ANNOUNCED MASSES
April 7th – April 13th, 2025
MONDAY – BELLA FE CASTRO ✞ – Requested by the Macaraeg Family
TUESDAY – RENATO PACHECO ✞ – Requested by his Family
WEDNESDAY – LAURIE BURKE – Requested by her Family
THURSDAY – CELINE CHIU-KO ✞ – Requested by the Chiu Family
FRIDAY – THE MACARAEG FAMILY – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – THE SICK & THE DYING – Requested by Lydia McGrann
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – WILLIAM FAN ✞ – Requested by Jenny Lo
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – EAMON GAUGHAN ✞ – Requested by Agnes Gaughan
REFLECTION FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Psalm 126
God makes all things new.
Commentators say this is a psalm about renewal and restoration: the restoration of the Jewish People after the Babylonian Captivity.
And the restoration of all things in Christ. Which is happening always and everywhere. But it can be hard for us to see. For the hardness of our hearts, Jesus prescribes prayer.
So let our Lenten faith-filled prayer be with this psalm as it shouts:
“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!”
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM. You are also encouraged to attend our daily Mass as often as possible throughout Lent.
SEEKING NEW MINISTERS OF CARE
Anyone who is interested in becoming a Minister of Care to the Hospital or to the Homebound, please contact Sr. Maria Lucia at stgabrielem@gmail.com
DAY OF CONFESSIONS FOR LENT
Wednesday, April 2nd from 3:30 to 5:30 PM
Our parish day of confession will be held on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM for those who wish to make their individual confessions.
RECONCILIATION SERVICE
Thursday, April 3rd at 7:30 PM
Our parish Lenten Reconciliation Service will be held Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 at 7:30 PM
LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM.
You are also encouraged to attend our daily Mass as often as possible throughout Lent.
Individual Confessions
Wednesday, April 2nd from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Reconciliation Service
Thursday, April 3rd at 7:30 PM
Palm Sunday
April 13th, 2025
Masses – Sat. 4:30 PM, Sun. 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
Holy Thursday
April 17th, 2025
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:30 PM – Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM
Good Friday
April 18th, 2025
No 9:00 AM Mass
3:00 PM – Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM – Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday
April 19th, 2025
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM – Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
April 20th, 2025
No 8:30 AM Mass
Masses – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL
FIRST COMMUNION MEETINGS
Meeting appointments for children who are registered and preparing to receive their First Communion are now available.
Meetings will begin Tuesday, April 29th and continue until Friday, May 2nd. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 to book your appointment if you have not already done so.
ROSARY GROUPS
April 6th and 12th
The Chinese Rosary Group meeting is the first Sunday of every month at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
The English Rosary Group normally meets on the first Saturday of each month. However, for this April, the meeting will take place on Saturday, April 12th at 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room.
All are welcome.
EGG CARTON COLLECTION
A Food Bank in a marginalized area of Toronto is in constant need of egg cartons.
If you can help, please drop off your egg cartons in the box provided in the Gathering Space. Many thanks for your assistance.
SHARELIFE
You open the door to safety from abuse
Your support of ShareLife-funded agencies is a saving grace for victims of domestic abuse. Maria was trapped in an abusive relationship, isolated from family and friends. A mother of three, pregnant with her fourth, she needed to escape for her safety and theirs. At Safe Centre of Peel, led by Catholic Family Services Peel-Dufferin, 17 partner agencies unite to care for families. They provide legal assistance, safe housing, and financial aid. Through your solidarity, Maria and her young children were able to secure the freedom they deserve.
Thus far we have raised $21,751 toward our goal of $169,000. Please give at the parish using a ShareLife envelope, online through our parish website, or at sharelife.org/donate.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 49 casseroles for March. For April, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at all the Masses on the weekend of April 26th/27th to be delivered to the Good Shepherd Centre.
You may pick up a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan from the Parish Office. Three recipes are also available on St. Gabriel’s website. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole.
More volunteers are urgently needed to help feed the hungry in our city. For more information, please contact the Parish Office at 416 221 8866.
CARING FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.
Your food donations are so 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.
2025 PARISH VITALITY WEBINAR SERIES
April 9th from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration closing soon!
The first webinar in the 2025 Parish Vitality Webinar Series titled, “Healing Ministries That Enhance Parish Vitality: Ministering to Children of Divorce” will take place on April 9th, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM.
Many adult children of divorce struggle with their perception of God and the Church. This webinar will explore the long-term effects of marital breakdown on faith and relationships, offering insights into the hidden wounds adult children of divorce often carry. Ways to gently journey with these people in the midst of their spiritual struggles will be explored.
To register go to https://bit.ly/PVWS-RegisterApr2025
For more information contact formation@archtoronto.org or 416-934-3400 ext. 523.
Registrants will receive an emailed recording of the webinar; we encourage you to register even if you are unable to join the live session.
TRIVIA
What Do Rabbits Say Before They Eat?
Lettuce pray!
JOURNEY THROUGH LENT VIDEO SERIES
The series titled “Journey through Lent” is now available on the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website:
in English: https://www.cccb.ca/lent/
in French: https://www.cecc.ca/careme/
It includes reflections on the readings for Ash Wednesday, and each Sunday in Lent including Palm Sunday.
DOMINICAN FRIARS’ YOUTH INTERFAITH VIDEO CONTEST 2025
Closing Soon
The Office for Interreligious Dialogue invites high school students to participate in the Youth Interfaith Video Contest sponsored by the Dominican Friars of Toronto in collaboration with The Catholic Register, Salt + Light Media and the Mary Ward Centre.
This year the theme of the contest is: Faith as a Pathway from Division to Unity
The contest is organized in honour of the United Nations International Human Fraternity Day which is celebrated on February 4th every year. The document regarding this important day can be found at https://bit.ly/HumanFraternityDoc.
In an age of division, the contest calls on high school students in the Archdiocese of Toronto to explore how love, compassion and interfaith dialogue can bridge gaps, foster understanding and promote unity.
The contest closes on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025.
The length of the video should not be more than three minutes.
Video submissions can be submitted at this link: https://bit.ly/DFVCSubmission
THE GARDEN SHED
SAVE THE DATE: April 27th 2025, 10:30 AM Mass
WHERE: Gabriel Room
WHAT: Indoor Seed Planting with the Children’s Liturgy Ministry.
Children will be given the opportunity to “adopt a seedling”.
For more information, please contact the Children’s Liturgy and the Garden Ministry by emailing garden@stgabrielsparish.ca
FINANCE CORNER
Please consider giving your offertory by picking up Envelopes, enrolling in Pre-Authorized Giving (PAG), or Donate Now (through the Archdiocese of Toronto website).
Offertory envelopes for 2025 are still available by the Gabriel Room. Boxes are usually not assigned to parishioners who are donating via Pre-Authorized Giving or Donate Now through the Archdiocese.
Please contact the parish office at 416-221-8866 with any questions.