – MARIETTA CAPPA – Requested by Maurus Cappa
SATURDAY – GORDON OATWAY – Requested by the Family

DAYS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE

During Lent there are two days of Fast and Abstinence, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence means to abstain from eating meat. This applies to all Catholics 14 years of age and older. Fasting means that your two smaller meals combined should not be larger than your main meal. There is no eating between meals. This applies to healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM.

We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you so much to the volunteers who prepared 64 casseroles for February. For March, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of March 29th/30th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. There are now 3 different recipes available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website. If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

CANADIAN TIRE MONEY – MATERCARE

Since our last report, we have collected another $95 in Canadian Tire money in support of Matercare International. This association of Catholic Obstetricians and Gynecologists working in developing countries, is dedicated to improving the lives and health of mothers and their children, both unborn and born, through initiatives of service, training, research and advocacy. Thank you for your continuing support of this worthwhile campaign.

NEW BEGINNINGS: ART AND PRAYER AS A PATH OF HEALING GRIEF

Tuesday, March 4th from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Catholic Pastoral Centre: 1155 Yonge St. 4th Floor (Parking available)

On Tuesday, March 4th, New Beginnings will present an inspirational talk with Michael Stoeber, Professor of Religion and Spirituality at Regis College, The Jesuit School of Theology at the University of Toronto. Pre registration is NOT required. For enquiries please contact Deacon James Shaughnessy MSW., RSW., Psyn.D. at Catholic Family Services of Toronto 416-921-1163 ext 2227 or by email jshaughn@cfstoronto.com).

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

Friday, March 7th at 1:30 PM
Forest Grove United Church, 43 Forest Grove Drive

World Day of Prayer is an annual worldwide ecumenical service which began in 1922 in Canada and the United States. It is now observed in 170 countries around the world. Each participating country takes its turn selecting the theme and writing the service.

Forest Grove United Church invites us to join them at this year’s service, written by the Christian women of Egypt, entitled “Stream in the Desert”. All are welcome to attend.

WALKING IN FAITH, GROWING IN LOVE, LIVING IN HOPE: THE CATHOLIC JOURNEY

St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street, Toronto
Thursday evenings, March 11th to April 1st
7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.

This series is an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of Catholicism and to live their faith more eagerly as disciples of Jesus Christ, based upon the four major sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1. Profession of Faith
2. The Celebration of the Christian Mystery
3. Life in Christ
4. Christian Prayer

Sessions will include presentations, multimedia, reading, discussion, prayer and reflection.
To register, call the Office of Formation for Discipleship at
416-934-3400 ext. 523
On-Line Form: www.archtoronto.org/discipleship
Fax: 416-934-3431
Email: formation@archtoronto.org

BIBLE BASICS FOR CATHOLICS

Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street
(Located beside Summerhill subway station.)

Tuesday evenings, March 11th to April 1st
7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Come and learn the basics about the Bible, according to the Catholic teaching and traditions in four faith formation sessions. The sessions will include multimedia presentations, reflection, prayer and discussion, and will answer the basic questions: What is the Bible? What is in it? What do I do with it? How do Catholics pray with Scripture?

To register, call the Office of Formation for Discipleship at
416-934-3400 ext. 523
On-Line Form: www.archtoronto.org/discipleship
Fax: 416-934-3431
Email: formation@archtoronto.org

CRITICAL TOPICS IN CATHOLIC BIOETHICS

Our Perspective on: Reproductive Issues
Paulist Ministry Centre, 830 Bathurst across from the Bathurst Subway station.
Tuesdays, March 4th to March 25th at 7:00 P.M.

These presentations will include the following topics: Stem Cell Research: End of Life Issues; Prolonging Life, Terminal Sedation; Health-care Directives; Palliative Care; Physician-assisted Suicide; Sacrament of the Sick; Spiritual Needs.

It will be given by Dr. Moira McQueen, Executive Director of Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute-on consecutive Tuesdays, March 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th at 7:00 P.M. For more information call 416-534-2326.

HEARING THE WHISPERS IN MY HEART: The Art of Discernment

Saturday, March 22nd from 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Loretto College, 70 St. Mary Street

This workshop will be presented by a team of men and women religious. It is a day to reflect on making choices in life. It will be given at Loretto College, 70 St. Mary Street, Toronto (south of Bay/Bloor Subway).

The suggested donation is $25 (lunch included). For further information, please contact Sister Rosemary Fry, CSJ at 416-285-4166 or by email at rfry@csj-to.ca.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

Holy Cross Cemetery 8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill
Saturday, March 22nd, at 9:00 A.M.

Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese estate planning team will share:
– How to protect your loved ones with a proper Will
– How to ensure your wishes are legally protected
– About Powers of Attorney
– The cost savings of making an estate plan
– Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors
– Our Catholic traditions around wills, burial and funerals

An estate planning kit and DVD will be provided at no cost. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP: Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries
416.733-8544 ext. 237 or fjannetta@ccat.on.ca

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for last weekend:

Envelopes 406 $8,883
Loose Change $1,005
Weekly Portion of PAG 177 $3,307
(Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $13,195