Vivian McDonough has recently retired from her role as Coordinator of the Lectors. On behalf of St. Gabriel’s Parish I would like to personally thank Vivian for her many years of valued service and dedication. Her guidance has enriched and enhanced the experience of all those lectors who have served with her.
I would also like to welcome Marie Deans as the new Coordinator. We wish her well.
Preacher: Fr. Bob Joerger CP Saturday, December 10th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM St. Gabriel’s Church
This week, we begin the season of Advent, a time to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas. In Advent, we are called to stay awake as we keep vigil, with our eyes set on the light, and not let ourselves be too carried away by the unnecessary care and concerns of the Christmas Season. Please consider joining us for a few hours of quietude in prayer and reflection.
The preacher for our Advent Retreat this year will be Father Robert Joerger, CP. Father Bob is the Provincial of the Passionists of the St. Paul of the Cross Province. Many of you have met him when he last visited St. Gabriel’s. He has touched many hearts with his preaching.
The topic of our Advent Retreat is “Leaning into the Light”. It will be held on Saturday, December 10th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at St. Gabriel’s Parish. Come and be prepared to be inspired and be challenged to a deeper relationship with God.
All are welcome. There is no cost to attend. However, donations will be gratefully accepted. For more information, please call the parish office at 416-221-8866, or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca The retreat will begin at 1:00 PM sharp. Please plan on arriving a little earlier.
Saturday, December 10th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Gabriel Room
We as a parish have been blessed with the ministry of the Passionists priests for over six decades. Have you ever wondered what the Passionists are about? Do you want to find out more about their spirituality and their work? Is there any way we as lay persons can share in their spirituality and mission?
If you are interested, please join us for a conversation with Father Bob, the Provincial of the St. Paul of the Cross Province of the Passionists. (The Province covers Canada, Eastern USA, Jamaica, W.I. and Haiti.) The meeting will be held on Saturday, December 10th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, in the Gabriel Room. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Please mark your calendars. If you plan to attend, please email fatimalee@bellnet.ca or call 416-221-8866.
November 28th to December 3rd, 2016
MONDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE O’CONNELL FAMILY – Requested by Fergus & Mary Ann O’Connell TUESDAY – ELIO RANCATI – Requested by his Family WEDNESDAY – GIUSEPPINA SMERGILIO – Requested by Lina Giannotta THURSDAY – JOSEPH NGUYEN – Requested by the Nguyen Family FRIDAY – FRANCES MARION DESROCHES – Requested by Mark DesRoches SATURDAY – GERALD HARQUAIL – Requested by Ginette Harquail
Wednesday, December 7th: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
CHRISTMAS EVE – Saturday, December 24th 4:30 PM Vigil Mass – Carol Singing 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 6:00 PM
CHRISTMAS DAY – Sunday, December 25th 8:30 AM 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
BOXING DAY – Monday, December 26th Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
Tuesday, December 27th Office Closed No 9:00 AM Mass
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Saturday, December 31st 4:30 PM Mass Vigil for Feast of Mary the Mother of God Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Sunday, January 1st Feast of Mary the Mother of God 8:30 AM 10:30 AM 12:30 PM Office Open 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Monday, January 2nd Office Closed No 9:00 Am Mass
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 18th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 20th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.
Sunday, December 18th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Each year a Nativity pageant takes place at the 7:00 PM Family Mass. S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. The rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 18th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Church.
Saturday, November 26th to Sunday, December 10th
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive again this year for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. You can help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child newborn to12 years old. Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church until Sunday, December 11th.
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul has a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.
The tree is decorated with gift tags. Each tag has 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 11th. 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.
Weekend of December 3rd/4th
Following a very successful “Create a Climate of Change” Campaign last year in which many of you participated, this year Development and Peace is calling us to support small family farmers around the world and sustainable agriculture.
In the Global South, 85% of farmers live on small family farms. They produce 60% of the food consumed worldwide, while only occupying 20 to 30% of arable land. Farming provides the main source of income for the family.
If the family cannot farm, they cannot eat. Yet small family farms are suffering the most serious consequences of climate change. The farmers have very little resources at their disposal to face such impacts, though they are the ones who feed the world.
Action cards in support of small family farmers will be available in the Gathering Space from D&P members before and after each of the Masses next weekend, December 3rd/4th. These cards will be mailed to the Prime Minister to ask our government to put small family farmers at the heart of its policies to help the poorest countries. Please stop by and take a couple of minutes to sign these cards and support small family farmers.
Friday, December 9th at 7:30 PM
St. Bonaventure Parish, 1300 Leslie Street
Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim and Cherubim Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their That’s Christmas to Me! concert series. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics! Please join us at St. Bonaventure Parish on Friday, December 9th at 7:30 PM. Advanced tickets are available online at www.seraphimandcherubim.ca. Proceeds will go to the support of Camp Winston – camp for children with complex neurological disorders.
Sunday December 4th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM
Temple Har Zion, 7360 Bayview Ave.
MOSAIC Interfaith (of which St. Gabriel’s is a member) invites you to attend the annual Peace Meal on Sunday December 4th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Temple Har Zion.
Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission will speak on “Creed and Human Rights: an evolving approach in an evolving world.” Inter-faith panelists will be Mary Jo Leddy, founder of Romero House for Refugees, Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director of the National Council of Muslims and Pardeep Singh Nagra, Executive Director of the Sikh Heritage Museum & Manager Employment Equity TDSB.
Attendees are asked to bring a nut-free dish (and alcohol free) for the vegan supper – i.e. no meat, poultry, eggs, fish or dairy products. Please RSVP to Nora at 416-218-0680 by November 30th. For more information see poster on bulletin board.
December 9th to 11th
Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering.
The Office of Vocations invites single Catholic men, 17 years and older to attend a Vocations Discernment Retreat from December 9th to 11th at Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering. The retreat starts on Friday at 7:00 PM. This is a good retreat for men who are at crossroads in discerning God’s desired Vocation for them. The retreat offers Guided reflections, Holy Mass, Adoration, confession and the assistance of a vocations team. The suggested donation of $150 will help cover costs. For more information, please contact Fr. Brando or call 416-968-0997 or email vocations@archtoronto.org.
Weekly Offertory Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week. Collection for last weekend: Envelopes 377 $ 10,753 Loose Change 1,271 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,025 Total 540 $ 15,049
The 2017 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Saturday, November 26th, 2016.
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 »
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk