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Bulletin – April 5, 2015

Sunday, April 5th, 2015

Rejoice for the Lord has truly risen!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We wish you all a very Happy and Holy Easter!
From the desk of Fr. Brando…

Thank You!

Thank you one and all who made our Holy week and Easter such a beautiful and uplifting time; those in the Music Ministry, our Lectors and Altar servers, our Ministers of the Eucharist, our Ministers of Hospitality, those responsible for decorating the Church and the members of our Pastoral Team.

YOUTH GROUP BAKE SALE

Sunday, April 5th after all the Masses

Our Youth Group will be holding a bake sale after all the Masses this Sunday, April 5th. The money raised will go towards the group’s expenses for the World Youth Day to be held in Poland in July, 2016. Please support this worthy cause!

ANNOUNCED MASSES

April 6th to April 11th, 2015

MONDAY – EASTER MONDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – ARNOLD BENNETT – Requested by Heather Bennett
WEDNESDAY – SR. MARION MARR IBVM – Requested by Margaret Anne Leckie
THURSDAY – PAULINE FUNG CHIU – Requested by the Chiu Family
FRIDAY – CELINE CHIU KO – Requested by the Chiu Family
SATURDAY – WALTER DI NARDO – Requested by the Family

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

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

Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, or 24th.
Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, May 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th.

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

FEED THE HUNGRY

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall or the Good Shepherd Centre. With everyone struggling at this time, these donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders for those entering the priesthood…

Men who have responded to God’s call to dedicate their lives to His service come from all walks of life. Those who enter the priesthood come from different ages and backgrounds, economic situations, skill sets, and ethnic communities.

At ShareLife-funded agencies such as Serra House, Redemptoris Mater, and St. Augustine’s Seminary, they undergo extensive theological education and practical field training. Through ShareLife, you are helping sustain the vocations for priesthood and inspire discernment for God’s call. Last year ShareLife helped support 80 priests and seminarians in their formation studies.

ShareLife, 2014: $220,250
ShareLife to Date: $70,788

Next Sunday is ShareLife Sunday – April 12, 2015

Please give generously.
You can work wonders!

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 72 casseroles for March. For April, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of April 25th/26th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in our city. 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. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

MILK BAGS

Once again we are collecting milk bags. Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? Schools churches and senior homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area would welcome your contributions. Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry.

For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL BUNDLE-UP COLLECTION

Weekend of May 2nd/3rd

The Society for St. Vincent de Paul will hold their annual Bundle Up Collection on the weekend of May 2nd/3rd. Bring your gently used clothing and household linens on that weekend to share with others.

A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in the Church parking lot to receive donations. The Society will donate or sell these donations to support their outreach efforts. Thank you for your continued support.

The truck will be open on Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and on Sunday, May 3rd from 8:30 AM until 1:00 P.M. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Mass.

SUPPORT FOR RECENTLY SEPARATED OR DIVORCED CATHOLICS

April 9th to June 11th

Tuesday Evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Catholic family Services Central Office, 1155 Yonge Street

Catholic family services of Toronto is offering a 10 week group program for adult men and women coping with many struggles involved in the process of separation and divorce. Group participants will receive support and guidance as they move through this difficult period of transition.

The group will run Tuesday evenings, April 9th to June 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. at the Central Office, 1155 Yonge Street near the Summerhill Subway Station. For more information, please contact Ian Singer at 416-921-1163.

NEW BEGINNINGS: “The Art of Journaling for Inner Healing”

Monday, April 13 at 7:00 PM

Catholic Pastoral Centre 1155 Yonge St. 4th Floor.

Catholic Family Services of Toronto New Beginnings invite you to a talk entitled, “The Art of Journaling for Inner Healing” on Monday April 13th at 7:00 PM at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street. 4th Floor, adjacent to Summerhill TTC Subway Station. Free underground parking is also available. Martez Schembri-Diskey, author, therapist and instructor, will guide us through a unique journaling approach which employs meditations, affirmations, gratitude, intentions and connections to balancing the spirit, body, mind and emotions for trauma, stress, pain management and self-care.

FAITH CONNECTIONS PRESENTS CHRIST AND CULTURE: AGO

Art Gallery of Ontario 316 Dundas St West
Wednesday, April 15th at 6:45PM

This is a chance for young adults (18-39) to engage culture from the perspective of the nature and person of Jesus!

Each of our Christ and Culture events are designed to open our eyes to the world of God’s beauty as expressed in every person. With that in mind, we will discuss and open our hearts to Christ in one another. Our event will be held at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Its collection includes more than 80,000 works spanning the 1st century to the present day.

Free! (The AGO does not charge an admission fee on Wednesday evenings).We will meet by the information desk near the front door.

RSVPs would be appreciated. For more information, contact John-Paul Markides at faithconnections@csj-to.ca or phone 416-467-2645.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend
Envelopes 470 $ 9,492
Loose Change 1,299
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,117
Total 634 $ 13,908

Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on Bulletin – April 5, 2015

Homily – April 3, 2015

Friday, April 3rd, 2015

Good Friday

The 20th of March was the first day of spring. The UN declared it ‘Happiness Day” for the whole world. Happiness Day. I wondered how the men, women and children in the refugee camps in the Middle East or the immigrants in interments camps in different countries or the hungry and homeless of the world celebrated Happiness Day.

