Bulletin – February 1, 2026

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT – AVAILABLE NOW

Thank you to the people that have responded to date! We have a couple of new volunteers planning to engage in ministry, but there is plenty of room for more! Please pray about your response and return your
Time and Talent and Treasurer sheets now.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 2nd – February 8th, 2026

MONDAY – HUI SOU LIN ✞ – Requested by Linda Law
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY − VICTORIA TIN ✞ – Requested by Erminia Choy
FRIDAY − ODILIA YIU ✞ – Requested by Her Family
SATURDAY – LUCIANO CANDIDO ✞ – Requested by Janet Candido
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM − MARIA CONVERTINI ✞ – Requested by Angela Convertini
SUNDAY – 12:30 − ANTHONY MARIE REMEDIOS – Requested by Anne & Ron Ackber

MASS WITH BLESSING FOR THE SICK

Thursday, February 12th, 2026 at 11:00 AM

A mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 12th at 11:00 AM with blessing for anyone who has the need. All are welcome to attend and pray for the sick of our parish. Let us gather as a community to pray for God’s healing grace.

PSALM MEDITATION

Psalm 146

This Sunday we hear Matthew’s telling of the sermon on the mount. The first Beatitude refers back to Psalm 146: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

The First Reading from Zephaniah shouts the same theme.

Today we meditate on this teaching and its meaning.
“It is the Lord who keeps faith forever,
who executes justice for the oppressed”

ROSARY GROUPS

February 1st & February 7th

The Chinese Rosary Group meeting is the first Sunday of every month at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.

The English Rosary Group meets on the first Saturday of each month at 3:00 PM in the Gabriel Room.

All are welcome.

A PRAYER FOR SHARING

Gracious God, thank you for showing me that true joy comes from giving. In a world focused on gaining more, help me to see the beauty in sharing what I have, whether my time, talents or a simple act of kindness.
Let my heart be generous and open. Amen
Fr Paul

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.

TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Begins Wednesday, January 21st at 10:00 AM

The Toronto Catholic District School Board welcomes families with junior kindergarten-aged children (born in 2022) to register for the September 2026/2027 school year.

The Elementary Student Online Registration 2026/27 is now available. Please complete an application at http://soar.tcdsb.org.

The following original documents for your child are required upon registration:

  • Birth certificate.
  • Proof of Catholicity (one of the following documents):

    Your child’s Catholic baptismal certificate.
    The parent’s Catholic baptismal certificate (note: the Catholic parent must provide proof of residency in the City of Toronto).
  • A letter of enrolment to the R.C.I.A./R.C.I.C. program.
  • Passport / immigration documents (if child was not born in Canada).
  • Two proof of address documents

For more registration information, please email: admissions.registration@tcdsb.org or phone
416-222-8282 ext. 5320

CARING FOR THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITY

Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre.

ROSALIE HALL

From the desk of Jane Kenny, Executive Director of Rosalie Hall. Excerpts from her Letter of Thanks – December 23, 2025:

“Your thoughtful gifts of children’s toys, infant and children’s pajamas, presents for parents, and gift cards brought joy and comfort to the young families we serve. Your kindness not only enriched their celebrations but also strengthened the bonds of community and care that are so vital to the families at Rosalie Hall. […] We are especially grateful for your ongoing support of non-perishable items for our emergency food bank. Your consistent contributions have helped us provide reliable and nutritious food to families in urgent need, alleviating stress and ensuring no one in our community goes hungry. […] The compassion and generosity of your congregation are a true reflection of God’s love in action. Every gift, encouragement, and act of kindness makes a tangible difference in the lives of the young parents, babies and children we serve.”

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 33 casseroles for January. For February, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at all the Masses on the weekend of February 22nd 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.

MARRIAGE SUNDAY 2026

February 8th, 2026 at 2:30 PM

St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica
65 Bond St., Toronto

As part of Marriage Sunday 2026 celebrations, Bishop John Boissonneau will preside at a special Mass to honour married couples, with special recognition for those celebrating 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 60+ wedding anniversaries in 2026. The Mass will take place at 2:30 PM on Sunday, February 8th, 2026 at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica (65 Bond St., Toronto). All married couples will have an opportunity to renew their marriage commitment during the Mass.

All are welcome to attend. Reserved seating is available for couples celebrating a 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 60+ anniversary in 2026. Reserved seating is limited, so please register early. All other seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who are unable to attend at the Cathedral are invited to join the celebration via livestream Mass.

Registration and other important information can be found at www.archtoronto.org/marriage.

THE CALL TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: What History Teaches about the Role of Terror in Authoritarian Regimes

Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

AN ONLINE WEBINAR RECOMMENDED BY THE OFFICE FOR ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH RELATIONS

Participants in this webinar will learn how fear and terror are used by totalitarian regimes to silence opposition by using force and intimidation. The Nazi’s used these tactics against the Jewish people in Germany, and then in countries across Europe. This is a relevant and timely case study for us today as it speaks of the call to be alert to protect and promote religious freedom in society.

This event is geared towards educators and students; however, everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information and to register, click: bit.ly/4qoEV2l.

bit.ly/LGW-TO-Retreat-Register2026.

FINANCE CORNER

Offertory envelopes for 2026 are still available in the Gathering Space.

To ensure the proper recording for tax receipt purposes, please do not use any envelopes from 2025 or any prior year for any 2026 donations.

FREE CATHOLIC ESTATE PLANNING WEBINAR

Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 9:00 AM (Zoom)

Learn:

  • How to avoid problems: in your Will, in the Powers of Attorney, and through proper Estate Trustee selection
  • How to create your own legacy
  • About our Catholic traditions around cremation, burials and funerals

WAYS TO REGISTER:

Follow this registration link: https://qrco.de/WedFeb7

Send an email to: Development@ArchToronto.org and write “webinar February 7” in the title line + your name(s) in the body of the message.

TRIVIA

Don’t try to make a belt out of herbs. It’s a waist of thyme.