Author Archive

Bulletin – March 11, 2018

Saturday, March 10th, 2018

WORLD YOUTH DAY

Our parish is very excited to share that we will be taking part in next year’s World Youth Day (WYD). World Youth Day is a worldwide encounter with the Pope which is celebrated every 3 years. The next World Youth Day is taking place in Panama City, Panama from January 22nd to 27th, 2019.

“WYD is open to young people who want to take part in a festive encounter with their contemporaries centered on Jesus Christ. This event is an opportunity to experience in first person the universality of the Church. WYD is a unique way to deepen your faith and grow closer to Christ, by means of prayer and the sacraments, together with thousands of other young people around the world who share your interests and ambitions”.

This event is open to young adults in the parish ages 18-30. If you are interested in attending, please contact sgpyouthgroup@gmail.com for more information.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

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.

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2018

Stations of the Cross
Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM

Individual Confessions
Wednesday, March 14th
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Reconciliation Service
Wednesday, March 21st at 7:30 PM

Palm Sunday, March 25th
Masses Sat., 4:30 PM
Sun., 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Holy Thursday, March 29th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass of the Lord’s Supper -7:30 PM
Adoration until 10:00 PM

Good Friday, March 30th
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, March 31st
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 1st
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM,
12:30 PM

Easter Monday, April 2nd
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office Closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 12th – March 17th, 2018

MONDAY – RUBIN DIMOSKI – Requested by Staff of St. Gabriel’s
TUESDAY – JOSEPHINE BADALI – Requested by John, Sal & Patsy
WEDNESDAY – PATRICIA CLYDSALE – Requested by Nora Kerr
THURSDAY – ALICE MICHAEL – Requested by Charmaine Michael
FRIDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by Teresa Sheldrick
SATURDAY – GIUSEPPE & CLEMENTINA INTINI – Requested by Chiara & Tina Intini

DAY OF CONFESSIONS

Wednesday, March 14th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Individual confessions will be heard at St. Gabriel’s Church on Wednesday, March 14th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, March 17th 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 other Catholic schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, March 17th at 10:30 AM.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Wednesday, March 21st at 7:30 PM

This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God.

Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin.

Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God. For those who wish, individual confessions will be celebrated after the service. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who are preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled.

Interviews will begin on Monday, April 23rd and continue until Friday May 4th. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment with Fr. Brando or Fr. John as soon as possible.

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.

Lately we have found several food donations that have expired. Kindly check the dates carefully since we cannot pass on food which has expired.

SHARELIFE

Living the Gospel by supporting ShareLife

How do we “Live the Gospel” toward others when our daily lives are so busy? For some it’s volunteering at a soup kitchen, or it may be caring for an elderly relative. If we do not have the time to actively participate, we can support the many ShareLife-funded agencies within our community that bring the hands of Christ to those in need. Next Sunday is the first ShareLife collection. Over the next week, reflect on your ability to help “Live the Gospel” through Catholic agencies, and make a decision to support our ShareLife parish campaign.

Next Sunday, March 18th is ShareLife Sunday.
Please give generously.

JUST COFFEE

Weekend of March 17th /18th

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

THE WAY OF THE PASSION

Sunday, March 18th at 3:00 PM

Blessed Trinity Church, 3220 Bayview Avenue

The Tamil Centre for Performing Arts Canada presents “The Way of Passion” play at Blessed Trinity Church, 3220 Bayview Avenue on Sunday, March 18 at 3:00 PM. Come and join them. All are welcome.

COME AND SEE WEEKEND

Friday, March 23rd, 6:30 PM, to Sunday, March 25th, 1:30 PM

St. Augustine’s Seminary:

The Office of Vocations invites single Catholic men 17 years and older, to a Come and See Weekend at St. Augustine’s Seminary from Friday, March 23rd at 6:30 PM to Sunday, March 25th at 1:30 PM. Come and cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ; leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. There will be time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest.

Register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca. Registrants 17 years old require parental consent. For more information, please contact the Office of Vocations at: 416 968 0997 or you may email vocations@archtoronto.org.

DYNAMIC WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE

Saturday, March 24th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre,

Dynamic Women of Faith will be hosting its 9th annual conference for Catholic women on Saturday March 24th at the John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre, 4300 Cawthra Road. There is limited seating! Register at http://dynamicwomenfaith.com/

Registration $ 60.00

Light Breakfast, lunch and free parking are all included.

There is also a special event for Mothers and daughters on Friday, March 23rd, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

THEOLOGY ON TAP: What does being successful mean?

Monday, March 26th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Avenue

All young adults (19-39) are invited to join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics!

The special guest: To be announced.

Munchies are provided and a cash bar is available. Come and bring a friend!

For more information: visit our Toronto Theology on Tap web page, or contact Kataryna Ryba by phone 416-467-2645 or e-mail faithconnections@csj-to.ca.

PASSIONIST COME AND SEE WEEKEND

Friday, April 6th to Sunday, April 8th

Bishop Malloy Retreat House, Jamaica, New York

Passionist priests and brothers take a unique vow to promote the memory of Christ’s Passion and God’s redeeming love for us through their life of contemplation, community and ministry to the crucified of today.

Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, Passionists reach out with compassion to those who suffer or are marginalized-the disabled, the sick, the dying, the impoverished, those who grieve or are alone-and offer opportunities for all to experience spiritual growth and healing.

Want to know more about the Passionists?
Want to explore your vocation?

For more information on the Passionist Come and See Weekend, please contact Fr. Brando or Vocations@cpprov.org.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PRESENTATION

Friday, April 6th at 7:00 PM

Forest Grove United Church, 43 Forest Grove Drive

Learn how to protect your family and your home in the event of an emergency. The Bayview Village Association in partnership with Forest Grove United Church will host the City of Toronto Office of Emergency Management on Friday, April 6th at 7:00 PM.

To reserve a seat, please RSVP to Sue Wires by March 26th by email at suehalftime@yahoo.com or by phone at 416-733-2520.

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.

Bulletin – March 4, 2018

Saturday, March 3rd, 2018

Just a reminder……

Daylight Savings Time begins next weekend. Please remember to set your clocks forward 1 hour on Saturday evening, March 11th.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We want to say a special thank you to all those who worked to make this year’s Lunar New Year Party a wonderful celebration. This is one of the nicest events we have throughout the year and, as always, it was a huge success.

Many thanks to those who donated the delicious food, those who decorated so beautifully and everyone who worked to make this celebration a truly memorable event. All who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

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.

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2018

Stations of the Cross
Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM

Individual Confessions
Wednesday, March 14th
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Reconciliation Service
Wednesday, March 21st at 7:30 PM

Palm Sunday, March 25th
Masses Sat., 4:30 PM
Sun., 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Holy Thursday, March 29th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass of the Lord’s Supper -7:30 PM
Adoration until 10:00 PM

Good Friday, March 30th
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, March 31st
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 1st
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM,
12:30 PM

Easter Monday, April 2nd
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office Closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 5th – March 12th, 2018

MONDAY – FERNANDO LASA – Requested by Ana Maria Lasa
TUESDAY – GREG McEACHREN – Requested by the Staff of St. Gabriel’s
WEDNESDAY – GREG McEACHREN – Requested by the Staff of St. Gabriel’s
THURSDAY – CHIU SHI GON – Requested by the Chiu Family
FRIDAY – TULIO RAMIREZ – Requested by Anna Ramirez & Family
SATURDAY – PETER & BRIDGET PEREIRA – Requested by Sophie Pereira

DAY OF CONFESSIONS

Wednesday, March 14th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Individual confessions will be heard at St. Gabriel’s Church on Wednesday, March 14th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, March 17th at 10:30 AM

St. Gabriel’s Church
First Reconciliation for children attending St. Gabriel’s School, those in the Children’s Faith Program and children attending other Catholic Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, March 17th at 10:30 AM.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Wednesday, March 21st at 7:30 PM

This is an opportunity to spend some time in peace and quiet, to reflect upon how we are responding to our call to be sons and daughters of God.

Recognizing the fact that we are “good people”, we also accept the fact that good people can sin. Through an examination of conscience we face those sins, admit them and are reconciled to God. For those who wish, individual confessions will be celebrated after the service. We encourage you to take advantage of this celebration.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

Interviews for children who are preparing to receive their First Communion are now being scheduled. Interviews will begin on Monday, April 23rd and continue until Friday May 4th. They are scheduled every 15 minutes from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866-to book your appointment with Fr. Brando or Fr. John as soon as possible.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your donations are very much appreciated. Lately we have found several food donations that have expired. Kindly check the dates carefully since we cannot pass on food which has expired.

SHARELIFE

Living the Gospel by providing for homeless youth

On any given night, 6,000 people across Canada between 16 and 24 have nowhere to call home. This represents 20 per cent of the total homeless population. The ShareLife-supported Rights of Passage program at Covenant House has been active in making a positive difference in the lives of homeless youth on the streets of Toronto. The program matches adolescents with mentors, who help them build life skills. By supporting ShareLife, you’re helping at-risk youth prepare for life on their own.

March 18th is ShareLife Sunday.
Please give generously.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 44 casseroles for February. For March, your prepared frozen casseroles will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of March 24th/25th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. Please note that this is a week earlier due to Easter.

More volunteers are encouraged 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.

THE CALL FOR CONSCIENCE 2018 CAMPAIGN

Sign-Up Sunday! March 3rd/4th

We Need Your Help!

Cardinal Collins and bishops across Ontario are asking for an email address from every Catholic family in their community.

This information will be used locally by Cardinal Collins and trusted faith partners to communicate periodically (approximately 6-8 times each year) on issues of particular importance for the Catholic community.

The first campaign of 2018 is the Call for Conscience, inviting our elected Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and those seeking office this June to increase funding/access to palliative care, to protect health care workers wishing to abstain from any involvement in euthanasia/assisted suicide and to protect faith-based facilities from participation in euthanasia/assisted suicide. The work builds on a similar campaign in 2017.

Please visit http://bit.ly/SignUpSundayRegistration to register for this initiative. Thank you for living a faith that acts!

CARDINAL CARTER ACADEMY PRESENTS JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT

March 6th and 7th

Cardinal Carter Theatre, 36 Greenfield Avenue
Cardinal Carter Academy of the Arts will present Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Its family-friendly story and catchy music tells the story of Joseph and his coat of many colours. Show dates are March 6th and 7th.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from loreana.trabona@tcdsb.org. Call 416-393-5556 ext. 87214 for more information.

HIKE AND PRAYER: Beauty so Ancient and so New!

Saturday, March 10th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

West Entrance, West Island Cinesphere

SENIOR MEN’S HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

Saturday, March 17th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

St. Augustine’s Seminary, 2661 Kingston Road

The Office of Vocations is hosting a high school retreat for young men (Grades 11 & 12) at St. Augustine’s Seminary, Saturday, March 17th, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, helping young men cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with the Lord. Seminarians offer reflections on practical aspects of faith. The Retreat offers opportunities for Mass, Adoration, Confession and socializing. Registration for the retreat is to be done online at: www.vocationstoronto.ca. For more information, please call 416-968-0997 or email: vocations@archtoronto.org.

PASSIONIST COME AND SEE WEEKEND

Friday, April 6th to Sunday, April 8th

Bishop Malloy Retreat House, Jamaica, New York

Passionist priests and brothers take a unique vow to promote the memory of Christ’s Passion and God’s redeeming love for us through their life of contemplation, community and ministry to the crucified of today.

Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, Passionists reach out with compassion to those who suffer or are marginalized-the disabled, the sick, the dying, the impoverished, those who grieve or are alone-and offer opportunities for all to experience spiritual growth and healing.

Want to know more about the Passionists?
Want to explore your vocation?

For more information on the Passionist Come and See Weekend, please contact Fr. Brando or Vocations@cpprov.org.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PRESENTATION

Friday, April 6th at 7:00 PM

Forest Grove United Church, 43 Forest Grove Drive

Learn how to protect your family and your home in the event of an emergency. The Bayview Village Association in partnership with Forest Grove United Church will host the City of Toronto Office of Emergency Management on Friday, April 6th at 7:00 PM.

To reserve a seat, please RSVP to Sue Wires by March 26th by email at suehalftime@yahoo.com or by phone at 416-733-2520.

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

Homily – February 25, 2018

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

In St. Paul’s letter to his disciple Timothy Paul urged him to preach the gospel – the good news – be persistent whether the time is favorable or not, rebuke and encourage with upmost patience. Paul saw himself as one chosen by God to proclaim the good news of our salvation in and through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This past week a great preacher of the gospel died at the age of 99 – the Rev. Billy Graham. Many of you may never heard of him but many too may remember the famous Billy Graham crusades. He preached the gospel holding an open bible in his hand, to millions of people around the world. His message, his invitation to people was to accept Jesus Christ into their lives as their personal Lord and Savior. He invited them to open their hearts to an intimate relationship with the Crucified Christ. He was famous for his call to the altar and hundreds of men and women would come down from all over the stadium and knell before him as he prayed over them.

Rev. Billy Graham never claimed to heal anyone like other evangelical preachers do. He just invited them to accept the invitation of Jesus – come to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened.

Most Christian churches are sacramental communities. We have baptism, reconciliation, confirmation, Eucharist, marriage and the anointing of the sick. Our Eucharist, this Mass is the most important for us. Here we make present the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. We proclaim the mystery of our faith: when we eat the bread and drink this come we proclaim your death of Lord until you come again.

Billy Graham saw our relationship with Christ as a one on one relationship, very personal. Paul the Apostle wrote of himself, ‘I live now, not I but Christ lives within me and the life I live I live trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave his life for me. Paul was blessed to be deeply aware of his personal relationship with Christ.

Paul was aware too that his personal relationship was best lived in community. He wrote to the early Church,’ do you not know that you – the community – are the body of Christ and that the Spirit of God lives in you?’ Then he goes on to say,’ if anyone destroys the body of Christ, by spreading discord and division in the community, God will destroy him.

In this season of Lent the Church, our community offers each of us the opportunity through the times we set aside for personal prayer, our efforts we make to cut back on the things we enjoy and being more mindful of other people’s needs – the pillars of Lent – prayer, fasting and alms giving – to deepen our personal, our one on one, relationship with Jesus, our Lord, our Savior.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass we pray for a great preacher of the gospel of Jesus. Rev. Billy Graham, and we pray for ourselves and for each other that we may come to a time in our lives when we may say, “I live now, not I but Christ lives in me and the life I live I live trusting in the Lord Jesus who loved me and gave his life for me.

Bulletin – February 25, 2018

Saturday, February 24th, 2018

FEAST OF ST. GABRIEL

Tuesday, February 27th is the feast of St. Gabriel.

St. Gabriel, a member of the Passionist Community, was born Francis Possenti on March 1, 1838 in Assisi. In September, 1856, he entered the Passionist novitiate but before his ordination, he contracted tuberculosis. He died February 27, 1862 at the age of 24. Francis had a special devotion to Mary and chose as his religious name Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin. He is remembered for his enthusiasm in life and his extraordinary generosity. Pope John XXIII proclaimed him as a special Patron of Youth. Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 AM and at 1:15 PM with the children from St. Gabriel’s School.

LENTEN RETREAT

Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

The Lenten season will soon be upon us, calling us to look deeply into our lives, and to return to the Gospel.
Our Lenten retreat this year will be held on Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The theme of the retreat is “Turning Tables: Our Walking and Working with Jesus.”

Our preacher will be Father Jim O’Shea, an inspiring and engaging Passionist working in New York City. Along with pastoral work, Father Jim focuses also on community development, paying particular attention to the housing and education needs of the community, especially those who are marginalized. In 2010, he founded Reconnect Brooklyn with the mission of engaging young people through entrepreneurship, education and service. The project operates Reconnect Café and Reconnect Graphics, and has employed over 150 young people.

Using stories from the Gospel and his neighbourhood work in Brooklyn, NY, Father Jim will invite us to embrace the liberating and creative spirit of Jesus in changing the world and ourselves.

For more information on the retreat, please call the Parish Office at (416) 221-8866, or email Fatima Lee at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

Sunday, February 25th after 12:30 PM Mass

Friday, February 16th marked the beginning of Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Dog. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party.

Our Lunar New Year Celebration will take place this Sunday, February 25th after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

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.

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2018

Stations of the Cross
Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM

Individual Confessions
Wednesday, March 14th
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Reconciliation Service
Wednesday, March 21st at 7:30 PM

Palm Sunday, March 25th
Masses Sat., 4:30 PM
Sun., 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Holy Thursday, March 29th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass of the Lord’s Supper -7:30 PM
Adoration until 10:00 PM

Good Friday, March 30th
10:00 AM Morning Prayer
3:00 PM Solemn Passion of Our Lord
7:30 PM Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, March 31st
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 1st
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM,
12:30 PM

Easter Monday, April 2nd
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office Closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 26th – March 3rd, 2018
MONDAY – BRIGIDA CORTEZ – Requested by Cheryl Rancati
TUESDAY – THANKSGIVING FOR BLESSINGS IN THE WORLD – Requested by the Chiu Family
WEDNESDAY – THE FUNG FAMILY LIVING & DECEASED – Requested by the Chiu Family
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY – SPECIAL INTENTION – Requested by Teresa Sheldrick
SATURDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Connor Cabado,
Jasmine Leonie P. Poscablo,
Isla Elizabeth McDonald
Laura Lucia Sisco-Chacon.

These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, February 18th. Congratulations!

FAITH RENEWAL MEETING FOR PARENTS OF CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES

Wednesday, February 28th at 7:30 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

There will be a Faith Renewal Meeting for all parents of the Confirmation candidates here on Wednesday, February 28th at 7:30 PM.

ECO – SABBATH

Sunday, March 4th 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.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, March 2nd from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon

ROSARY GROUPS

English: Saturday, March 3rd at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room. Chinese: Sunday, March. 4th at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

THE CALL FOR CONSCIENCE 2018 CAMPAIGN

Sign-Up Sundays! February 24th/25th and March 3rd/4th.

We Need Your Help!

Cardinal Collins and bishops across Ontario are asking for an email address from every Catholic family in their community, with a goal of 100,000 email addresses collected by the end of February 2018. This information will be used locally by Cardinal Collins and trusted faith partners to communicate periodically (approximately 6-8 times each year) on issues of particular importance for the Catholic community.

The first campaign of 2018 is the Call for Conscience, inviting our elected Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and those seeking office this June to increase funding/access to palliative care, to protect health care workers wishing to abstain from any involvement in euthanasia/assisted suicide and to protect faith-based facilities from participation in euthanasia/assisted suicide. The work builds on a similar campaign in 2017.

Please visit http://bit.ly/SignUpSundayRegistration to register for this initiative. Thank you for living a faith that acts!

CANADA SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM

Be Informed & Reach Out to Your MP

The federal government has introduced new requirements for employers applying for the Canada Summer Jobs grant. To be eligible for funding, employers must attest that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect certain “values” as determined by the federal government including the government’s position on abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Organizations unable or unwilling to make this attestation in whole or in part will be deemed ineligible for the grant. This requirement is clearly unjust. Many Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto and many other faiths involved in charitable activity at soup kitchens, shelters, refugee welcome centres or summer camps are impacted by this decision. Please take a moment to visit www.archtoronto.org/summerjobs for more information and to find a template letter to send to your MP and the Minister responsible for this portfolio.

FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your donations are very much appreciated. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.

Your commitment to these organizations lets these young families and people in need know that they are not alone.

NEW BEGINNINGS BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Beginning Tuesday, February 27th at 2:00 PM

St. Roch’s Church, 2889 Islington Avenue

New Beginnings and St. Roch’s Church will be starting a bereavement support group for all who have experienced loss through the death of a loved one. It will begin on Tuesday, February 27th at 2:00 PM, at St. Roch’s Church in North York. This group will run for 5 weeks. For more information, please contact St. Roch’s Church at 416-749-0328.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

Friday, March 2nd at 1:30 PM

St John’s York Mills Anglican Church, 19 Don Ridge Drive

You are cordially invited to the annual ecumenical World Day of Prayer Service which will be held at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church on Friday March 2nd at 1:30 PM. The theme this year, “All God’s Creation is Very Good” was written by the women of Suriname. St. Gabriel’s is one of three Catholic churches involved but has very little representation at the service. Please join us, along with our neighbouring Christian churches, in prayer and reflection. A reception will follow.

COME AND SEE WEEKEND

Friday, March 23rd, 6:30 PM, to Sunday, March 25th, 1:30 PM

St. Augustine’s Seminary:

The Office of Vocations invites single Catholic men 17 years and older, to a Come and See Weekend at St. Augustine’s Seminary from Friday, March 23rd at 6:30 PM to Sunday, March 25th at 1:30 PM. Come and cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ; leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. There will be time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest.

Register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca. Registrants 17 years old require parental consent.

For more information, please contact Fr. Brando or Fr. John or the Office of Vocations at: 416 968 0997 or you may email vocations@archtoronto.org.

Offertory Envelopes for 2018

The 2018 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Parish Office. If you have not yet picked yours up, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you.

Homily – February 18, 2018

Monday, February 19th, 2018

Scholars are divided as to when or if there was such a flood as described in our first reading. Was the flood a universal reality of a local flood of such dimensions that its memory was passed on through oral traditions and found its way into the Hebrew Scriptures?

In the Hebrew Scriptures there are two important covenants; the Noah covenant and God’s covenant with Abraham and Abraham’s descendants. The covenant with Noah was between God was with Noah’s descendants and with every living creature that shares the earth with the human family. The sign of the agreement that earth would never again be destroyed by a flood was the rainbow we often see after a rain storm.

That doesn’t mean the earth can’t be destroyed by other means, such as nuclear war of by the destruction of the life systems that sustain life of earth – wind, soil and water.

Because of the political blustering between the U.S. and North Korea those responsible for the Doomsday Clock moved the minute has within three seconds of midnight. Governments around the world have finally accepted the reality of climate change and it impact, not just of humans but all life forms on earth and all life systems on earth, especially the oceans.

This has been a recording breaking year for wildfires, hurricanes, and tornados, floods and mudslides.

You’ve heard me say many times; ‘Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth and what we do to the earth we do to ourselves… we did not weave the web of life, we are a strand in the web and what we do to the web we do to ourselves.’ It’s another way of saying, ‘what goes around comes around.’

In Pope Francis’ letter on the environment titled ‘On Care for Our Common Home’ he tells us something we’ve forgotten or ignored for a long, long time. The Holy Father writes; ‘When we speak of the environment what we really mean is the relationship existing between nature and the society that lives in it. Nature cannot be that of as something separate from us. We are immersed in nature.’ As St. Francis would say, ‘we are kin, we are family with all the life systems on earth.’

The Holy Father tells us something we really don’t want to hear; the pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planets capacity that our contemporary lifestyle is unsustainable as it can only precipitate catastrophes such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world.

I’ve quoted this before, ‘Planet earth is not a collection of objects, it is a community of life in its variety of forms.

We belong to this family of live but we humans have because autistic members of the family, we are in a state of disconnect, we’ve lost of sense of belonging. The human family has made great advancements in the past couple of hundred years but we’ve lost our sense of belonging to the family life that sustains the earth. We’ve come to imagine that we are at the summit of all things, they are for our use. We’ve forgotten that in the scheme of things we humans are a point in the circle of that sustains all life.

As many of you know our parish church was designed to connect our worship, our faith with nature. Our garden reminds of this and the colors of the sun that comes down our walls at certain times of the day do the same.

Our praise and worship or God calls us love and care for all of creation. Our praise and worship of God calls us to a sense of wonder and awe of the world we live in. Our praise and worship of God calls us to live lightly on Earth, to share its resources with all others, to work toward Earth’s healing, to live simply that others may simply live.

Lent calls us to fast from consumerism, to give alms by sharing our abundance with those who have less and through our prayer and reflections come to a sense of awe and wonder of the blessings of creation that surround us.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass we pray for the grace to live in the covenant of the rainbow and do what we can for the healing of Earth and thank God for the gift of God’s good creation.