SACRAMENTAL REGISTRATION
Parents are still able to register for the sacraments of First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation during regular office hours until October 5th.
A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. Registration forms will not be accepted without it. A Baptism certificate is not required for Reconciliation. A fee of $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
Please note the following Parents’ Meetings dates, for children registered to receive a sacrament in 2026:
Wed. October 15th at 7:30 PM – Confirmation Parents
Wed. October 22nd at 7:30 PM – First Communion Parents
Wed. October 29th at 7:30 PM – Reconciliation Parents
Textbooks will be sold at these meetings (cash or cheque only).
WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS
Saturday, October 18th from 2:30 to 4:00 PM
Gabriel Room
To all new parishioners
An invitation to join us at a reception for new parishioners on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 2:30 to 4:00 PM, in the Gabriel Room. We would like to welcome you to the parish.
It will also be an opportunity to get to know other parishioners, as well as to meet with the pastoral team, and to learn more about the parish and our very unique church building.
Please register by calling the parish office at (416) 221-8866, or email office@stgabrielsparish.ca
Hope to see you there!
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
This Weekend, October 4th/5th, 2025
Indigenous Healing and Reconciliation Fund Collection
Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto are invited to participate in the collection being held this weekend, October 4th/5th, 2025 to support the Indigenous Healing and Reconciliation Fund. The collection is part of a national grassroots effort to assist healing and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples of This Land. To date, the Archdiocese of Toronto has allocated $3.1 million to support projects that focus on culture and language revitalization, education and community building, healing and reconciliation for communities and dialogue involving Indigenous elders, spiritual leaders & youth.
Let us join together and follow the invitation extended by the late Pope Francis during his penitential visit of 2022 for each one of us to become engaged in the healing and reconciliation journey. For more information or to donate online, visit: www.archtoronto.org/healingandreconciliation. Thank you.
111th WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
This Sunday, October 5th, 2025
For the 111th World Day of Migrants & Refugees, the theme announced by His Holiness is “Migrants, Missionaries of Hope.” In his message, Pope Leo highlights the resilience of migrants and refugees who give witness to hope amidst very difficult circumstances. He reminds us that those who welcome migrants and refugees can also reflect this same hope. His message ends with a call to entrust all those who journey, and all those who accompany them, to the protection of the Virgin Mary, comfort of migrants.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
October 5th to October 12th
MONDAY – NUNZIA TARTAGLIA ✞ – Requested by Linda Neil
TUESDAY ̶
WEDNESDAY –
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY – DAVID CRADDOCK ✞ – Requested by his Family
SATURDAY – ROMAN HUHLEWYCH ✞ – Requested by Chantal Wood
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – BRUNO CORTESE ✞ – Requested by Antonietta Cortese & Family
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – KWAI FUN KO ✞ – Requested by Lucille Yeung
PSALM MEDITATION
Psalm 95
“O come, let us sing to the Lord,
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.”
Today’s liturgy stresses faith, the “good treasure entrusted to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us,” as the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Timothy.
Luke recounts the apostles asking the Lord to “increase our faith”.
Habakkuk writes that ”the righteous person lives by their faith”.
This week, let’s take a line from Psalm 95 and carry it with faith in our hearts. Here’s one to consider:
“Let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.”
FLOWER FUND
Each year we decorate our worship space for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. In the last few years, the cost of the flowers has increased considerably. For this reason, we are establishing a Flower Fund to help defray the cost of the flowers. If you would like to donate, please bring your donation to the office in an envelope marked Flower Fund.
YOUNG ADULT PASSIONIST RETREAT
October 17th to 19th
Young adults (ages 18 to 30) are invited to attend a retreat in New York from October 17th to 19th. Connect with young adults from St. Gabriel’s and the St. Paul of the Cross Province to explore the Passionist mission and what it means to be disciples of justice.
BEACONS OF HOPE
To meet the continued need for personal care items, pyjamas, slippers, towels etc., the Beacons of Hope group will be setting up a donation drop off box in the Gathering Space. A list of needed items will be posted at the box and on the bulletin boards. With the exception of slippers and personal care items that must be new, pyjamas, robes, towels could be gently used and clean.
One of the shelters has also made a request for vacuum cleaners. These should be in good working order and clean. Any assistance you could provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your kind generosity!
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
For the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall
We are preparing for our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Thanks to community partners like you, individuals facing hunger are welcomed and served daily at Good Shepherd. Upward of 900 meals are served each day at the moment.
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.
Urgently needed items include:
Tuna & Canned Meats
Coffee & Tea Bags
Soups & Stews
Beans & Chickpeas
Canned Tomatoes, Corn & Vegetables
Pasta Sauce
Salad Dressing
Cooking Oil
Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Spices
Bagged Rice
Mini sized Juice Boxes
Pancake Mix
Granola Bars & packaged snacks
Jams
Condiments: soy sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard
Please check the expiry date as we cannot pass on expired foods. We thank you for your generous support!
SHARELIFE
Help fill plates with hope this Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, gratitude comes with a challenge — families are struggling to put food on the table. ShareLife has pledged $800,000 through its Food Security Grants to bring warm meals to those who need them most.
Will you share your blessings with our parish’s ShareLife Campaign? We have currently raised $139,439 towards our suggested goal of $169,000. This amount includes funds donated through the ShareLife office. Please give with love at sharelife.org/donate or our parish with a ShareLife envelope.
BLESSING OF PETS
Sunday, October 5th at 2:00 PM
Church Parking Lot
The blessing of pets is often associated with St. Franci of Assisi,the patron saint of animals and the environment. This tradition emphasizes the importance of caring for all living creatures and recognizing their role in our lives.
ECO-THEOLOGY: A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO ECOLOGICAL CRISIS
Wednesdays from Oct. 22nd to Nov. 26th, 2025 – 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM
Explore the contributions of eco-theological discourse to today’s climate crisis through Biblical and Indigenous cosmologies, Catholic teaching and early mysticism, and modern science.
This series is presented by Roberto Chiotti, Founding Principal of Larkin Architects, and architect of our church building.
Participants can gather in Regis College St. Joseph Chapel or attend virtually via Zoom. For more information and registration visit https://regiscollege.ca/academics/windows-on-theology/
COME & SEE – DISCERNMENT WEEKEND RETREAT
October 31st to November 2nd, 2025
St. Augustine’s Seminary
The Office of Vocations will be hosting a Come & See Weekend Discernment Retreat for men 18 years and older, at St. Augustine’s Seminary on Friday, October 31st at 6:30 PM until Sunday, November 2nd at 2:00 PM. This retreat offers a way for men to discern a possible call to priesthood at the seminary.
Registration must be done online at www.vocationstoronto.ca/comesee
For more information, please email vocations@archtoronto.org.
GARDEN SHED
The Fall issue of our newsletter, “Growing News,” is now available from the Parish home page, and posted on the bulletin boards.
We hope you enjoy it and look forward to your “letters to the editor”.
Get ready for some delicious news! Our fresh cherries and red currants are being baked into special treats. Keep an eye out for details in November on how you can get your hands on them!
Are you looking for a nature getaway? Join the Garden Ministry! Back in the Spring, we celebrated a wonderful start to the season with six new volunteers, bringing our total to 21 members. If you’d like to get your hands dirty, email us at garden@stgabrielsparish.ca to get involved.
TRIVIA – Did you know?
In Canada there are three distinct indigenous peoples, First Nations, Metis and Inuit, each with their own culture, languages and traditions. They are credited with the invention of many of the things we know and use today…hockey, lacrosse, the canoe and kayak to name a few. Indigenous art is the oldest surviving art dating from the Ice Age, about 5,000 years ago.