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Homily – May 13, 2018

Sunday, May 13th, 2018

Two American presidents have made outlandish statements that proved to be totally untrue; they claimed a mission accomplished when in reality it was from being so.

Today we celebrate that moment in time when the risen Christ truly claimed, mission accomplished. Jesus returns to the Father, his mission is finished. Through his passion, death and resurrection Jesus reconciled the human family and God, making peace through the blood of the cross.

Before Jesus returned to his Father he gave the apostles their mission, a mission which is also our mission; ‘go into the entire world and proclaim the good news to all creation.’ Our mission is still a work in progress.

Ours has begun. Jesus told the apostles they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit and they were to his witness to the very ends of the earth. Their mission, our mission is still a work in progress.

Someone once wrote that our primary task, our primary mission, is not to do good works but to believe, to trust in God’s love for us revealed in suffering Jesus Christ. Once we embrace this wonder, Christ loved me and gave his life for me, then we are empowered and sent to love others.

Our unaccomplished mission is to live this Mass outside these walls in the lives we live, the work we do, the service we give and in the prayers we pray. We pray the words of mission every Sunday. The question we have to ask ourselves is, ’do we leave them here like the hymn books we use, or do we take these prayers with home us and try to live them, outside these walls?

Do we say only the good things people need to hear, things that will really help them? Do we talk to others with respect and encouragement? Do we challenge racial or social slurs? Do we defend men and women when we hear them stereotyped by people who diminish their dignity? Are we there for someone in need, family members or friends or total strangers?

Do we reach out to family members or friends who have wronged us, let us down, or do we wish them gone from our lives? Are we thoughtful about the damage our lifestyles, our consumerism, our wastefulness has on the health and wellbeing on the planet earth, our home? Do we give a thought to the homeless men and women in Toronto, or the men and women looking for work, or the men and women who are cheated out of a living wage? How do support families who come from away seeking freedom and security from persecution or civil strife?

As we celebrate this feast of the Ascension, the return of Jesus to the glory of the Father – mission accomplished – we pray for the strength and generosity to accept our mission – to preach the gospel as we live our ordinary lives in our ordinary way – and when necessary may we use words.

Bulletin – May 13, 2018

Saturday, May 12th, 2018

Happy Mother’s Day

To all the Mothers, Single Mothers, Grandmothers and Stepmothers, we wish you a very happy Mother’s day. May you be blessed with the graces you need, with courage, compassion, patience and peace.

YOUTH GROUP FLOWER SALE

The St. Gabriel’s Parish Youth Group will be selling flowers and rosaries for Mother’s Day this weekend, May 12th and 13th, after all the Masses. All proceeds will support the youth group attending the Steubenville Conference and World Youth Day.

LOOKING FOR A BOOKKEEPER

Fr. Bernard is looking for a bookkeeper at the Passionist Mission Office. If interested, please contact Fr. Bernard at the Mission Office at 416-743-3500. Join the team and work for the missions in Haiti, Jamaica and Honduras!

CALL FOR CONSCIENCE 2018 – AN INVITATION FROM CARDINAL COLLINS

Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, recently issued a call to action in advance of the June 7th provincial election to promote palliative care, conscience rights and the protection of faith-based facilities. His Eminence has asked Catholics to visit canadiansforconscience.ca/ontario to send a letter directly to all candidates in their riding for the June 7th election. A pre-written letter is provided which people can amend as they choose. If you did not receive Cardinal Collins’ emailed letter and you would like to receive them in the future, please visit bit.ly/archtosignup Thank you for advocating on these important issues!

ANNOUNCED MASSES

May 14th – May 19th, 2018

MONDAY – JULIA MARTINS – Requested by Maria Martins
TUESDAY – PHILIP TONG – Requested by Mary & Alec Chan

FRIDAY – ANA SOFIA NASCIMENTO & ALL DECEASED FAMILY MEMBERS – Requested by the Nascimento Family
SATURDAY – GERRY & EDNA HATCH – Requested by their Family

CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated next Sunday, May 20th, at 3:00 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church.

In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation Retreat will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church. All candidates must attend. Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from the service coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated date of completion of volunteer service hours.

PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?

It is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic School Board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you are planning to apply to teach in a Catholic School, a contact with the pastor is highly recommended. Please plan to have a conversation with your Pastor early in the process, well before applications are to be submitted.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.

Rosalie Hall provides a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services for young parents and their children.

Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs

With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.

SHARELIFE

Living the Gospel by supporting mental health wellness

In 2016, over 2,000 people accessed individual, couple and family counseling at Catholic Family Services of Peel-Dufferin, a ShareLife-funded agency. Often, clients sought help to address depression. Given that depression has replaced back injury as the number one reason for absenteeism at work, these services are helping clients maintain employment and stay out of poverty. By supporting ShareLife agencies like CFS Peel-Dufferin, you’re helping people find health and happiness.

Total Collected to May 9th, 2018 – $87,031
May 27 is the next ShareLife Sunday.
Please give generously.

JUST COFFEE

Weekend of May 19th/20th
Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.
Regular ground coffee: $5.50
Decaffeinated: $6.00
Whole Beans: $5.50
Chocolate Bars: $4.50 incl. Taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $6.00
Teas: $4.25

MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE

St. Gabriel’s Parish
Weekend of September 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2018

A Marriage Preparation course will be offered here at St. Gabriel’s the weekend of September 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 2018. The course will be held Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. For a registration package please email Marie Deans at deansm@sympatico.ca.

TENTH ANNUAL BLUE MASS

Wednesday May 16th at 7:00 PM

Blessed Trinity Parish, 3220 Bayview Ave.

Blessed Trinity Parish invites all St. Gabriel’s parishioners to come and join them as they commemorate the past and honor the present members of Police Services, Fire Services, Paramedic Services and the Canadian Armed Forces. The Mass will take place on Wednesday May 16th at 7:00 PM at Blessed Trinity Parish
A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. All are welcome.

PROVINCIAL ELECTION TIME

Meet the Candidates
Thursday, May 17, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
St. Bonaventure’s Parish Hall

St. Bonaventure’s Church is hosting candidates from all parties seeking election to provincial office representing Don Valley East, West, and North Join them in the St. Bonaventure parish hall, 1300 Leslie Street, (just south of Lawrence on the west side of Leslie) on Thursday, May 17th, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Candidates will be invited to share their views on a variety of topics of interest for Catholic voters. Following the question and answer session, an opportunity will be provided to meet the candidates and ask questions individually.

We are hosting the meeting in conjunction with Catholic Conscience, a local non-profit, non-partisan organization seeking to improve the quality of our elected leaders. Questions may be directed to Catholic Conscience, by e-mail at info@CatholicConscience.org, or through their website, www.CatholicConscience.org.

For those wanting to explore the responsibilities of Catholics in elections, an information and discussion session will be held on Tuesday, May 22nd, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the parish hall of St Peter’s Church, 130 Bathurst Street in Toronto (across from the TTC Bathurst subway stop).

See you there!

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Thursday, May 17th at 7:30 PM in the Gabriel Room

We would like to extend an invitation to the parish to come to a presentation by Fr. Walter Fernandes, a Jesuit priest based in Guwahati, Assam, India. He has studied tribal, gender and livelihood issues for over four decades of his professional life as founder and director of the North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC). He is also a well-known scholar on issues concerning development-induced displacement and challenges posed to human dignity. Some of his current work focuses on social justice in the context of tribal reconciliation (within north-east India), as well as migration from neighboring Myanmar.

Fr. Fernandes is visiting Canada at the invitation of St Mary’s University, Halifax to share his knowledge of Indigenous issues in North-East India and Myanmar.”

Join us in this unique opportunity to learn more about Indigenous issues and challenges.

SEEING WITH HEART –DAY OF REFLECTION

Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons
Saturday, June 2nd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering, Ontario

The sixteenth Canadian Seeing with the Heart Day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering.

Fr. Roger Brennan of the Scarboro Foreign Mission will facilitate. John Montague from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish will assist.

The Cost is $40.00 which includes lunch.

For questions and information call John Montague at 416-523-6449.

THE GARDEN SHED

Robert Cordy, our Organic Horticulturalist, or members of his team, will be providing two workshops this month. To learn about Hugelkultur, the method of gardening being used in the north garden, meet us on Sunday, May 20th, in the north garden after the 12:30 Mass.

If you are interested in vegetable gardening, join us on Saturday, May 26th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. All are welcome.

If you would like to get involved in the care of our beautiful gardens, please leave your email address and phone number with the parish office, or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.

Homily – May 6, 2018

Sunday, May 6th, 2018

There is a psalm that sings; ‘this is the day the Lord has made let us be glad and rejoice.’ The church sings, this is the season the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad.’ Most people think of Easter as lasting a day but the church sees Easter as lasting a season, it is not a one day event, Easter lasts for 50 days, we’ve two other weeks to go before we celebrate the feast of Pentecost which closes our Easter season. We need Easter’s long day because it takes time to grasp and integrate what the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus was all about. What does it mean when Paul tells us; God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself? The frustrated Jesus complained to his disciples, ‘how long have I been with you and still you do not understand.”? He complained to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, ‘O how foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets declared . Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and so enter into his glory.’

There is an exercise called ‘theological reflection’ in which we ponder a truth of faith over and over to discover its deeper meaning. We can compare it to a kaleidoscope, it is made up of a set number of colored glasses and with each twist of the tunnel of the kaleidoscope we get a whole new pattern of color. In reflecting on a truth of our faith we might come to another and deeper meaning of that truth than we had before. Reflecting on the sufferings of Jesus we might come to see, in a way we never did before, that in his passion Jesus is telling us, ‘I can’t stop loving you. You may neglect or ignore of doubt my love for you, you may fail to return my love, but I can’t stop loving you.

In our first reading from Acts we hear of St. Peter, the first Pope coming to a deeper understanding of the saving power of Christ’s passion. As a Jewish person he believed his people, the Jewish people were God’s own. Everyone else was excluded. But his faith was challenged when in a dream he saw all kinds of food offered to him to eat. Most of the food was forbidden by Jewish dietary law so Peter refused to eat it only to be told. ‘ What God has made clean you must not call profane.’

Then Peter meets the Gentile centurion named Cornelius. He told Cornelius, ‘You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with of visit Gentiles but God has shown me that I should call any person profane or unclean.’ Then we have the shocking words of Peter and he is blessed with a eureka insight, ‘ I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God. Then we have Peter’s bold break with his ancient Jewish beliefs,’ can anyone withhold water for baptising these people who have received to Holy Spirit just as we have?

For all of that it took the Jewish members of the early Christian community a number of years to welcome non-Jews into their midst.

We are still in long day of Easter. May we be moved to pray for a deeper understanding of our faith and be open to the embracing love of our crucified Christ for all people and embrace the simple message of our shrine for the victims on Yonge Street – Love for all, hatred for none.

Bulletin – May 6, 2018

Saturday, May 5th, 2018

OUR PRIESTS & LAY PASTORAL ASSOCIATE AWAY

Sunday May 6th to Thursday, May 10th

This week Fr. Brando, Fr. John, Fr. Paul, Fr. Steve, Fr. Bernard and Fatima Lee will join other Passionists and Lay Associates to attend the St. Paul of the Cross Provincial Chapter in New York. They will be choosing new leaders for the province. Please keep them in your prayers. Fr. Bill Burns will celebrate the weekday Masses while they are away.

YOUTH GROUP FLOWER SALE

The St. Gabriel’s Parish Youth Group will be selling flowers and rosaries on Mother’s Day weekend, May 12th and 13th, after all the Masses. All proceeds will support the youth group attending the Steubenville Conference and World Youth Day.

LOOKING FOR A BOOKKEEPER

Fr. Bernard is looking for a bookkeeper at the Passionist Mission Office. If interested, please contact Fr. Bernard at the Mission Office at 416-743-3500. Join the team and work for the missions in Haiti, Jamaica and Honduras!

ANNOUNCED MASSES

May 7th – May 12th, 2018

MONDAY – MAURICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael
TUESDAY – LAU KOON TING – Requested by Linda Law & Family
WEDNESDAY – JOHN YEUNG CHUN KUN – Requested by Agnes Wong
THURSDAY – JOSEPH THIENG NGUYEN – Requested by the Nguyen Family?
FRIDAY – RICHARD CHUCHRA – Requested by Wanda & Jack
SATURDAY – MARY ANNE OLDEN – Requested by Kathleen Olden Powell

CONFIRMATION

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday, May 20th at 3:00 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church. In preparation for this Sacrament, a Confirmation Retreat will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at St. Gabriel’s Church. All candidates must attend. Candidates are reminded to bring a signed letter from the service coordinator or a parent stating the completion or anticipated date of completion of volunteer service hours.

ECO – SABBATH

Sunday, May 6th at 11:30 AM in the Gabriel Room

On the first Sunday of each month, the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality facilitates a 30 minute reflection and discussion prompted by the readings for that Sunday’s liturgy.

All are welcome to attend.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

May 6th to 11th, 2018

We invite all parishioners to join in celebrating Catholic Education Week 2018, which runs from May 6th to May 11th. For more than 165 years, Ontario’s publicly funded schools have been integrating our faith into all aspects of school life, nurturing the gifts and talents of every student. We celebrate the distinctive contribution that Catholic schools provide, giving thanks and offering our prayers for all those who faithfully journey with our young people each day. To affirm your support of Catholic Education and sign up for email updates visit www.togetherinfaith.ca.

PLANNING TO BE A CATHOLIC TEACHER?

It is important for you to know that to be hired to teach in any Catholic School Board in Ontario, as part of your application for employment, there must be a letter of reference from your pastor. If you are planning to apply to teach in a Catholic School, a contact with the pastor is highly recommended. Please plan to have a conversation with your Pastor early in the process, well before applications are to be submitted.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 41 casseroles for April. For May, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of May 26th/27th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are needed to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. Three different recipes are available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website. Casserole pans are also available in the Parish Office. If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.

Rosalie Hall provides a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services for young parents and their children.

Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs

With everyone struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.

SHARELIFE

Living the Gospel by caring for the elderly

Ever since Erika had a stroke, her diminished mobility kept her from enjoying many activities. When LA Centre for Active Living planned a trip to the Garlic Festival, Erika worried her disabilities would get in the way. To Erika’s delight, the ShareLife-funded agency ensured the trip was fully accessible for her. Having the most fun she’s had in years, she felt like her disabilities disappeared. Last year, ShareLife-supported agencies provided care to over 6,300 seniors.

Total Collected to April 30th, 2018 – $77,846
May 27th is the next ShareLife Sunday.
Please give generously.

BREBEUF COLLEGE ALUMNI PUB NIGHT

Friday May 11th from 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM

Brebeuf College will be holding its annual Alumni Pub Night reunion at the school on Friday, May 11th from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM. More details can be found at www.brebeufalumni.org. All are welcome.

MEAGAN’S WALK – CREATING A CIRCLE OF HOPE

5km Fundraising Walk and Hug
Saturday, May, 12th 2018
Registration from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Fort York
9:30 AM Registration Closes
10:00 AM Walk to SickKids

The seventeenth annual Meagan’s Walk: – Creating a Circle of Hope will take place on Saturday, May 12th. You may register online at meaganswalk.com. Registration also opens at 8:30 AM at Fort York, followed by family activities and entertainment. Registration closes at 9:30 AM. The Walk begins at 10:00 AM. and concludes at SickKids with the “Hug”.

Over the last 17 years, proceeds of 5 million dollars from this event have been directed toward paediatric brain tumour research, faster diagnoses, personalized treatments and improved outcomes for young people faced with brain tumours and treatment of paediatric brain tumours at SickKids.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

May 17th at 7:30 PM in the Gabriel Room

We would like to extend an invitation to the parish to come to a presentation by Fr. Walter Fernandes, a Jesuit priest based in Guwahati, Assam, India. He has studied tribal, gender and livelihood issues for over four decades of his professional life as founder and director of the North Eastern Social Research Centre (NESRC).

He is also a well-known scholar on issues concerning development-induced displacement and challenges posed to human dignity. Some of his current work focuses on social justice in the context of tribal reconciliation (within north-east India), as well as migration from neighboring Myanmar.

Fr. Fernandes is visiting Canada at the invitation of St Mary’s University, Halifax to share his knowledge of Indigenous issues in North-East India and Myanmar.”

Join us in this unique opportunity to learn more about indigenous issues and challenges.

PROVINCIAL ELECTION TIME

Meet the Candidates
Thursday, May 17, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
St. Bonaventure’s Parish Hall

St. Bonaventure’s Church is hosting candidates from all parties seeking election to provincial office representing Don Valley East, West, and North. Join them in the St. Bonaventure parish hall, 1300 Leslie Street, (just south of Lawrence on the west side of Leslie) on Thursday, May 17th, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Candidates will be invited to share their views on a variety of topics of interest for Catholic voters. Following the question and answer session, an opportunity will be provided to meet the candidates and ask questions individually.

We are hosting the meeting in conjunction with Catholic Conscience, a local non-profit, non-partisan organization seeking to improve the quality of our elected leaders. Questions may be directed to Catholic Conscience, by e-mail at info@CatholicConscience.org, or through their website, www.CatholicConscience.org.

For those wanting to explore the responsibilities of Catholics in elections, an information and discussion session will be held on Tuesday, May 22nd, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the parish hall of St Peter’s Church, 130 Bathurst Street in Toronto (across from the TTC Bathurst subway stop).
See you there!

SEEING WITH HEART –DAY OF REFLECTION

Catholic Parents of Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons
Saturday, June 2nd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre, Pickering, Ontario

The sixteenth Canadian Seeing With the Heart Day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering.

Fr. Roger Brennan of the Scarboro Foreign Mission will facilitate. John Montague from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish will assist.

The Cost is $40.00 which includes lunch.
For questions and information call John Montague at 416-523-6449.

THE GARDEN SHED

Robert Cordy, Organic Horticulturalist, will give a presentation and tour of the gardens after all the Masses on the weekend of May 12th/13th.

Robert or members of his team will also be giving two workshops this month: Sunday, May 20th in the north garden, after the 12:30 Mass and Saturday, May 26th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Details and more workshops to follow. All are welcome.

If you are interested in helping to care for our beautiful gardens, please leave your email address and phone number with the office, or email Heather Bennett at heathermjb@gmail.com.

Homily – April 29, 2018

Sunday, April 29th, 2018

There is a principle that says; things joined to the same thing are joined to one another. In the gospel Jesus tells us he is the vine and we are the branches. We draw our nourishment from the life giving vine. If we are cut off from the vine we die. Joined to the vine we are one with all the other branches.

Last Monday’s tragic events on Yonge Street, not that far from here, brought this reality of oneness to the forefront. Around noon the lives of innocent men and woman going about the daily business were forever changed when a young man took it upon himself, for whatever reason, to rent a truck and drive it down the side walk on the west side of Yonge St. barreling through men, women and children, killing twelve and seriously injuring fifteen others.

We thought these things happened elsewhere, Paris, London, New York, Boston, but not in Toronto, not in North York, not down the street. I venture to guess that in one way or another we all felt we were hit by that truck. Toronto, North York, Willowdale: we are all members of these communities. We are all effected when our community is attacked.

The scenes of people of different races and faiths coming to place flowers, light candles and pray at the makeshift memorial wall gives witness to our oneness. St. Paul reminds us that the life and death of each one of us has it influence on others. We can’t go through life untouched or un touching. We can’t help but to have touched, shocked, threatened and saddened by last Monday’s mass killing and maiming of innocent people.

How do we cope with this tragedy as it affects each of us in one way of another? First of all we can thank God we weren’t strolling on Yonge Street at noon of Monday. Next we can appreciate more deeply how precious and precarious is the gift of life and the people who are part of our lives.

We never know what a day will bring our way. Last Monday causes us to appreciate the gift of life more deeply and appreciate the gift of family and friends.

Thank God we didn’t get caught up in the possible hysteria of seeing this tragic act as the work of a Moslem or Isis terrorist. Monday’s tragedy was the act of a disturbed and obviously angry young man with an axe to grind against women; women were his prime targets and sped down the sidewalk running over good people.

All this man’s hatred and anger were answered the by the courageous and generous response of peoples of different faith, racial and social backgrounds that make up that local community as they helped and comforted the injured as best they could.

It may take a long while for the injured and those who witnessed this whole thing to get over this awful experience.

What can you and I do. We can keep in our thoughts and prayers the good people who died that day. We can keep in our thoughts and prayed those were injured that day. We can keep in our thoughts and prayers the families of those killed and those injured. We can keep in our thoughts and prayer all those men and women, first responders and ordinary people who did what they could to be of help. We can keep in our thoughts and prayers Alex Minassian and his family upon whom he’s brought such shame.

We can pray for ourselves that we never lose faith in the goodness of ordinary men and women and children like ourselves, a goodness and a love that gives us the strength to get on with the ordinary living of our ordinary lives.