Bulletin – November 29, 2015

EXCITING NEWS ABOUT OUR REFUGEE FAMILIES

December 5th and 6th

Exciting news! Our refugee families are expected to arrive soon. The Refugee sponsorship committee is seeking help to furnish their apartments, as well as to put together a Welcome Shower for them. If you would like to be a part of this effort, please let them know at the Refugee sponsorship table on the weekend of December 5th and 6th what items you would like to contribute. Please help equip the apartments of our refugee families and extend them a warm welcome! Thank you!

Christmas Schedule 2015

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS

Saturday, December 19th:10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Thursday, December 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group

Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Friday, December 25th
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Open 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM

BOXING DAY – Saturday, December 26th Mass 4:30 PM
Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 28th
Office Closed
No 9:00 AM Mass

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Thursday, December 31st
No 9:00 AM Mass
Mass at 4:30 PM for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Friday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Closed

Parking

While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.

Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

November 30th to December 5th, 2015

MONDAY – GIUSEPPINA SMERGILIO – Requested by Lina Giannotta
TUESDAY – LUKE MATTHEW VUKOVIC – Requested by Don & Vanessa McGovern & Family
WEDNESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – JOHN & MARY FRANCES O’MAHONY – Requested by Mary Alice O’Mahony
FRIDAY – PAUL TSI – Requested by the Nguyen Family
SATURDAY – MARIA DIDIODATO – Requested by Dina Oakie

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, December 6th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room

On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, December 4th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon

ROSARY GROUPS

Chinese: Sunday, December 6th st at 3:30 PM in the
Gabriel Room.

English: Saturday, December 5th at 3:15 PM in the
Gabriel Room.

for information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

PARENT MEETING FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

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.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.

Rosalie Hall assists young parents 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

THE GIVING TREE

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 thanDecember 14th. Toys for these little ones would also be appreciated.

For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from 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.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

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.

DONATE YOUR OLD EYE GLASSES

Did you know that you can 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.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE

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.

ONE DAY PILGRIMAGE

Our Lady of Victory National Shrine & Basilica, Lackawanna, New York

December 12th, 2015

Blessed Trinity Parish invites you to attend a one day pilgrimage to Our Lady of Victory, National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna New York on Saturday, December 12th.

For further information, please contact Mary at 416-497-7059.

SERAPHIM & CHERUBIM CHRISTMAS CONCERT SERIES

Church of St. Bonaventure
1300 Leslie Street

Saturday December 19th at 7:30 PM

Christmas, Christmas time is near!

Come join the Seraphim and Cherubim Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their “Baby, It’s Cold Outside concert series at the Church of St. Bonaventure on Saturday, December 19th at 7:30 PM. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics, with a bit of Disney flare!

Tickets are now available online. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door.
Proceeds in support of Romero House.

For additional dates and locations of performances, please visit www.seraphimandcherubim.ca.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Offertory Collection for last weekend:
Envelopes 389 $ 8,084
Loose Change 1,037
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,057
Total 552 $ 12,178
Refugee Sponsorship Donations to Date: $ 57,174

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION

The “Pre-Authorized Giving” Plan (PAG), authorized and supported by the Archdiocese of Toronto, is a direct debit program. It allows parishioners to make their regular offertory donations by automatic monthly bank withdrawal on or about the 20th of each month. Participation in the PAG provides a regular dependable cash flow of contributions to the parish and enables us to better manage the Parish finances. PAG brochures and sign-up forms are available in the Parish Office and on the tables at the back of the Church.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2016

The 2016 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space this weekend. Please pick your box up as soon as possible.

If you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2016, you may contact the Parish Office.
Please register so that we may keep our records up to date if you are new to the Parish.
Parishioners on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan will not receive offertory envelopes.

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.