Dear Parishioners, I thought I would share with you a bit of news about myself. After Thanksgiving, I will begin a very different ministry in the Mackenzie-Fort Smith Diocese in the Northwest Territories. Other than the city of Yellowknife, the Diocese comprises isolated and remote communities, mainly of Indigenous peoples. There are only nine priests serving this Diocese of 1.5 million square kilometers. Most communities would have a priest visit to celebrate the Eucharist every two or three months. (Just think how blessed we are at St. Gabriel’s!!) As a result, Sunday communion services would be led by lay leaders of the local communities. Very often they are also the ones who would marry couples and bury the dead. They likely are also the catechists. I am being called to serve the Diocese and the people there as the Coordinator for religious education, providing resource and support to these lay leaders.
As many of you know, St. Gabriel’s is my own parish community, it is also a community that I love and cherish. For the past twelve years I have had the privilege of serving you as your Lay Pastoral Associate. Needless to say, I am sad to be leaving the parish. Yet “leaving” may not be the right word. I feel I am going to the North very much a part of this faithful community, to extend your love and friendship to the people there.
Please support me with your prayers as I begin my ministry in this far away, remote, but beautiful land. Fatima
Recent reports of clergy abuse in the Church, most notably through the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, have prompted numerous questions. To access letters from Pope Francis, Cardinal Collins, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and other resources regarding this issue, please visit www.archtoronto.org/about-us/safe-environment. You can also access policies outlining how the Archdiocese responds to any allegation of misconduct by a member of the clergy or lay staff.
www.archtoronto.org/about-us/safe-environment
The Archdiocese of Toronto has implemented a series of policies and procedures to foster a safe environment for all those who interact with the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Those we serve include young people, adults and seniors who all make up the body of Christ among us. Information includes our procedure for cases of alleged misconduct, screening for lay volunteers and an overview of requirements for candidates to the priesthood and permanent diaconate.
Sunday September 30th after the 12:30 Mass
On Sunday, September 30th there will be an altar server welcome back and retraining session after the 12:30 Mass. Every altar server is invited. Interested boys and girls, ages 9 and older, who are willing to train to be an altar server are very much welcome. Refreshments will be provided.
September 10th to September 15th
MONDAY – JAMES SHORT – Requested by Patrick Mohan TUESDAY – VINCENT HA – Requested by Laura, Sylvia & Valerie Ha WEDNESDAY – ELIO RANCATI – Requested by his Family THURSDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by John Chan FRIDAY – LUZ VILLEGAS – Requested by Gloria Monroy SATURDAY – HEUNG-WAH LAM – Requested by Fung, Lam & Montero Families
St. Gabriel’s Church Wednesday, September 19th, from 7:30 to9:00 PM Thursday, September 27th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 6th from 2.30 PM to 4:00PM.
Registration for children who wish to receive the Sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on the following dates: Wednesday, September 19th, from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Thursday, September 27th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 6th from 2.30 PM to 4:00 PM.
Please Note: A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
Meetings in preparation for the R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) will begin in October. 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.
This Sunday, September 9th at 10:00 AM St Gabriel’s School Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are available in the parish office. This program is for children of the Parish who attend public or private schools. Classes are held at St. Gabriel’s School every second Sunday beginning this Sunday, September 9th, at 10:00 AM.
Please note that a separate Sacramental registration form is required if your child will receive the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation or Confirmation during the 2018/19 year. These forms are also available in the parish office.
Those who sing pray twice.”
Our senior choir practices on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 to 9:00 P.M. and leads community song at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass.
Our junior choir practices on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM and leads the music at the 12:30 PM Mass.
We always welcome new voices and hope you will consider joining us! For more information, please contact Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041
Weekend of September 15th/16th
Spring Cleaning Year Round!
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting gently used clothing, shoes, linens and household goods to support our neighbors in need or to be sold to help support their special works in the community on the weekend of September 15th/16th They cannot accept books, dishes, furniture, appliances, mattresses, construction materials or videos and cassettes. Please bring your donations and help others in your community.
The truck will be open Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers will be there to assist with loading before and after each Mass.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend. Regular ground coffee: $5.50 Decaffeinated: $6.00 Whole Beans: $5.50 Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00 Teas: $4.25
Wednesday, September 19th at 1:00 PM
The Milk Bag Workshops will begin again on Wednesday, September 19th. Please make sure the bags you bring are clean and flat in the box. This will be of great help to the weavers. For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.
You can make a difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving by participating in the annual Good Shepherd Ministries Thanksgiving Food Drive.
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.
Urgently needed items include: rice, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter, jam cooking spices hot chocolate powdered milk black/Orange Pekoe tea ground or instant coffee, sugar cookies and crackers, vegetable oil jams canned tuna, soups, stews, meats, fruits and vegetables. Please no fresh or frozen foods.
We thank you for your generous support!
Thank you to all who prepared casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for the months of July and August. Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of September 29th/30th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. We encourage you to pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site and in the Parish Office. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.
St. Gabriel’s Parish Weekend of February 22nd, 23rd, and 24th
A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of February 22nd to 24th, 2019.
The course will be held Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For a registration package please email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca.
What to Watch for This fall: The north garden will completed with the addition of more fruit shrubs and trees and the mulching of the pathways.
Workshop Reminders Sundays from 1:30 to 3:00 with Cameron September 23rd Attracting Bats, Bees Birds and Other Beneficial Wildlife September 30th Cultivating Mushrooms (Oyster)
For more information on the Garden Ministry, contact Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Saturday, September 8th, 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.
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Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk