Monday, May 19th is Victoria Day.
The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Sunday May 25th, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
All are welcome.
In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation retreat will be held here on Saturday, May 24th, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from their service Ministry Coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated completion of volunteer service hours.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
May 19th – May 25th, 2025
MONDAY – VICTORIA DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – K.J. JOSEPH ✞ – Requested by his Family
WEDNESDAY – JASON CRICHTON – Requested by Karen Crichton
THURSDAY – EDNA, GERRY & MIKE HATCH ✞ – Requested by their Family
FRIDAY – IRIS DONOVAN ✞ – Requested by the Ahlberg & Nelles Families
SATURDAY – DAVID CRADDOCK ✞ – Requested by Ruth Jones
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – HILDA AGNES NACCORATO ✞ – Requested by the Atehortua & Romero Families
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – PEADAR HIGGINS – Requested by Agnes Gaughan & Family
PSALM MEDITATION
5th Sunday of Easter, May 18th, 2025
Psalm 145 is thought to have once been the final psalm of the Psalter. It certainly calls up constant praise of God: praise and thanks for graciousness and mercy, glory and power, the eternity of splendour.
“I will bless your name forever, my King and my God!”
SPECIAL COLLECTION: POPE’S PASTORAL WORKS
May 25th, 2025 at all masses
The Pope’s Pastoral Works collection was established by the bishops of Canada in 1970. The Papal Charities allow the Pope to contribute to various charitable causes around the world, particularly toward aiding the victims of war, famine and natural disasters. By contributing to the Pope’s Pastoral Works, the faithful of Canada give a universal dimension to their charity.
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES
Your prepared frozen casseroles are being collected at the Masses next weekend, May 24th/25th, for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.
Good Shepherd provides more than 240,000 meals a year to people who would otherwise go hungry. 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 the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
SHARELIFE
Your helping hand ensures that no one struggles alone
No one is turned away from ShareLife-funded agencies due to inability to pay. You make it possible for individuals, couples, and families to access mental health services. Like Aimee, who grew up believing that life’s challenges were meant to be faced alone. She searched for the strength to speak with a counsellor, but felt hopeless, imagining that her struggles would be dismissed. Financial concerns weighed heavily on her, making it even harder to reach out. Imagine the relief Aimee felt when she learned about the sliding scale payment system at Catholic Community Services of York Region (CCSYR). Because of you, Aimee received immediate care, free of judgement.
Thus far we have raised $39,384 at the parish level 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.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE UP WEEKEND
June 7th & 8th
Bundle Up for Saint Vincent de Paul!
Bring your gently used textiles, shoes, clothing, bedding, draperies, and small household goods (no dishes please) to share with others on June 7th /8th. A Saint Vincent de Paul truck/bin will be in the church parking lot so please share what you can with those less fortunate. Your donations will be used/sold to support outreach efforts.
The truck/bin will be open all day Saturday from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.
Please note: Donations can only be accepted when the truck is open. We will not be accepting any donations before or after the Bundle Up Weekend.
The Society cannot accept baby furniture, building materials or dishes. A list of items that can or cannot be accepted is available by the Poor Box in the Gathering Space, or by calling the office.
Thank you for your continued support!
FAIR TRADE COFFEE
Fair Trade coffee will be sold after all the Masses next weekend. The cost is $7.00 per bag.
DAY OF REFLECTION: FINDING GOD IN A BUSY LIFE
Monday, May 26th, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering
We often wonder where God is as we live our lives in a busy world. We go from day to day without standing still and reflecting on our life journey with God, how God has been there all the way along, even in times when we felt dry or abandoned in our spiritual life. The hope of this retreat for men and women is that retreatants come to a higher awareness of their individual unique earthly journey with God.
The retreat will be facilitated by Fr. Henk van Meijel, SJ.
The suggested offering is $65 per person which includes lunch, coffee/tea break and talks.
To register, email manresaregistration@outlook.com or visit https://manresa-canada.ca or call 905-839-2864.
A DAY WITH MARY
Saturday, May 31st, 2025 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Villanova College, King City
On Saturday, May 31st, Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a new archdiocesan event called “A Day with Mary” will be taking place at Villanova College in King City.
During this Jubilee Holy Year, spend a day with our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Hope, and deepen your devotion to her through a keynote address by Dr. Josephine Lombardi, a number of inspiring witnessings and Holy Mass presided over by His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo. This family-friendly event will have music, food, fellowship, children’s catechesis and activities – something for everyone.
Online registration is now open until May 19th. For more information and to register, visit archtoronto.org/mary.
SEEING WITH HEART – A DAY OF REFLECTION FOR PARENTS OF LGBTQ YOUNG ADULTS
Saturday, June 7th, 2025 from 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM
Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, 2325 Liverpool Rd., Pickering
This day of reflection will provide parents with an opportunity to share their stories, listen to presentations, reflect on the gifts and talents of their children, and participate in group discussions. The day ends with Mass.
We hope to provide a relaxed and supportive environment for parents to meet and interact with other parents, reflect and discuss concerns, learn about resources, strengthen their love, and grow closer to God. Fr. Bernie Carroll, S.J. – Superior of the Pickering Jesuit Community will facilitate.
A suggested offering of $65 per person. Includes lunch. For more information or to Register: Call Mike Hyland – 647-296-2499.
TRIVIA
What do you call a fake stone in Ireland?
A sham – rock.
PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?
If you are planning to be a teacher, it is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic school board in Ontario, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor as part of your application.
The letter explaining that you belong to and participate in the community cannot be written if your pastor does not know you. It is recommended that you have a conversation with him early in the process well before the applications are to be submitted.
GARDEN SHED
OPENING: SUMMER GARDENING POSITION FOR YOUTH
St. Gabriel’s Parish has received a Canada Summer Jobs grant from the federal government for a Youth Gardening Helper, to assist with gardening tasks 30 hours per week for 9 weeks, beginning at the end of May. Work can include, but is not be limited to, watering, weeding, planting, transplanting, soil preparation, pruning, harvesting, mulching, cleaning up debris and care of garden tools.
Applications will be accepted until May 20th, 2025.
To apply, please send your resume to apply@stgabrielsparish.ca
GARDEN MINISTRY NEWS
May 18th at 10:30 Mass
Our Garden Ministry will be having an outdoor seedling planting in the community boxes this Sunday, May 18th during the 10:30 AM Mass. If you are available to help, come and join them!
This particular Garden work has immediate and direct impact because it helps to provide a fresh food supply for the homeless who accesses the services of The Good Shepherd Ministry in Toronto.
The Garden Ministry Spring Newsletter is off the presses. Please access it through the Parish website. Printed copies are posted on the bulletin boards. Letters to the Editors are always welcome!
DAY OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER FOR THE BEREAVED
Saturday, May 10th, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 5:00PM
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.