Bulletin – February 5, 2017

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

This Sunday, February 5th after 12:30 PM Mass

Saturday, January 28th marks the beginning of Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Rooster. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party. Our Lunar New Year Celebration will take place this Sunday, February 5th after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome.

MASS FOR THE SICK

Saturday, February 11th at 12:00 Noon

St. Gabriel’s Parish

A Mass for the Sick will be celebrated at St. Gabriel’s Parish on Saturday, February 11th at 12:00 Noon. If you have a loved one who is sick and wishes to receive the blessing of the sick, please invite them to be a part of this beautiful sacrament. A reception will follow in the Gathering Space.

CONVOCATION OF THE LAITY

June 9th to June 11th, 2017

Passionist Retreat House, Jamaica, New York

The Passionist Province of St. Paul of the Cross and its Commission on the Laity are sponsoring the “Convocation on the Laity” from June 9th to June 11th, 2017 at the Passionist Retreat House in Jamaica New York. For further information, please go to www.stgabrielsparish.ca or contact Fatima Lee at 416-221-8866.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 6th – February 11th, 2017

MONDAY – DR. EUGENE SKLIARENKO – Requested by Fran Moscall
TUESDAY – FRANCIS CHEUNG – Requested by the Cheung Family
WEDNESDAY – ABANDONED SOULS – Requested by the Nguyen Family
THURSDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by Bertram Chiu
FRIDAY – MOLLY CALLAGHAN – Requested by John Kahnert
SATURDAY – VIOLET PREVIDSA – Requested by Steve Previdsa

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, February 12th at 11:30 AM

Gabriel Room

On Sunday, February 12th, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality will facilitate 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. Please note that this is one week later than usual due to the Lunar New Year celebration. All are welcome.

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 child development, community, residential and educational 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.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 55 casseroles for January. For February, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of February 25th/26th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website. You may pick up casserole pans at the Parish Office.

If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.

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 they serve. They look forward to your continued partnership with this mission of healing and hope. Please place stamps in the basket provided outside the Parish Office.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE – 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Did you know that Development and Peace was founded in 1967 by the Canadian Catholic Bishops after their participation in Vatican II where they listened to the concerns of the Bishops from the Global South about poverty, hunger, etc?

To find out more about the work of Development and Peace or to become a member or donor, visit the website at http://www.devp.org/en/get-involved.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS – TALENT NIGHT

Saturday, February 25th at 7:00 PM

Did you know that we have many talented young people within our Parish Community?

All parishioners are invited to attend our Youth Group’s Talent Night, which will be held on Saturday February 25th at 7:00 PM here at the church. Admission is by donation. The Youth Group’s CD will also be available for sale after the show. Please come and support our youth’s talents!

SACRED PAUSES RETREAT

Saturday, February 11th, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Blessed Trinity Parish Hall, 3220 Bayview Avenue

You are invited to take time out in your busy day to break for and receive blessings at the Sacred Pauses Retreat being held at Blessed Trinity Parish Hall on Saturday, February 11th, from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Simple practices introduced at Sacred Pauses retreat will help you live out your day more mindfully. The facilitator, Trena Finnegan, is a graduate from Regis College in spiritual direction. Please register at Blessed Trinity parish office before February 3rd. The registration fee is $15.00 per person and includes lunch. All are invited.

SENIOR MEN’S HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

GRADES 11 & 12

February 11th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Blessed Sacrament Parish, 24 Cheritan Avenue

The Office of Vocations is hosting a day retreat at Blessed Sacrament Parish on Saturday, February 11th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The day provides a time to pray, interact & socialize with other young Catholic men.

Seminarians deliver talks on practical aspects of faith. The day includes Holy Mass, Adoration & Confession. For more information please call the Office of Vocations at 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org

THEOLOGY ON TAP

Faith in the Naked Public Square
Monday, February 13th at 7:00 PM

Boston Pizza, 400 Progress Ave, Scarborough

Faith Connections, the Office of Catholic Youth, and the local parishes invite young adults (ages 19-39) to join them for an evening of thought-provoking theological discussion in a comfortable and relaxed setting, with special guest: Randy Boyagoda, Principal and Vice-President, University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College.

They will discuss ways in which Catholics can work towards their own commitments to living out their faith in public life. Munchies will be provided and there is a cash bar. Come and bring a friend!

“JOURNEY OF THE UNIVERSE: A STORY FOR OUR TIMES.”

Online courses from Yale open to all who are interested.

Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, experts on Religion and Ecology, and Senior Lecturers and Research Scholars at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies are currently offering four six-week online courses. These are featured as a specialization under the theme of “Journey of the Universe: A Story for our Times.” These are the first MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) for the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The MOOCs are available on courser.org to anyone, anywhere on the planet.

Those interested may audit these courses free of charge (with the exception of the capstone course). The courses do not have to be completed within the six week period, rather, learners may finish at their own pace.
Courses:
• Journey of the Universe: The Unfolding of Life
• Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge and Action
• The Worldview of Thomas Berry: The Flourishing of the Earth Community
• Integrating Capstone: Living Cosmology

For more details and to register, please go to:
https://www.coursera.org/specializations/journey-of-the-universe

BLESSED TRINITY CWL

Wednesday, February 14th at 7:00 PM

Blessed Trinity Parish Hall

The Catholic Women’s League extends a warm welcome to all to please join them on Wednesday February 14th at Blessed Trinity Parish at 7: 00 PM in the hall for a screening of Mother Theresa’s film The Legacy. Ann Petrie, Emmy Award Filmmaker who filmed Mother Theresa for years, will speak about her experiences. There will be a reception following the film. Admission is free. For more information, please contact Kay at 416-357-5378 or Catherine at 905-889-3786.

FINANCE CORNER

Weekly Offertory

Collection for last week:

Envelopes 376 $ 9,056
Loose Change 981
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 167 3,084
Total 543 $ 13,121
Maintenance Collection: $4,401

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2017

There are still many parishioners who have not picked up their 2017 Offertory Envelopes. Please pick yours up in the hallway outside the Gabriel Room as soon as possible.

If you are contributing cash to the Offertory Collection without any identification, you will not receive credit for your contribution. You must provide your full name and address.

If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2017, 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.