St. Paul of the Cross was the founder of the Passionists in the year 1720. Born in northern Italy in 1694, Paul experienced conversion at the age of 15 and began a lifetime of devotion to prayer life as a soldier, but left after one year. Six years later, having had several visions, he determined that his vocation was to found an order dedicated to the passion of our Lord. Officials declared the visions authentic and Paul withdrew to write a rule. He was joined by his brother, who remained with him for the rest of his life. By 1747, the Passionists had three houses and were preaching missions throughout Italy. At his death in 1775, Paul was establishing a congregation for Passionist nuns.
Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which is addressed to all men and women of good will, reminds us the earth is our common home; yet because humankind has not been using the gifts of creation responsibly, the earth is suffering, the poor and vulnerable amongst us are also suffering. We need to work towards an ecological conversion.
For all who are interested in getting to know more about the encyclical, and to reflect on it, a study group is being held at St. Gabriel’s. There are five more meeting, studying one chapter at each meeting.
The Co-leaders of the Study Group will be Fr. Steve Dunn, CP and Dr. Dennis O’Hara.
Dates of Remaining Meetings: Mondays: October 19th, November 2nd, 16th, 30th, and December 7th.
Time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
The meetings are free of charge, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
To register or for further enquiries, please call the Parish Office (416) 221-8866 or email Fatima Lee at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.
Special Collection – October 31st/November 1st
The situation in Syria and the news about the plight of Syrian refugees have touched many of our hearts. As reported earlier, the parish has decided to sponsor a refugee family again. A big “Thank You” to all who volunteered to help with the application and settlement process.
Through the past few weeks, the parish has been receiving financial donations to support this cause. To date, $18,714 has been received. We thank all who have already donated. To sponsor a Syrian refugee family of 4-5 people, we anticipate we would need $35,000. The parish also had a prior commitment to partially sponsor another Iraqi Christian family, the anticipated cost of which is $11,000. In total, the parish would need to raise $46,000 for sponsorship of the two refugee families, over a period of two years.
We are experiencing a real humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Please consider and help as your means allow. Donations will be collected specially for our refugee sponsorship on the weekend of October 31st/November 1st.
Cardinal Collins has requested that a weekend Mass attendance count be conducted annually in all parishes and missions of the Archdiocese. This year the attendance count will continue on the weekends of October 17th /18th and 24th/25th. The purpose of the count is to have a more accurate assessment of the number of people attending Mass on a weekend.
As with last year, when you come in for Mass, you may notice a few “counters” clicking on tally counters at the doors of the church. The counters will be doing their jobs in a way as discreetly and non-intrusively as possible.
Thank you for your support.
Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
On Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM the choir will be hosting a hymn sing! In preparation for full singing participation at all our masses, we will wander through our new blue Gather Hymn books. We will be focusing on new hymns for Advent and Christmas. Please join us for a good ol’ song-a-long!
October 19th to October 24th, 2015
MONDAY – MICHAEL McDONOUGH – Requested by the Family TUESDAY – ROMULO CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ – Requested by Rosa & Romulo Gonzalez WEDNESDAY – KENG OWYONG – Requested by Helen Owyong THURSDAY – VINCENT HA – Requested by Laura, Sylvia & Valerie Ha FRIDAY – THAY ONG – Requested by Maria Lourdes Luz SATURDAY – REBECCA WONG – Requested by Catherine Soong
Wednesday, October 28th 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, October 28th at 7:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
It is critical for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you (or if your adult child) is planning to apply to teach in a Catholic school, it is highly recommended you contact the pastor as soon as possible. Please plan to have a conversation with your pastor early in the process and you will avoid disappointment and stress at the time when applications are to be submitted.
Cardinal Collins has designated the weekend of Oct. 24th/25th for D&P’s “Create a climate of change” campaign.
In his recent encyclical Laudato Si’ (161), Pope Francis reminds us that: “The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world. The effects of the present imbalance can only be reduced by our decisive action, here and now.”
Today in the Gathering Space, you will get to know more about the “Create a climate of change” Campaign of Development and Peace. Please pick up prayer cards, pamphlets, and other information material about why and how we are asked to create a climate change.
During the next weekend, you will be invited to consider signing a pledge card to commit to reducing your carbon footprint, and at the same time, ask our Government to commit to taking action on climate change. Here are some of the ways suggested on the pledge card on how one can reduce one’s carbon footprint. You may wish to first give it some thought as to what you can do:
o Making my home more energy-efficient and reducing my energy use. o Carpooling, using public transport, walking, and bicycling whenever possible. o Choosing local, organic, and fair trade options whenever possible. o Reducing waste by buying less, re-using, repairing, recycling, and composting. o Other …
For the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall
Thank you to all the parishioners who supported the Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Food collected was sent to the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall. Both organizations are very grateful for your generosity!
Thank you to all who provided casseroles for the Good Shepherd in September. For October, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are urgently needed to help feed the hungry in our city. Please get a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site under “Ministries”. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
Jesuit Volunteers Canada (JVC) is a formation program where young adults live out the values of Christian spirituality, social and eco-justice, community and simple living. Placement opportunities include working with First Nations communities, young adult programming, community development and outreach, education, food justice, and working with the urban poor.
Jesuit Volunteers Canada is currently accepting applications for September 2016, with possible communities and work placements in northern Ontario, Toronto and Regina.
For more information visit www.jesuitvolunteers.ca or call 519-820-8204. JVC is part of a 50-year movement dedicated to inspire young adults!
Saturday, October 24th from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
St. Wilfrid’s Church 1675 Finch Ave. West
Suffering is really difficult for everyone to handle. In some cases people feel crushed by its burden. Some even find themselves asking, “What did I do that God is punishing me?” Please join us for a New Beginnings Fall Retreat entitled, “How Do I Manage the Suffering in My Life?” Saturday, October 24th, from 9:30 AM. to 1:00 PM. at St. Wilfrid’s Church 1675 Finch Ave. W. It will be facilitated by Fr. Fred Scinto, CR and the New Beginnings Team. All are welcome to attend. There is no cost for this event. Please register by calling 416-921-1163 Ext. 2235.
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.
Weekly Offertory
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for last weekend: Envelopes 387 $ 9,175 Loose Change 1,140 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,060 Total 550 $ 13,375
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 Sunday, October 18th, 2015.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
Learn about Passionists and our insignia »
Listen to the audio
Watch Fr. Paul Cusack’s Funeral Mass (video)
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk