Bulletin – November 2, 2025

PARISH NEWS

On November 9th there will be a special reception in the Gathering Space after the 12:30 PM Mass to say goodbye to Fr. Dennis. He will be leaving St. Gabriel’s to begin his new assignment as associate pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish in Paris, France.

We pray for his continued success and ask him to keep us in his prayers.

We are pleased to welcome Fr. William (Bill) Murphy, who many of you have met, back to the parish. He will arrive from New York on November 6th.

NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF ALL SOULS

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

A Book of Remembrance has been placed on the altar for the month of November. You are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends in the book. They will be remembered at all the Masses celebrated in November.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

November 3rd to November 9th

MONDAY – LAU KOON TING ✞ – Requested by Linda Law
TUESDAY – CLEMENTE ANTONIO RANGEL ✞ – Requested by his Daughters
WEDNESDAY – LUIGI VELOCE ✞ – Requested by Stefanie & her Family
THURSDAY – GORDON OATWAY ✞ – Requested by Patricia Oatway
FRIDAY – MARIA T. K. LIU ✞ – Requested by Agnes Wong
SATURDAY – MEMBERS OF THE ROSARY GROUPS – Requested by the English & Chinese Rosary Groups
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – JOSEPH PAUL ✞ – Requested by Sophie & Candida Pereira
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – GIOVANNI, MARIA & FRANK PUGLIESE ✞ – Requested by the Family

PSALM MEDITATION

Psalm 116

All Souls’ Day reminds us of our destiny to be with our God forever.

“I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.”

The three sections of Psalm 116 which we sing today take us to God’s great mercy; then to our faith and trust in the face of adversity; and lastly to how precious we are in the eyes of our God. These are but three of nineteen sections in this psalm.

Psalm 116 is consoling. Today we sing verse 5:

“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
When I was brought low, he saved me.”

ANNUAL MASS FOR ALL SOULS DAY

November 8th, 2025 at 2:00 PM

All Souls’ Day, also called The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, is a day of prayer and remembrance for the Faithful Departed. Through prayer, intercessions, alms and visits to cemeteries, people commemorate their loved ones that have passed.

Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services – Archdiocese of Toronto wishes to invite all families to participate in the All Souls’ Day Mass on Saturday November 8th, 2025 at 2:00 PM.

All Masses will be held indoors at the following locations:

  • Assumption Cemetery, Mississauga – Our Lady of Fatima Mausoleum
  • Christ the King Cemetery, Markham – Reception Centre
  • Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill – Holy Family Mausoleum
  • Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Woodbridge – St. Anthony’s Mausoleum (Liturgy in Italian and English)
  • Resurrection Cemetery, Whitby – Our Lady of the Assumption Mausoleum

ROSARY GROUPS

English Group – Saturday, November 1st at 3:00 PM

Chinese Group – Sunday, November 2nd at 3:30 PM

VOCATIONS

Can I risk sharing the goodness God has given me? Can I care for the needs of my brothers and sisters? Can I respond to God as a priest, deacon, brother or sister?

If God is calling you, contact Fr. Matt McCarthy, Director of Vocations, Archdiocese of Toronto at 416 -968-0997 or email vocations at archtoronto.org

CARING FOR THE NEEDY IN OUR CITY

Food Collection for the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall

Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential. The food we donate from our parish often replenishes their empty food bank.

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 very important as numbers of people in need continue to increase.

Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 32 casseroles in October.

Please think about volunteering to help feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Parish website. Casserole pans are also available in the Parish Office.

Your support is a tremendous help and is appreciated in the fight to end hunger and chronic homelessness. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.

ST. GABRIEL’S OUTREACH

You may have noticed our group of Parish Outreach collection boxes has been moved to a central location.

If you are looking for the food bins, the milk bag bin, the egg carton box or the Beacons of Hope boxes to make donations, you will find them near the window on the south side of the Gathering Space.

