Mary: Model of Hope and Healing in the Midst of Darkness Saturday, December 8th from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM St. Gabriel’s Parish
Please join us for our Parish Advent Retreat on Saturday, December 8th at 12:30 PM.
The theme is Mary: Model of Hope and Healing in the Midst of Darkness. The speaker will be Fr. Thomas Rosica. Fr.Rosica, C.S.B. is a Canadian Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Congregation of St Basil. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, English language media attaché of the Holy See Press Office, author, speaker, and commentator. For further information, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
Sunday November 25th at 6:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
The St. Gabriel’s Youth Group would like to invite you, your friends and your families to their Youth Talent Night, taking place on Sunday, November 25th. Join them for a lovely evening as they showcase the talent of the youth in our parish.
Admission is by donation. All proceeds will support 9 of our young adults and their trip to Panama this January for World Youth Day. Thank you for all your continuous support of the Youth Group. Hope to see you there!
Available the Weekend of December 1st/2nd
On the weekend of December 1st/ 2nd our Parish’s Development and Peace Group will be selling 2019 calendars. This is a beautiful and unique calendar showcasing sceneries from the Arctic north. The pictures are taken by Bishop Jon Hansen of the MacKenzie-Fort Smith Diocese on his missionary trips to the arctic communities.
Through the sale of these calendars, funds will be raised for the missions in the Arctic. Our Lady of Victory Church in Inuvik (the famous igloo church) and three of its missions: Tuktoyaktuk on the Beaufort Sea,Tsiigehtchic and Paulatuk. These remote communities are striving for self-sufficiency, but it is not easy. During the harsh winter months, the heating of the churches would cost over $4000 a month.
Perhaps in the comfort of our well heated homes, we can think of these communities in the Arctic and try to support them in ways we can – the calendars at $20 each will be great for personal use; they will also make wonderful gifts, since they are unique and not easily available.
Offertory envelopes will be available in the Gathering Space next weekend. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
If you do not have envelopes, and you would like some, contact the parish office and we will prepare a box for you.
November 26th to December 1st
MONDAY – FILOMENA da SILVA – Requested by Maria da Silva TUESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Nguyen Family WEDNESDAY – MARJORIE SKAZIN & ANITA MARKLE – Requested by Carolyn & Bill Markle THURSDAY – ELIO RANCATI – Requested by his Family FRIDAY – GIUSEPPINA SMERIGLIO – Requested by Lina Giannotta SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Mia Carlota Bustillos and Alessia Chi Ching Chen.
These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on November 18, 2018. Congratulations!
Wednesday, November 28th at 7:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church, Gabriel Room
On Wednesday, November 28th 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.
Sunday, December 2nd at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room
On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates 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. All are welcome.
Sunday, December 2nd at the 12:30 PM Mass
The Confirmation Enrollment Ceremony for all Confirmation candidates will be held on Sunday, December 2nd 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 25th.
English: Saturday, December 1st at 3:15 PM in the Library Chinese: Sunday, December 2nd at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
For further information, please contact Linda Law at 416 -918-8029
Friday, December 7th from 9:30 AM to 12 Noon
Meetings in preparation for the R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) began last Saturday. These meetings are for persons interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. The exploration may lead the candidate to seek baptism, and become a member of the Catholic Christian community; or for Christians already baptized into another Christian denomination, the reception into the Catholic Church. Adult Catholics who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation but who wish to do so are also encouraged to attend these sessions.
As well, these meetings may be an opportunity for “Born Catholics” to deepen their understanding of our faith. Very often, especially for those of us who received our religious instruction at an early age, we tend to grow physically, mentally, psychologically etc., but the understanding of our faith does not grow correspondingly. The RCIA may serve as a good opportunity for us to ask questions and to develop a more adult understanding of our faith.
If you are interested in joining the RCIA meetings or if you would like to have more information about it, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
Share the Journey Campaign
This year, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada is joining forces with Pope Francis and Caritas Internationalis by inviting Canadians to share the journey with those living the tragedy of forced migration. Launched in Rome in September 2017, the Share the Journey campaign aims to create a “culture of encounter” by educating the public to the realities of those forced to flee their homes and creating opportunities for encounters between them and local communities.
Actions Cards requiring your signature are available at all Masses this weekend to send a clear message to the Canadian government that it must do more to tackle the root causes of forced migration.
Saturday, December 1st to Sunday, December 16th
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space. The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have 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 choose an older child, please buy a gift card. Return it with the tag to the Parish Office. 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 months to 4 years.
Unwrapped Items with the original stocking tag attached can be left in the box provided near the “mitten” tree no later than Sunday, December 16th.
For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Office. Thank you for your generosity.
Saturday December 1st to Sunday December 16th
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 next weekend and will remain there until Sunday, December 16th
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
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
Seraphim and Cherubim Chorus Friday, December 14th at 7:30 PM St. Bonaventure’s Parish
Christmas, Christmas time is near! Join the Seraphim and Cherubim Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love as part of their Marshmallow World concert series. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics! Join us on Friday, December 14th at St. Bonaventure Parish in Don Mills, Saturday, December 15th at St. Matthew Parish in Oakville and Sunday, December 16th at St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Woodbridge. All shows start at 7:30pm. Advanced tickets available online at http://www.seraphimandcherubim.ca
The next meeting of the Garden Ministry will be a planning meeting for the development, in the spring of 2019, of a community garden that would support the Good Shepherd Mission. If you are interested in participating in this project, please join us on December 9th at 11:30 in the Gabriel Room, or contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
“The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there.” – George Bernard Shaw
As we head into the new liturgical year, the Finance Council wishes to share this with all who come together as our worshipping community …
“The financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow.” Our operating payments average $17,000 per week. Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website). Please come by the parish office if you have any questions.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Sunday, November 25th, 2018.
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 »
Listen to the audio
Watch Fr. Paul Cusack’s Funeral Mass (video)
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk