On Saturday November 7th four altar servers from St. Gabriel’s Parish received the “Bishop’s Altar Server Award for Service during the 30th Annual Altar Servers Awards Ceremony at St. Paul’s Basilica. We offer our sincere thanks and congratulations to the following altar servers: Marcus Jeresa Lance Cabacungan Lucas Arocena Lawrence Pornillos
The parish is truly grateful to all of its altar servers for their participation at the celebration of the Eucharist and ceremonies throughout the Church year.
November 25, 2015 (Wednesday), 7:30 pm, at St Gabriel’s
Bishop Mark MacDonald, the first National Indigenous Bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, will be the speaker for the evening. As we prepare for Christmas, the season of Advent asks us to focus on how Jesus, the God who dwelled among us, brings light and hope in darkness and suffering. Last May, the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada brought to light the suffering and pain of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters in Canada, and suggested paths for moving forward towards reconciliation. Advent seems to be the right season to reflect on how we can move towards reconciliation in our own lives, as well as on how we, as a country, can work towards reconciliation, especially with our First Nations peoples.
Educated in both Canada and the U.S., Bishop MacDonald has had a long and varied ministry in different dioceses in both countries. He has published widely in areas of faith and environment, and inter-cultural ministry, including ministries to Native American youth. He is also a Third Order Franciscan.
We are most privileged to have Bishop MacDonald coming to our parish to speak about the suffering and pain that the indigenous peoples have experienced, and to shed light on a path of reconciliation on which all Canadians can embrace together in solidarity, equality, and mutual respect. It is an opportunity not to be missed, please mark your calendar and join us for the evening.
To facilitate our planning, please let us know if you plan to attend. You can call the Parish Office (416) 221-8866 or email Fatima Lee at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.
There will be a Book of Remembrance placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.
November 16th to November 21st, 2015
MONDAY – BERTHA RICKETTS – Requested by the Family TUESDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE DYSANGCO FAMILY – Requested by Marie Lourdes Luz WEDNESDAY – RON FORD – Requested by the Family THURSDAY – TULIO RAMIREZ – Requested by Anna Ramirez FRIDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone SATURDAY – ANITA MARKLE & MARJORIE SKAZIN – Requested by the Family
Wednesday, November 18th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church, Gabriel Room
On Wednesday, November 18th at 7:30 PM there will be a meeting in the Gabriel Room for parents of children who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
Sunday, November 22nd at the 12:30 PM Mass
The Confirmation Enrollment Ceremony for all Confirmation candidates will be held on Sunday, November 22nd at the 12:30 PM Mass. All Confirmation candidates must attend.
Candidates are reminded to submit their letters requesting Confirmation to Fr. Brando through the Parish Office by Sunday, November 15th.
Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:30 PM
There will be a meeting for parents of children who will be receiving the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society.
Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church from Saturday, November 28th until Sunday, December 13th.
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.
The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift or a gift card of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space. If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.
At this time of the year, we are also thinking of the young mothers and babies of Rosalie Hall. If you wish to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the tree to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6 to 18 months.
Unwrapped Items with the original stocking tag attached can be left in the box provided near the “mitten” tree no later than December 14th. Toys for these little ones would also be appreciated.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shopper’s Drug Mart, Tim Hortons, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your generous support.
There will be a second collection today for The Shepherds’ Trust. The mission of The Shepherds’ Trust is to help ensure that elderly and disabled priests are provided with sufficient financial resources to lead a dignified life after many years of ministry. Your generous gift will help our priests to maintain a modest but active and independent lifestyle in their retirement years. For priests who are ill or otherwise infirm, the Trust ensures they have access to nursing home facilities and medical care. Thank you for your support of this important work.
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents in need and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of community, residential, educational and child development services.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs
With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your generous support.
Help others by donating your old eyeglasses. Glasses will be sent to the Lions Club for distribution to the needy in developing countries. Donated glasses may be left in the box provided just outside the Parish Office.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
St. Gabriel’s Parish Weekend of February 12th to 14th, 2016
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of February 12th to 14th, 2016.
The course will be held Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For a registration package please email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca. Note that this course usually fills up quickly and spaces are limited.
Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Ave
November 29th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Mosaic Interfaith (of which St. Gabriel’s is a member) invites you to attend the annual Peace Meal on Sunday November 29th from 2:00 PM to-5:00 PM at Temple Har Zion. Following the recent Truth and Reconciliation Committee report the programme theme is “Walking in our Moccasins –Understanding First Nations Way of Knowing.” The keynote speaker is Kim Wheatley an Anishinabe band member of Shawanaga First Nation. An inter-faith panel will be part of the programme. Attendees are asked to bring a dish for the vegan supper – with no meat, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy products or alcohol or nuts. Please RSVP to Nora at 416-218-0680 by November 25th. For more information see the poster on the bulletin board.
Ladies of St. Gabriel’s Parish are cordially invited to the next General Meeting of the Blessed Trinity CWL on Tuesday, November 17th at 1:00PM. Our featured speaker will be Deacon Robert Kinghorn, talking about his outreach ministry to the homeless in downtown Toronto. Wine and cheese will be served as refreshments. More information is available from Deborah Orchard, 416/497-8083, deborahorchard@rogers.com.
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Offertory Collection for last weekend: Envelopes 413 $ 8,431 Loose Change 1,107 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,057 Total 576 $ 12,595 Refugee Sponsorship Donations to Date: $ 56,681
The 2016 Offertory Boxed Envelopes will be available in the Gathering Space at the end of November. Please inform the Parish Office if you are new to the Parish so that we may update our records and label your box correctly.
If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will not receive offertory envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2016.
If you are moving out of the Parish or have a change of address, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 so that we can update our records. Thank you.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
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Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk