FAMILY OF FAITH UPDATE
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
What an outstanding community we have here at St. Gabriel’s! Last Monday, the pledge total for the family of Faith Campaign reached $1,005,195! I can now sleep in peace! You have truly made my life much easier. You are truly wonderful people!
Fr. Brando
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:
April 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, or 24th.
Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates:
April 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, May 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando as soon as possible.
REMEMBRANCE MEAL OF THE PASSOVER
Wednesday, April 1st at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room
Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. It celebrates the freeing of the Jews who were slaves during the time of Moses. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. At this time, their meals celebrate this momentous historical Jewish Event.
Why do we Christians celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week.
The menu is identical to the Seder supper’s menu and the meal is “pot luck” – each person brings a dish for their table.
To book your table of 6 or 8 or to have your name added to a table, please call Ed Shiller at 647-352-3123 by Wednesday, March 25th.
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.
LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2015
Stations of the Cross
Friday Evenings at 7:30 P.M.
Reconciliation Service
March 25th at 7:30 PM
Palm Sunday March 29th
Masses Sat., 4:30 PM
8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Holy Thursday April 2nd
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00PM
Good Friday April 3rd
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday April 4th
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday April 5th
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM 12:30 PM
Easter Monday April 6th
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
ANNOUNCED MASSES
March 9th to March 14th, 2015
MONDAY – PATRICK (PADDY) CHUNG – Requested by the Family
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY – DAISY COMAR – Requested by Ben Comar
THURSDAY – DANICA PETRANOVIC – Requested by the Petranovic family
FRIDAY
SATURDAY – TOMMY HARRINGTON – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell
RECONCILIATION SERVICE
Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30 PM
This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God.
Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin. Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God.
For those who wish, individual confessions will be celebrated after the service. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.
THE SERVICE OF TENEBRAE
Saturday, March 28th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
On Saturday, March 28th at 7:30 PM the ancient service of Tenebrae will be celebrated here at St. Gabriel’s. Tenebrae evokes a sense of wonder and mystery as the Passion of Jesus is told through a series of readings, songs, and hymns. Fifteen candles are extinguished one by one, marking the progression to our Lord’s crucifixion. The last candle, the Christ Candle, is not extinguished but rather removed from view symbolizing the hope in the resurrection as all are blanketed in utter darkness.
St. Michael’s Choir School Alumni, the Seraphim Men’s Chorus, will present the musical settings composed by Msgr. Ronan, founder of St. Michael’s Choir School. A goodwill offering to cover costs, support the Choir School and St. Gabriel’s Music program will be taken up. This tradition is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope you will attend.
SHARELIFE
Working wonders for those in our community…
“When Robert completed high school, there were very few options available to him. Of those options, many were inaccessible due to their remote location and lack of transportation services. We were blessed to find St. Jude’s Academy of the Arts. It has been a valuable life saver for Robert and his family. The positive social interaction at St. Jude’s has allowed Robert to grow and mature as a person. He has become more independent. St. Jude’s educational program has a wonderful, positive impact on Robert and others like him. We are truly grateful for their existence!” Last year, over 43,000 services were provided to people with special needs from ShareLife-supported agencies.
Final ShareLife to July 31, 2014 $220,250.
(Collected at Parish & ShareLife Office)
ShareLife to Date: $ $48, 804.25
Next ShareLife Sunday – April 12, 2015
Please give generously. You can work wonders!
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared casseroles for February. For March, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of March 28th/29th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. You may pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan from the Parish Office. Three recipes are also available on St. Gabriel’s website. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
Don’t forget to buy your Easter candy this weekend!
The lollipops sell for $2 each and the almonds will be $5 per bag. Your support will help Fertility Care promote and maintain their service in the Diocese.
MILK BAGS
Once again we are collecting milk bags. Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? Schools churches and senior homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area would welcome your contributions. Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry. For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.co or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
CHRIST AND CULTURE: RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM
Ripley’s Aquarium, 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto
Thursday, March 12th at 7:00 PM
This is a chance for young adults (age 18-39) to engage culture from the perspective of the nature and person of Jesus! Each of our Christ and Culture events are designed to open our eyes to the world of God’s beauty as expressed in every person. With that in mind, we will discuss and open our hearts to Christ in one another.
Our first event will be held at Ripley’s Aquarium, featuring 13500 exotic sea and freshwater specimens from more than 450 species. The cost of admission is $25 (plus tax).
For more information please contact John-Paul Markides at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca – a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.
“EUTHANASIA, A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE.” “EUTHANASIA, A PRACTICAL RESPONSE.”
Sunday, March 15th at 2:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Hall
The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a talk on Sunday March 15th at 2:00 PM in the Parish Hall at Blessed Trinity Church located at 3220 Bayview Avenue.
The first speaker is Dr. Moira McQueen, LLB, MDiv, PhD, Executive Director, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, Lecturer, Faculty of Theology, St Augustine’s Seminary and University of St. Michael’s College. Dr. McQueen was recently appointed by Pope Francis to the assembly of 30 theologians who advise the Pope and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican.
The second speaker is Bob Parke, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW, MHSc, a Clinical Ethicist at Humber River Hospital in Etobicoke where he serves patients, families and staff. Mr. Parke is an active member of the Research Ethics Board and the Clinical Ethics Committee there. All are welcome to attend.
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for Last Weekend
Envelopes 450 $ 9,103
Loose Change 804
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 165 3,104
Total 560 $ 13,011