Bulletin – September 15, 2019

ST. GABRIEL’S PICTORIAL DIRECTORY 2019/2020

At all Masses this weekend and the next two weekends, all members of St. Gabriel’s community (whether a single person, two spouses, or a family) are encouraged to sign up for a specific sitting time to have their portrait taken by a professional photographer to be included in the 2020 St. Gabriel’s Pictorial Directory which is expected to be completed and distributed in early 2020. Each family or person photographed will receive a FREE Directory and a FREE 8′ x 10″ colour portrait.

The initial portrait sitting days will commence during the week of October 7th to 12th (Monday to Saturday). Sitting times from Monday to Friday will be on the quarter hour starting at 2:30 PM until 8:30 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 3:15 PM.

If you are attending St. Gabriel’s on a regular basis, but have not actually completed a registration form at the Parish office, it is encouraged that you do so as soon as possible.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

September 16th to September 22nd

MONDAY – ROYSTON & LIBERATTA PINTO (for their 25th Anniversary) – Requested by Royston Jr. & Raphael
TUESDAY – LUKE VUKOVIC – Requested by his Family
WEDNESDAY – MARIA REIS & DARKO SEIFERT – Requested by their Family
THURSDAY – CATHERINE MINNAN-WONG – Requested by her sister Noreen
FRIDAY – FIORE GIANNOTTA – Requested by Lina Giannotta
SATURDAY – GORDON OATWAY – Requested by Pat Oatway & Family
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE VILLAMOR FAMILY – Requested by the Villoria, Hale & Kipp Families.
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM –

REGISTRATION FOR SACRAMENTS FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

St. Gabriel’s Church
September 19th, 24th 25th and 26th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

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:

Thursday, September 19th from 7:30 to 9:00 PM
Tuesday, September 24th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Wednesday, September 25th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, September 26th from 7.30 PM to 9:00 PM

Please Note:
A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. A fee of $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.

R.C.I.A. AND ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT

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 Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866.

SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN PREPARING FOR BAPTISM

If you have, or know of, school age children (ages 7 to 14) who wish to prepare for Baptism, please contact the Sr. Maria Lucia at 416-221-8866. Classes for them will begin in October.

ALTAR SERVERS

Sunday September 15th after the 12:30 Mass

This Sunday, September 15th 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.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM

Began last Sunday, September 8th at 10:00 AM
St Gabriel’s School

Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are still 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. The second class will be next Sunday, September 22nd 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 2019/2020 year. These forms are also available in the parish office.

LECTOR WORKSHOP

Gabriel Room
Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 PM

“Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans: 10:17

Are you a good story teller? Would you like to share with others? On Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 PM join the Lectors to learn more about the ministry at a workshop in the Gabriel room. The workshop will provide time for lectors to share their experience and learn some of the best kept secrets of proclaiming the Word. Those who would like to join this ministry are asked to RSVP to the Parish office by
September 23rd, 2019.

SHARELIFE FINAL REPORT

The final total for this year’s ShareLife campaign is $183,975.10. Thank you for your generosity.

BUNDLE UP WEEKEND!

This Weekend, September 14th/15th

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 this weekend, September 14th/15th

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 is 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.

MILK BAG WORKSHOP

Wednesday, September 18th at 1:00 PM

The Milk Bag Workshops will begin again on Wednesday, September 18th. 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.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

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.

JUST COFFEE

Weekend of September 21st/22nd

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend, September 21st and 22nd.

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

THE GARDEN SHED

Blueberry Pie Raffle
Sunday, September 15th
Gathering Space
The Garden Ministry will be raffling a pie made with St. Gabriel’s own blueberries and baked by retired pastry chef, Regan Daley. Proceeds will go towards the purchase of tools and supplies for St. Gabriel’s Good Shepherd community garden. Tickets will be on sale after all masses this weekend.

Guided Tour of the Stations of Our Cosmic Earth
Sunday, September 22nd, from 11:30 to 12:30
Gabriel Room:
In solidarity with the Season of Creation and Global Climate Strike Week, September. 20th to 27th, Fr. Steve Dunn, of our local Passionist Community, will offer a virtual tour of the Stations which are located in the south garden. The Cosmic Stations situate the Cross amid the major transformation moments in the evolution of Earth. The stained glass originals of the Stations will be on display.

Seed-Saving Workshop
Sunday, September 29th, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Gabriel Room
Cameron Couchman, a familiar face from previous workshops and on-site in the gardens, will lead the workshop. Topics covered will be identifying plants that have set seed and are ready for harvest, collecting and storing seeds as well as cold stratification and mimicking natural processes to promote germination.

For more information on the Garden Ministry, visit our website at https://stgabrielsparish.ca/ministries/garden-ministry/ or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.