Bulletin – February 14, 2016

FAMILY DAY

February 15th

Monday February 15th is Family Day.

The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no 9:00 AM Mass.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM
CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

The St. Gabriel’s Children’s Faith Program is a Parish faith program for children in Grade SK to 8 who attend Public and Private schools. The program is run by volunteer teachers who dedicate their time and service to this ministry. Over the last number of years, this program has been successfully coordinated by Lynette Fernandes and Mary Innocente. They have worked as a team to oversee the program and ensured it ran smoothly.

Both have indicated that they would be retiring from the program in May. On behalf of our parish we wish to thank them for their great effort, service and dedication towards this good work.

This program is an important ministry to the families that come to our parish. Many of our children were and are still part of the program and we know how valuable this ministry is to our parish life. If you are interested in coordinating this program, or being a volunteer teacher/assistant, please call Francis Ng 416-221-8866 ext. 224, or email francis.ng@bellnet.ca as soon as possible.

LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY

Sunday, February 21st after 12:30 PM Mass

Monday, February 8th marked the beginning of Lunar New Year. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party. This year is the Year of the Monkey.

Our Lunar New Year Party will take place on Sunday, February 21st after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!

Volunteers and donations are also welcome.

Please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM
St. Gabriel’s Church

First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School and those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 AM.

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 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th , 19th, 20th .21st. 26th, 27th or 28th.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: May 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 17th, 18th, 19th or 20th.

Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment with Fr. Brando.

LENTEN EVENING OF REFLECTION

Encountering Christ, the King of Mercy, in the time of Lent
Father Nicholas Obiero, CP

Wednesday March 2nd from 7:30 to 9:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s Parish

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Father Nicholas is a Passionist from Kenya. He is working towards a doctorate in Pastoral Theology at St. Michael’s College of the University of Toronto.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 15th to February 20th, 2016

MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – DOROTHY MITCHELL – Requested by Fran Moscall
WEDNESDAY – DONNA BONNICK – Requested by her Family
THURSDAY
FRIDAY – CONNNIE RUSCICA – Requested by Paolina Ruscica
SATURDAY – MR. WONG FOO CHUNG – Requested by his Family

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.

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.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL TAX RECEIPTS

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has mailed out tax receipts for amounts of $20 and over. Receipts for amounts under $20 are available on request

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

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

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.

SHARELIFE

Together we are continuing to work wonders…

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NRSVCE) Our Lord encourages us with a timely reminder about what our actions truly should be – to show mercy to others. Does showing mercy mean to take the time delivering food for the local food bank in our neighbourhood? Do we have time to help by serving on a weekend in the soup kitchen in our city or praying for a family who is dealing with a personal crisis? Or maybe the refugee family who needs some volunteer help resettling their family to a new life here in Canada. In essence, ShareLife becomes that connective bridge between the pulpit and the street. When we are called to action in the Catholic community, we know of so many ways we can make a difference by working together in the lives of those in need. Annually, we share in helping over 114,000 individuals, thanks to the support received through our collective efforts. Please help us celebrate our ShareLife’s 40th anniversary by supporting our annual Archdiocesan appeal during this Lenten season! —Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto.

Sunday March 13th is ShareLife Sunday

Please give generously. You can work wonders!

EFFECT HOPE

Leprosy Mission of Canada Stamp Collection Program

Make a difference with your mail! You can get involved by collecting, trimming and sending them used postage stamps. They fill bags of stamps and sell them to stamp dealers by the kilogram. By donating your time or stamps, you can bring hope to people with leprosy. Stamps can be trimmed leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border Your kindness and compassion are felt by the friends and staff of Effect Hope and by the many people we serve. We look forward to your continued partnership with this mission of healing and hope. Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office.

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE DAY OF RECOLLECTION

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Church, 3220 Bayview Ave.

The Catholic Women’s League of Blessed Trinity Parish is hosting a Day of Recollection on Tuesday, February 16th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall.

Tickets which include a hot lunch, are $20 each.
All women are invited.

For tickets or more info, please call Louise 416-733-3946 or Gisele 416-223-7826.

WOMEN’S LENTEN RETREAT WEEKEND

Beginning Friday, February 19th at 8:00 PM

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga.

There will be a Women’s Lenten Retreat at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on the weekend of February 19th to 21st. The retreat begins at 8:00 PM on Friday and concludes with Mass at noon on Sunday, followed by lunch. It will be preached by the Centre Team.

Please call 905-278-5229 for further information or to register.

COME AND SEE WEEKEND

Beginning Friday February 26th at 7:00 PM

St. Augustine’s Seminary

The Office of Vocations is hosting a COME & SEE WEEKEND at St. Augustine’s Seminary from Friday February 26th at 7:00 PM to Sunday February 28th at 1.30 PM. Time will be provided to pray, to learn what seminary formation is about and time to interact and socialize with the Seminarians & Priests of the Seminary. The weekend offers opportunities for Communal Prayer, Mass, Adoration & Confession. For more information call 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.

MEN’S LENTEN DAY OF RETREAT

Saturday, February 27th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga

A Lenten Retreat for Men will be held at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre on Saturday, February 27th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Deacon Doctor Greg DeMarchi will preach on the theme:”God’s mercy as an entrance to prayer and spiritual life.” A coffee cart with muffins will be available on arrival: and a full hot meal at lunch is included.

To register please call 905-278-5229.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for February 7th 2016:
Envelopes 389 $ 7,124
Loose Change 1,042
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,160
Total 555 $ 11,326

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2016

Please pick up your 2016 envelopes in the Parish Office as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2016, please contact the Parish Office and we will prepare a box for you. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations.

Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved, so that we may keep our parish records up to date.

TAX RECEIPTS FOR 2015

Tax receipts for 2015 were mailed last week. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.