SHARELIFE

From the heart of the Church – Food Security Grants to fight hunger

As food insecurity worsens across the GTA, ShareLife, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto (CCAT), and two generous anonymous donors, have pledged a combined $800,000 in Food Security Grants for 2025—building on previous commitments of $500,000 in 2023 and $750,000 in 2024.

Living the Gospel means caring for those who are hungry and vulnerable every single day. This is why we need your help to reach our parish goal. Please help fight hunger through sharelife.org/donate or by giving at our parish using a ShareLife envelope. Thank you for living the Gospel.

IN LOVING MEMORY: A Choral Prayer Service in Honour of the Faithful Departed

Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power St., Toronto

On Tuesday, November 4th at 7:30 PM., St. Paul’s Basilica, in collaboration with Together in Worship Canada, will host a Choral Prayer Service in Honour of the Faithful Departed.

The evening will feature music by the Canadian Vocal Ensemble—Mosaic, under the direction of Vincent Cheng, along with reflections and guest speakers. All are warmly invited to attend this prayerful gathering. While the service is free of charge, those who wish may make a suggested free-will offering of $10, which will be gratefully received.

CONTACT: St. Paul’s Basilica | Together in Worship Canada
PHONE: 416-364-7588
EMAIL: stpaulsbasilica@archtoronto.org
WEB: https://www.stpaulsbasilica.archtoronto.org | https://www.tiwc.ca

PROJECT RACHEL RETREAT

Friday, November 14th to Sunday, November 16th

Have you suffered the loss of a child from abortion, or the abortion pill? If grief, sadness, or shame has kept you alone in this, know that you are not alone, and that there is healing for you. Project Rachel at the Refuge will hold a retreat for post-abortive women November 14-16, 2025. Here you will find a beautiful, natural setting, companionship, and a welcome free of judgment or condemnation – healing is possible.

Call 613-473-2679 in confidence, and see stmarysrefuge.org/rachel

A Smile for a Chilly Day

How does the sun cut its hair?

E-clipse it!

RED WEDNESDAY: A VOICE FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

November 19th, 2025

Red Wednesday 2025 will be observed on November 19th, uniting Canadians in prayer and action. In Toronto, the Archdiocese of Toronto invites Catholics to join in the celebration of Mass at 5:30 PM at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. Bishop John Boissonneau, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto will preside. Contact: el@ac-canada.org or (416) 785-0498. An ACN Canada initiative with archdiocesan support.

AN EVENING WITH THE LORD: Mass, Adoration, Praise & Worship

Friday, November 21st, 2025 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Holy Rosary Parish: 354 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto

On Friday, November 21st, Holy Rosary Parish and the Shalom Community will be hosting an Evening with the Lord. There will be Holy Mass at 7:00 PM celebrated by Fr. Peter Turrone, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration will be accompanied by Praise & Worship Music by the Shalom Community. We invite you, and your friends, to join us for an intimate encounter with the Lord. For inquiries, contact LPA@holyrosary.ca.

FESTIVAL OF FAITH FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2025

Waiting for the Kingdom and the Life to Come

November 29th at 4:00 PM
233 Cummer Avenue

Join Christians from various traditions to explore how faith in Christ profoundly transforms and enriches our spiritual lives. This meditation will illuminate Christ’s consoling presence, deepening our understanding of his transformative grace. The event will be hosted by the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine

233 Cummer Ave, Toronto, on November 29th, 2025, at 4:00 PM.

Registration is required by November 22nd at guesthouse@ssid.ca

For more information please email ecumenicalandinterfaith@archtoronto.org or call 437-529-1705.

GARDEN SHED

The Garden Ministry is celebrating harvest season!

We have picked our red currants and cherries and transformed them into delicious baked goods. We invite you to taste the fruits of our labour by buying raffle tickets for these treats: one ticket for $2 or 3 for $5.

Raffle tickets will be available 30 minutes prior to each mass on the weekend of November 8th and 9th. A winner will be announced at the end of each mass. This year’s raffle will also feature two cookbooks as special prizes for two lucky winners.

We will also have lavender sachets and jam for sale. Thank you in advance for supporting our Garden Ministry!