Bulletin – March 12, 2017

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.

HEADS UP! – ELECTRONICS SPRING CLEANING COMES TO ST. GABRIEL’S

If you have old laptops, desktops, printers, TVs, scanners and such in good working order, this is the time to get them out of the basement and garage and put them to good use.

There will be a collection for these items at our Church on the weekend of March 25th and 26th..
More info to come in next Sunday’s Bulletin. So keep an eye out and please start scouring the basement and garage.

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2017

Stations of the Cross
Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM

Individual Confessions
Wednesday, March 29th
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Reconciliation Service
Wednesday, March 29th at 7:30 PM

Palm Sunday
April 9th
Masses Sat., 4:30 PM
8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Holy Thursday
April 13th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM

Good Friday
April 14th
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday
April 15th
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday
April 16th
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM 12:30 PM

Easter Monday
April 17th
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office Closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

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.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 13th – March 18th , 2017

MONDAY – JOSEPHINE BADALI – Requested by John, Sal & Patsy
TUESDAY – MIA HERRERA – Requested by Wai Chin & Paul Hwang
WEDNESDAY – ALICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael
THURSDAY – TOMO & SLAVKA VUKOVIC – Requested by Manda Vukovic
FRIDAY – ARMAND OAKIE – Requested by the Oakie Family
SATURDAY – PETER & BRIDGET PEREIRA – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who are preparing 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 18th, 19th, 20th or 21st.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th,May 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th.

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

RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Wednesday, March 29th at 7:30 PM

This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God.

Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin. Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God.

For those who wish, individual confessions will be celebrated after the service. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, April 1st 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, April 1st at 10:30 AM.

JOIN THE “CALL FOR CONSCIENCE”

February 6th – March 31, 2017

Canada legalized euthanasia/assisted suicide in June 2016. Between June and December, 2016, more than 740 people across the country died from what is now being referred to as “medical aid in dying”. Meanwhile, only 30% of Canadians have access to quality palliative (end of life) care. Please visit www.CanadiansforConscience.ca to learn more, join the “Call for Conscience” and write directly to your Member of Provincial Parliament asking them to protect conscience rights.

SHARELIFE

Living the Gospel by providing for vocations to the priesthood…

“Living and studying at St. Augustine’s can bring untold blessings into the lives of those entering ministry,” shares Matt McCarthy, a current Seminarian. Matt’s interest in sports and his desire to enter the priesthood and minister to those in his community, gives him an opportunity to serve the Church in a unique way. At ShareLife-funded agencies such as Serra House, St. Augustine’s and Redemptoris Mater Seminaries, individuals undergo extensive theological education and practical field training. Through ShareLife, you are helping to sustain vocations to the priesthood and inspire discernment for God’s call. Last year ShareLife helped support 70 seminarians in their formation studies.

Sunday April 2nd, 2017 is ShareLife Sunday
Please give generously.

JUST COFFEE

Fair Trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.

Regular ground coffee: $5.50
Decaffeinated: $6
Whole Beans: $5.50
Chocolate Bars: $4.50
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00
Teas: $4.25

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE – 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Did you know that as pressure to privatize the natural resource of water increased, Development and Peace focused on water as a human right and campaigned for public control of water systems in areas where millions of people suffer from water scarcity?

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.

LEPROSY MISSION OF CANADA

Collecting Stamps

This is a wonderful time of year to collect stamps from your Christmas cards and letters to give to the Leprosy Mission of Canada, who are renowned for their effectiveness in the prevention, detection and treatment of leprosy. Stamps may be left in the basket outside of the office.

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 during the winter months, 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.

COLLECTING EYEGLASSES AND STAMPS

We are continuing to collect stamps for Effect Hope, the Leprosy Association of Canada, and eyeglasses for the Lions Club. Please place them in the baskets provided outside the office.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

March 17th to March 19th

Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre

Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! Spend a very special weekend together. A Weekend of discovery…a lifetime of love! Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend getaway that helps married couples rediscover themselves as individuals and as a couple. The Weekend format helps couples communicate openly and honestly without group sharing, therapy or marriage counseling.

The next weekend will be March 17th to March 19th at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre, Mississauga

For more information and application, please go to www.wwme.org or contact: Gerard & Marge McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE – A LENTEN RETREAT

March 25th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road

St. Augustine’s Lay Spiritual Formation Program presents Spiritual Warfare, a Lenten retreat with Rev. Charles Anang, Director of Spiritual Formation. The event will be held on Saturday, March 25th from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at St. Augustine’s Seminary. Mass in the Seminary chapel and lunch are included. The cost is $50. To register go to www.staugustines.on.ca or call 416-261-7207, Ext. 235.

DYNAMIC WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE

Saturday, March 25th

Dynamic Women of Faith will be hosting its 8th annual conference for Catholic women on Saturday March 25th.

Cardinal Thomas Collins will be celebrating the opening Mass. There is a mother -daughter event, Calling All Girls, the evening before!

For more information including registration fees and location visit www.dynamicwomenfaith.com or call 905 279-7702.

FINANCE CORNER

WEEKLY OFFERTORY
December 25th $ 14,293
Christmas Collection $ 32,352
New Year’s Day $ 3,692
Collection for January 1st, 2017last week:
Envelopes 393 $ 8,202
Loose Change 1,098
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 162 3,027
Total 557 $ 12,327

PAG

Have you considered using Pre-Authorized Giving ( PAG) to make your weekly offertory? Your specified offertory donation would be taken directly from your bank account on or about the 20th of each month. Authorization forms are available in the Parish Office.