ASSISTED SUICIDE – PROTECT THE VULNERABLE AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM!
By June 2016, the Government of Canada is expected to pass legislation to legalize assisted suicide. Cardinal Collins encourages Catholics throughout the archdiocese to visit CanadiansforConscience.ca and support the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience. The coalition represents a group of like-minded partners, including 5,000 doctors across Canada, who are committed to protecting conscience rights for health practitioners and facilities. You can use this website to write directly to your Member of Parliament, respectfully expressing your concerns. Given tight timelines for this legislation, please take action no later than April 1st, 2016.
PALLIATIVE CARE – NOT ASSISTED SUICIDE
There is a compelling need for palliative care in Ontario. Cardinal Collins mentioned in his address to all parishes last Sunday that less than 30% of those needing end-of-life care can find it. Availability of palliative care is what is needed not doctor-assisted-suicide.
We are a small group of parishioners and health care professionals who have a vision to care for people needing inpatient palliative care. Our plan is to create a place where patients and their families will receive care imbued with the value of compassion and which provides total care from physical, social and spiritual care. Setting up hospices will be an effective way to achieve this objective and to this end
we are engaging communities and organizations that have similar values. We need people with a diversity of backgrounds to realize this dream. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Bob Parke or Ron Forbes at hospiceprojects@gmail.com or call 416-577-1406.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
“Volunteers are the Roots of Strong Communities”
– Quoted from National Volunteer Week website, to be held from April 10-16, 2016
St. Gabriel’s volunteers are kindly invited to a recognition celebration on April 10th from to 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM in the Gathering Space.
Invitations will be sent out by email in March. If you are a volunteer and you did not receive an invitation, please checkwith your Ministry Coordinator. The parish wishes to thank you for your involvement in enriching its life. Father Brando and the Pastoral Team look forward to seeing you.
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 6th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th .21st, 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.
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.
We are in need of volunteers to serve as coordinator of the program and as class teachers and assistants. If you are interested please call 416-221-8866 ext 224, email francisng@bellnet.ca or leave your name and contact number with the parish office.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
March 21st to March 26th, 2016
MONDAY – ADILIA DUARTE – Requested by the Nascimento Family
TUESDAY – GERTRUDES REGO – Requested by Maria Da Silva
WEDNESDAY – CECILY TURTON – Requested by David Turton & Family
THURSDAY – HOLY THURSDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
FRIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
SATURDAY – HOLY SATURDAY – No 4:30 PM Mass
LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2016
Stations of the Cross Every Friday
7:30 PM
Tenebrae Service Saturday, March 12th
7:30 PM
Day of Confession, Wednesday, March 16th:
Individual Confession – 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Reconciliation Service – 7:30 PM
Palm Sunday March 20th
Masses Saturday 4:30 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM.
Holy Thursday March 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM.
Good Friday March 25th
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday March 26th
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday March 27th
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Easter Monday March 28th
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
WELCOME! BAPTISM
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Allison Chi Lam Chen
Bronwyn Anne McMahon Ferguson
Lochlan Owen McCreery
who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 13th, 2016. Congratulations!
CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are 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. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Please 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.
SHARELIFE
Working wonders in our families…
“The impact that Silent Voice has had on my life as a former camper has given me the opportunity to meet many deaf and hard of hearing children from different backgrounds. Silent Voice has helped me discover who I am in my life and has given me purpose and future goals. As an adult, I want to help other deaf children and youth who are going through difficult times in life. I want to show them that they are not alone and provide them with support and a role model that is really needed in their lives. Thank you, ShareLife!” —Suma, former camper and Silent Voice day program counselor.
Last year more than 600 deaf children received support through Silent Voice’s Sign Language Summer Camps.
ShareLife 2016 Donations to March 15th: $ 57,575
Next ShareLife Sunday is April 17, 2016.
Please give generously.
You can work wonders!
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.
MILK BAGS
Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? . 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.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE ON MERCY
Tuesday, March 22nd from 7:00 PM to 9:00PM
Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road
To encourage ongoing dialogue, Scarboro Missions is presenting a series of Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Mercy. Dr. Hamid Slimi, Canadian Imam and scholar and religious leader of Islam in Canada, for the third in the series “Christian Perspective on Mercy” to be held on Tuesday, March 22nd from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Scarboro Missions.
There is no registration or admission fee. A voluntary offering is appreciated. For more information contact Sr. Lucy Thorson at 416-261-7135, Ext. 244.
JESUIT PROVINCIAL’S DINNER – APRIL 13, 2016
Come join the Jesuits in honouring Betty Bujold, Michael and Barbara McManus and Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe with the “Magis Award” for their outstanding work and dedication to Jesuit ministries.
The evening will begin with Mass at The Church of The Good Shepherd in Thornhill followed by dinner at Le Parc Dining and Banquet Hall in Thornhill. To order tickets, please call 416-481-9154 or email jdo@jesuits.ca.
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for March 13th, 2016:
Envelopes 413 $ 11,004
Loose Change 791
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 166 3,109
Total 579 $ 14,904
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, you may 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. Please do not use any envelopes from any prior year as the number on it may have been reassigned.