As of Monday, February 9th, The Family of Faith pledge total was $837,758. Thanks to all who have donated to date. If you have not already done so, please return your pledge form to the parish office as soon as possible to help St. Gabriel’s reach its goal of $900,000.
Saturday, March 7th from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM
We just heard from Mark’s gospel that “Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” We invite you during this season of Lent to come out and spend a quiet afternoon to pray and reflect, and to experience a renewal of your faith.
As announced earlier, Father Robert Joerger, CP, whose preaching touched many of us when he last visited, has very kindly agreed to lead our Lenten retreat this year. Fr. Bob is the Provincial of the Passionists of the St Paul of the Cross Province.
The topic of the Lenten retreat is “GUESS WHO IS COMING TO DINNER: Everybody has a hungry heart.” Come and be prepared to be inspired and to be challenged to a deeper relationship with God. The retreat will be on Saturday, March 7th from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the parish. It will end with Mass at 4:30 PM.
To pre-register or for more information, please call the parish office at (416) 221-8866, email fatimalee@bellnet.ca, or meet us in the Gathering Space, before and after all weekend Masses. By pre-registering you will facilitate our organizing of the event. There will be no charge for the retreat. However, donations will be gratefully accepted. The retreat will begin at 1:00 PM sharp. Please plan on arriving earlier.
Sunday, March 1st after 12:30 PM Mass
Thursday, February 19th marks the beginning of Lunar New Year. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful New Year Party. This year is the Year of the Sheep.
Our Lunar New Year Party will take place on Sunday, March 1st after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!
Volunteers and donations are also welcome.
Please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.
In preparation for the upcoming Synod of Bishops in October 2015, Cardinal Collins has invited Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer informed insights on specific topics, which will be gathered to be considered by the synod.
Full details, including the background document, can be found at: www.archtoronto.org/synod – the deadline for submission of feedback, either by email or mail, is February 16th, 2015.
February 18th 2015
February 18th is Ash Wednesday.
Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day. During Lent, we encourage your attendance at our daily weekday Masses at 9:00 AM.
During Lent there are two days of Fast and Abstinence, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Abstinence means to abstain from eating meat. This applies to all Catholics 14 years of age and older. Fasting means that your two smaller meals combined should not be larger than your main meal. There is no eating between meals. This applies to healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60.
February 16th to 21st, 2015
MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass TUESDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by John Chan WEDNESDAY – ASH WEDNESDAY THURSDAY – MEI SUET LAI – Requested by Mei Yung Fong FRIDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by Anna Ho SATURDAY – ARMANDO DI NARDO – Requested by the Family
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM. We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.
Saturday, February 28th at 10:30 AM
St. Gabriel’s Church First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School, and those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 28th at10:30 AM.
Friday, March 6th at 1:30 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
On Friday, March 6th at 1:30 PM, St. Gabriel’s is hosting World Day of Prayer 2015, an ecumenical Service, which is written this year by the Christian women in the Bahamas.
The theme for this year is “Jesus said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? John 13:13.
Please join us, along with our neighbour Christian churches, in prayer and reflection. All are welcome to attend.
Working wonders in our community…
We are all called to care for those who are vulnerable in our community. The ShareLife parish campaign gives us an opportunity to reach out in justice and love. Last year, ShareLife’s 42 agencies and grant recipients provided over 381,000 services to over 114,000 people here in our archdiocese, and assisted countless others in developing countries around the world. In 42 municipalities, and in more than 20 languages, those in need received support and care as a result of our generosity. My prayer is that you will join me as together we work wonders to lovingly care for those who are in need around us. —Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto
First ShareLife Sunday – March 1, 2015
Please give generously. You can work wonders!
Catholics urged to Support Physicians’ Charter Right of Freedom of Conscience and Religion
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in a proposed new draft document states: “Where physicians are unwilling to provide certain elements of care due to their moral or religious beliefs, an effective referral to another health care provider must be provided to the patient”. Catholic physicians believe that a mandate for an “effective referral” is a violation of a physician’s rights, as it compels the physician to violate his or her own conscience by being a participant in the very act, the very procedure to which he or she objects in the first place. The CPSO is accepting submissions from all Ontario citizens until February 20. We are all called to inform the CPSO in writing that we reject the proposed “effective referral” mandate for doctors whose Charter right of freedom of conscience and religion must be respected. The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) is one Catholic lay group coordinating these efforts. Go to www.ccrl.ca to find out more and to get involved.
International Plaza Hotel, 655 Dixon Road
Calling All Girls, Friday, March 13th from 7:00 to 10:00 PM
An evening for Catholic mothers and their daughters featuring Canadian Catholic song writer and singer Maggie Wang, radio producer Laura Cirami, Gary Zimak, a EWTN personality, Catholic authors, Moira Noonan and Dorothy Pilarski
Saturday, March 14, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
This Catholic Women’s conference will feature guest speakers including His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Dr. Josie Lombardi, Gary Zimak EWTN personality, Ellen Hrkach, president of Catholic Writers Guild and Catholic authors Moira Noonan and Dorothy Pilarski.
For more information visit www.dynamicwomenfaith.com or call 905-279-7702
The St. Gabriel’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul thanks parishioners for their generous and consistent support for those in need.
Tax receipts for the year 2014 for donations of $20 or more have been mailed this past week. Receipts for donations less that $20 are available on request.
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50 Decaffeinated: $6 Whole Beans: $5.50 Chocolate Bars: $4 incl. Taxes Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $4.75 Teas: $4.25
Kindergarten Registration has begun for all Elementary Schools. Parents/guardians with children born in 2011 or earlier and who will be enrolling in Kindergarten, have the opportunity to apply on-line using the “Student On-line Admission and Registration” platform known as S.O.A.R. and found at the following link: http://soar.tcdsb.org.
For further information, please contact our school office at 416-393-5256.
For general inquires or further information you may contact 416-222-8282 or visit our website at www.tcdsb.org
Saturday, February 21st, 2015 at 9:00AM
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese of Toronto estate planning team will share:
– How to protect your loved ones with a proper Will – How to ensure your wishes are legally protected – About Powers of Attorney and Estate Trustee selection – The cost savings of making an estate plan – Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors – Our Catholic traditions around Wills, burial and funerals
An estate planning kit and DVD will be provided at no cost.
Refreshments will be provided.
RSVP: Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries 416-733-8544 ext. 2023 or fjannetta@cc-fs.ca
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for Last Weekend
Envelopes 381 $ 6,318 Loose Change 822 Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,701 Total 545 $ 10,841 Maintenance Collection $8,130
This Bulletin entry was posted on Sunday, February 15th, 2015.
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