Bulletin – November 5, 2017

LEST WE FORGET

November 11th is Remembrance Day, a day to remember all who have served, and continue to serve in our armed forces, especially those who have died and those wounded in battle. We pray for healing and peace; that one day, all peoples will lay down their arms and embrace one another as brothers and sisters in one human family.

NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF ALL SOULS

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

A Book of Remembrance will be placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE VIGIL

Wednesday, November 15th at 7:30 PM

Gabriel Room

This year’s D & P campaign is “Women at the Heart of Peace”

Given the increasing number of violent conflicts and their dramatic repercussions on civilians, we must find new solutions to promoting peace. Please join us for a vigil to pray for and stand in solidarity with women who play a key role in conflict prevention and resolution, as well as building and sustaining an inclusive, lasting and fair peace.

CONGRATULATIONS!

On Saturday October 21st five altar servers from St. Gabriel’s Parish received the “Bishop’s Altar Server Award for Service during the 2017 Annual Altar Servers Awards Ceremony at St. Paul’s Basilica. We offer our sincere thanks and congratulations to the following altar servers:
John Aguila
Matthew Bradbury
Mitchell Bradbury
Edward Na
Joy Tolledo

The parish is truly grateful to all of its altar servers for their participation at the celebration of the Eucharist and ceremonies throughout the Church year.

GARDEN WORKSHOPS

November 5th, November 19th after the 12:30 Mass

Robert Cordy, our landscape designer, will be holding gardening workshops this Sunday, November 5th and Sunday, November 19th after the 12:30 Mass on Orchard Tree Planting. Everyone is welcome.

ENGLISH MASS AT ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY CHURCH

English Mass will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church (432 Sheppard Ave. East, west of Bayview Ave.)
every Sunday beginning on November 5th at 6:00 PM.

LIVING POPE FRANCIS’ VISION OF THE CHURCH – THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL – ADVENT RETREAT

Saturday, December 2nd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

Please join us for the Advent Retreat. It will be a wonderful way to prepare our minds and hearts for Christmas.

The retreat will be preached by Father Robin Ryan, a Passionist priest and theologian. Father Ryan teaches at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is author of numerous books, articles and recordings on theological and spiritual topics, and a much sought-after retreat director.

Among his work are Catholics on Call: Discerning a Life of Service in the Church (Liturgical Press, 2010) and God and the Mystery of Human Suffering: A Theological Conversation Across the Ages (Paulist Press, 2011).

Pope Francis is calling all baptized Christians to renew their relationship with Christ and the Church. In this parish retreat, Father Ryan will explore with us the vision of the Church that Pope Francis presents and reflect on its implications for Christian living.

For more information, please call Parish Office at 416 221-8866, or email Fatima Lee at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

November 6th to November 11th, 2017

MONDAY – SOULS IN PERGATORY – Requested by John Chan
TUESDAY – ERNIE KEEGAN – Requested by his Family
WEDNESDAY – JOAN RUEST – Requested by her Family
THURSDAY – SOULS IN PURGATORY – Requested by Mary & Ravi
FRIDAY – PAULINE FUNG CHIU – Requested by the Chiu Family
SATURDAY – VICTOR PAUL – Requested by Sophia & Candida Pereira

CONFIRMATION ENROLLMENT CEREMONY

Sunday, November 26th at the 12:30 PM Mass

The Confirmation Enrollment Ceremony for all Confirmation candidates will be held on Sunday, November 26th at the 12:30 PM Mass. All Confirmation candidates must attend.

Candidates are reminded to submit their letters requesting Confirmation to Fr. Brando through the Parish Office by Sunday, November 19th.

PARENT MEETING FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION

Wednesday, November 29th at 7:30 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church, Gabriel Room

On Wednesday, November 29th at 7:30 PM there will be a meeting in the Gabriel Room for parents of children who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THE CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO

Over the course of the past several weeks, hurricanes, tropical storms and violent earthquakes have devastated a number of countries in the Caribbean and Mexico.

In an effort to support people in that region who have been impacted by these disasters, the Archdiocese of Toronto is accepting funds that will be sent through Catholic relief channels.

Relief workers from the official Catholic relief agency, Caritas Internationalis, are on the ground. Caritas Mexico teams are determining how the earthquakes have affected local populations. Catholic partners in other affected regions are also actively caring for the victims of these disasters and determining the long-term needs for recovery.

Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways:

  • Online through the Archdiocese of Toronto website: www.archtoronto.org
  • By phone through the Development Office – 416-934-3411
  • Through the parish, making cheques payable to:
    St. Gabriel’s Parish – 2017 Hurricane, Earthquake – Disaster Relief.

We offer our prayers for all those impacted by these tragedies. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to assist those in crisis.

SHEPHERD’S TRUST COLLECTION

November 18th/19th

As members of our Catholic community, we regularly benefit from the tireless service of our priests. They have been tangible instruments of the Lord’s mercy in our lives. Called by God and ordained to care for His people, our priests serve our families, in churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, missions and on the streets. The Shepherds’ Trust ensures our priests can live their retirement years with dignity.

The Shepherds’ Trust collection will take place in all parishes in the Archdiocese during the weekend of November 18th/19th. This fund does more than just support our priests in their retirement years; it represents a very tangible gesture of thanks for the blessings we have received. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE CAMPAIGN

Development and Peace is launching a new campaign “Women at the Heart of Peace”. This campaign invites Canadians to learn more about the vital role women play in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. To learn more, visit devp.org/campaign

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. The good people of St. Gabriel’s have been extremely generous in their support of these two important centres.

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.

Your food donations are more important than ever as the numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your tremendous support!

MILK BAG PROJECT

Wednesday, November 15th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Gabriel Room

Volunteer milk bag weavers will be meeting Wednesday afternoon, November 15th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room to continue their great work, making sleep mats for third world countries All are welcome! For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 48 casseroles for October. For November, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of November 25th/26th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are urgently needed to help feed the hungry in our city. You may pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan from the Parish Office. Three recipes are also available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

SENIOR MEN’S HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

Grades 11 & 12
November 25th from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Our Lady of the Airways Parish, Mississauga

The Office of Vocations is hosting a day retreat at Our Lady of the Airways Parish, Mississauga, on Saturday, November 25th from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. This retreat will provide 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. Registration for the retreat is to be done online at: www.vocationstoronto.ca (under Programs) or http://bit.ly/2xh8uMA.

For more information please call the Office of Vocations at: 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org.

HIKE AND PRAYER: SEEING THE BEAUTY IN ALL THINGS

Saturday, November 25th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

High Park Station, 35 Quebec Avenue (meeting at bus terminal exit)
Young adults (18-39) are invited to join us for an opportunity to slow down with God and enjoy the beauty of nature. We will look for the beauty in all things, as inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. RSVPs appreciated: call Kataryna Ryba at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca — a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.