My dear Good People of St. Gabriel’s These past two years, we have been united in braving through various challenges, the top of which is the global health crisis which wreaked havoc on homes and communities. It exposed many of our vulnerabilities, especially our distance from the mystery of nature, including our very own bodies. Then, later, political crises from afar – in Ukraine and Africa – have haunted us. As children of the Passion of Christ, like our patron St. Gabriel, we cannot be apathetic amid this suffering world. We are so blessed with peace and bounty here in Toronto and in our parish, but our arms are open to our worst-affected brothers and sisters.
Being your pastor, it would have been an insurmountable task to deliver God’s works with all these challenges. However, having you as my mission partners, the difficulties are dwarfed by continued inspiration. In fact, years before the pandemic, you have empowered me with great care and support.
As I reach the silver milestone of my priesthood, my 25th anniversary of ordination, I count my ministry with you as sort of glorious mysteries. I had meaningful ministries and years prior to arriving here in St. Gabriel’s Parish, but I could not ask for a ministry and community more significant than this one that I have shared with you. Indeed, all your love and fellowship have shamed me as I often times feel not deserving of such overwhelming support.
Hence, I look at my life as an embarrassment of blessings. It is an embarrassment of blessings as per the great privilege to serve all the good people in our parish. Shepherding you through the celebration of feasts, baptism, weddings and funerals, I experienced the fullness of agape-or shared love. In the mobilization of aids during the pandemic and for the refugees affected by senseless wars, you rallied with me. You are always there with your unwavering support.
You are not just passive recipients of sacraments and undertakers of a pastor. You are active co-agents of building our local Church. The universal Church has encouraged synodality, that is, the life of the Church being shared by all sectors of the parish. But even before the Pope’s pronouncement, synodality is already very much operative in our parish.
It is easy to count 1 to 25 years, but my journey with you can never be quantified. As St. Francis de Sales would say: “The measure of love is to love without measure.” That is the most I can grasp of your overwhelming-embarrassing-love. So, I can only return: “The measure of service is humbly serving you without measure.”
May the Passion of Christ be ever in our hearts!
Fr. Brando
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Stepfathers and Great Grandfathers. May you be blessed with the graces you need to be good and loving role models to your children. May God give you courage, compassion, patience and peace.
Gerry Massicotte died on June 1st 2022. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Gabriel’s Parish. He was very active in the Parish and served as head of the Hospitality Ministry for many years. His skill in Japanese Bunka embroidery was amazing and he donated some of his work to special causes in the Parish.
Gerry’s funeral Mass will be held at St. Edward’s Church at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 27th. A reception will follow.
Please call Kathy his daughter, at 416 602 9934 or email her at kathyfrey@rogers.com before June 20th if you wish to attend.
June 20th to June 26th, 2022
MONDAY – TERESIA HUI TAM ✞ – Requested by Catherine Chung TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY – PETER GEORGE VALAVI ✞ – Requested by the Valavi Family FRIDAY – GIOVANNI, MARIA & FRANK PUGLIESE ✞ – Requested by Rose Pugliese SATURDAY – BERNIE KELLY ✞ – Requested by Barbara Kelly SUNDAY, 10:30 – KENG OW YONG ✞ – Requested by the Helen Ow Yong SUNDAY, 12:30 – DECEASED MEMBERS OF F.O.S.S. ✞ – Requested by Agnes Wong
Meetings in preparation for the R.C.I.A. (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) will begin in September. 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.
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.
Registration forms for the Children’s Faith Program are now available in the parish office. This program is for children of the Parish who attend other Catholic schools, public or private schools. Classes are held at St. Gabriel’s School every second Sunday beginning September
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 2022/2023 school year. These forms are also available in the Parish Office. Baptismal Certificates are required for First Communion and Confirmation.
ShareLife agencies need your support, now more than ever
Did you know that, through your support, no one is turned away from ShareLife-funded agencies due to inability to pay? One of these agencies whose work you make possible is Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS).
“The pandemic has affected the newcomer and refugee communities we serve greatly,” the agency reports. Thanks to you, CCS continued its settlement and mental health services for this marginalized population without interruption.
Our goal this year is $198,000 To date we have achieved $121,820. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org.
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential.
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 Covid 19 remains with us and numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
There will be a second collection in support of our Refugee Sponsorship on the weekend of July 16th/17th. Thank you in advance for your support.
We have learned that a neighbouring church, St Elizabeth of Hungary Church, received a Ukrainian Refugee family on very short notice. We are assisting them by sharing our settlement plan with them. Our Sponsorship is through the Office of Refugees Archdiocese of Toronto (ORAT) and they have a team in Poland speaking to Ukrainian families about resettlement in Canada.
Thank you for your continued support of this important work.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
June 18th and 19th
This week, there will be a second collection for Marygrove Girls Camp run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Each year, over 1,000 young girls with financial or domestic hardship enjoy a subsidized joyful camping experience at Marygrove. Please give generously to support this important initiative.
Wednesday, August 17th at 7:00 PM
Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services, Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to invite all families to participate in the Annual Mass for the Faithful Departed on Wednesday, August 17th at 7:00 PM.
His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins will celebrate Mass at Holy Cross in Thornhill.
Rev. Msgr. Paul Zimmer will be the celebrant at Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto.
Most Rev. Bishop Robert Kasun will celebrate the Mass at Christ the King Cemetery in Markham.
In the Event of Rain, Mass will be celebrated in the mausoleum at Holy Cross and at St. Monica’s Church instead of Mount Hope Cemetery. Mass will be celebrated in the Reception Centre at Christ the King Cemetery.
On Sunday, June 26th, the Garden and the Children’s Liturgy ministries will once again collaborate. This time, the children will experience caring for a garden that grows food to feed those in need of a meal. (The produce from St. Gabriel’s Garden is given to the Good Shepherd Ministries.) Since the children will be weeding and watering our vegetable garden, please ensure that they dress for hands-in-the-soil and perhaps an unintended splash. A hat and sunscreen are recommended.
The summer issue of our Garden Ministry newsletter, Growing News, will be available on the parish website on June 21st, the summer solstice. Featured in this issue is an interview with Fr. Brando, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ordination, in which he reveals the captivating story of his call to the priesthood.
This Bulletin entry was posted on Friday, June 17th, 2022.
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 »
Companion for the Walk of the Stations of the Cosmic Earth
St. Gabriel’s Garden – Guided Sensory Reflective Walk