Bulletin – June 25, 2023

Happy Summer!

This is the last bulletin until the Labour Day Weekend in September. We wish you all a happy and safe summer!

Saturday, July 1st is Canada Day. In lieu of Canada Day, the Office will be closed on Monday, July 3rd for the holiday.

There will be no 9:00 AM Mass on July 3rd.

PARISH BBQ

Sunday, July 9th after the 12:30 Mass

The Parish BBQ Picnic will be held on Sunday, July 9th after the 12:30 Mass in the parking lot. There will be hot dogs, games, face painting, lucky draws, music and more.

Tickets are $3 each.

Please bring your families, friends and neighbours to enjoy a summer afternoon with your parishioners.

We need more young volunteers to help and make this event happen. Please sign up by putting your name and phone number on the sheets at the back of church. For more information, you may call Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

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 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.

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 stgabrielsparishrcia@gmail.com or call 416-221-8866.

LECTORS NEEDED

We are in need of additional lectors for all the masses. If you are interested in joining this vibrant ministry, please contact Tanya at lectors@stgabrielsparish.ca

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM – 2023/2024

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 2023/2024 school year. These forms are also available in the Parish Office. Baptismal Certificates are required for First Communion and Confirmation.

HOSPITALITY MINISTERS NEEDED

As we approach summer, we invite parishioners to volunteer their time and assist with hospitality at our church. Volunteers are needed most at the 4:30 PM, 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM Masses.

Should you have an interest in being of service for our parish, please contact: hospitality@stgabrielsparish.ca or call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to leave your name and contact details.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY

This is the final week for the children’s liturgy until the fall. Thank you to the wonderful team of adult and student volunteers who led the children in expressing and deepening their faith.

For more information or to volunteer for the fall, please call Dawn Burke at 416 671-0561 or leave a message at the Parish Office.

THANK YOU TO OUR CHOIRS

Thank you to our adult and children’s choir for their ministry! They will be taking a break, returning in September. New members are welcome to join them.

The senior choir practices on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM and sings at the 10:30 Mass.

The children’s choir practices on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 and sings at 12:30 Mass.

ANNUAL FESTA IN HONOUR OF ST. GABRIEL

Sunday, August 27th from 1:00 PM

Veneto Centre, 7465 Kipling Ave., Woodbridge

The 57th annual Festa of St. Gabriel, under the direction of the Passionist Community, will be held on Sunday, August 27th at the Veneto Centre in Woodbridge. Relics of St. Gabriel will be present. A procession with the urn will begin at 2:30 PM.

There will be opportunities for Confession, a special Mass outside and Italian food. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this wonderful celebration.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

June 26th to July 2nd, 2023

MONDAY – KENG OWYONG ✞ – Requested by Helen Owyong
TUESDAY – WOO SHIN TAK ✞ – Requested by David Chung
WEDNESDAY – NGUYEN VAN BAN ✞ – Requested by the Nguyen Family
THURSDAY – MICHAEL CROGHAN ✞ – Requested by Luvi Croghan & Family
FRIDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE BERNIE JERMIN FAMILY ✞ – Requested by the Nguyen Family
SATURDAY –
SUNDAY, 10:30 – CORRADO “CHUCK” GRECH ✞ – Requested by the Grech Family Family
SUNDAY, 12:30 – SOULS IN PURGATORY ✞ – Requested by Myrian Fabra

Announced Masses for the summer months will be posted on the bulletin board in the Gathering Space.

ROSARY GROUPS

English Rosary Group
Saturday, July 1st at 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room

Chinese Rosary Group
Sunda, July 2nd at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.

CARING FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY

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 during the summer months as numbers of needy people continue to increase. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.

SHARELIFE

Your kindness goes a long way to help others build a good life

“Thank you to all people who donate to ShareLife. With each donation we receive, we are able to attain our goals of assisting people in their efforts of building a good life.” – Don Walker, Executive Director, Mary Centre

Thus far we have raised $137,894 toward our goal of [$192,000. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Summer Collection: July 29th/30th, August 26th/27th

Thank you to all who prepared casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for the month of June.

During the summer, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekends of July 29th/30th and August 26th/27th.

More volunteers are needed, especially during the summer months, to help feed the hungry in our city.

Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. We encourage you to pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try.

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

ANNUAL MASS FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

Wednesday, August 16th 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 16th at 7:00 PM.

Most Rev. John A. Boissonneau will celebrate Mass at Holy Cross in Thornhill.

Most Rev. Bishop Robert Kasun CSB will be the celebrant at Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto.

Most Rev. Vincent Nguyen 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.

THE GARDEN SHED

The Muskoka chairs have been set up in the garden. Take a break from a busy day and relax in enjoyment of our beautiful garden!