What is happiness? The song tells us it is different things to different people. People can be happy because of the birth of a baby, a new job, a new friend, a raise, good news from the doctor. People are happy for any number of reasons.

A few years ago I was on a panel on the radio with a rabbi, and a Hindu priest. We were supposed to discuss the notion of happiness. For whatever reason the rabbi and the Hindu priest never showed up. It was a half hour program and the interviewer and I had to wing it.

The Holy Spirit helped me on that day. It dawned on me that happiness is not an end in itself. Happiness is a by-product of the way we live our lives. Self centered, self-absorbed people are never happy. They are wrapped up in their own concerns and worries they have no interest in the needs of others. For them it is all about what I want, what I need. You may have heard the story of the man talking with his friend who says ‘enough about me, what do you think of me? I suspect he was not a happy person, he needed to be the centre of attention.

Happiness is a by-product of how we live our lives. I suspect that doctors without borders are happy men and women. They are overworked, under lots of stress, working in dangerous places but when all is said and done they are happy men and women knowing they are doing good for other people. Volunteers in soup kitchens and food banks, people who deliver meals on wheels, volunteers in their blue smocks at NYGH, volunteers who drive cancer patients to treatments and many others who help others are happy people because they do their best to be there for other people in need. Hopefully most priests are happy persons especially if they are trying to be the kind of priest Pope Francis is calling for; priests who are close to their parishioners.

In the course of this radio program I remember some of the words of the prayer of St. Francis; where there is hatred, let me sow love, where is injury pardon, where there is doubt faith- for it in giving that we received, in pardoning that we are pardoned and in dying that we are born to eternal life. I suggested to those listening to the program that they would know happiness if they prayed and lived the prayer of St. Francis every day.

We just heard the words of Isaiah – surely he has born our infirmities – he was wounded for our infirmities, crushed for our iniquities and by his bruises we are healed. We’ve heard the passion narrative of John recounting the trial, the flogging, the crowning with thorns, the journey to his place of execution, Jesus being nailed to the cross and lifted up to be ridiculed and taunted by his enemies, his cries from the cross and his surrender into his father’s love – it is finished.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans writing about the death of Jesus tells us that ‘At the appointed time, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us godless men and women. Paul goes on to say, ‘it is rare that any one should lay down his life for a just person, though it is barely possible that for a good man someone may have the courage to die. It is precisely in this that God proves his love for us; that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Christ died for us – for you – for me –

Happiness is the by-product of how we live our lives. With all the pain and suffering we just heard about can we imagine that the Friday we call good was the happiest day in Christ’s life? For it is in dying we are born to eternal life ..in dying Christ came to the glory of his resurrection

Happiness can be ours, will be ours when we live out our relationships as Christ lived his – being there for those in need – reaching out to heal hurts, forgive wrongs, accepting and respecting men and women different from ourselves, trying as best we can to live the great commandment – love one another as I have love you. Later as you come to venerate the cross pray for the generosity you need to always be there for those who need you. May we be blessed with a happy Good Friday.

Posted in Homily | Comments Off on Homily – April 3, 2015

Bulletin – March 29, 2015

Saturday, March 28th, 2015

FAMILY OF FAITH

The pledge total as of Monday, March 23rd, 2015 is $1,040,293. Thank you!

THANK YOU!

You may have noticed some wonderful new additions to our worship space this weekend. Thank you so much to the Palmieri family for donating the beautiful bookracks for our new hymnals. We are very grateful and pleased to be able to once again use the hymnals during the liturgy.

REMEMBRANCE MEAL OF THE PASSOVER

Wednesday, April 1st at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room

Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. It celebrates the freeing of the Jews who were slaves during the time of Moses. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days.

At this time, their meals celebrate this momentous historical Jewish Event.

Why do we Christians celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week. The menu is identical to the Seder supper’s menu and the meal is “pot luck” – each person brings a dish for their table.

To book your table of 6 or 8 or to have your name added to a table, please call Ed Shiller immediately at 647-352-3123.

YOUTH GROUP BAKE SALE

Sunday, April 5th after all the Masses

Our Youth Group will be holding a bake sale after all the Masses next Sunday, April 5th. The money raised will go towards the group’s expenses for the World Youth Day to be held in Poland in July, 2016. Please support this worthy cause!

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 30th to April 4, 2015

MONDAY – HENRY NG – Requested by the Family
TUESDAY – LUIS FUNG – Requested by the Family
WEDNESDAY – ALLAN PERSAUD – Requested by the Persaud & Goldenberg Families
THURSDAY – HOLY THURSDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
FRIDAY – GOOD FRIDAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
SATURDAY – HOLY SATURDAY – No 4:30 PM Mass

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2015

Holy Thursday April 2nd
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00 PM

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

Holy Saturday April 4th
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday April 5th
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Easter Monday April 6th
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

ECO – SABBATH

Sunday, April 5th 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.

ROSARY GROUPS

English: Saturday, April 4th at 3:15 P.M. in the Gabriel Room.

Chinese: Sunday, April 5th at 3:30 P.M. in the Gabriel Room.

For information, please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

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

Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, or 24th.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, May 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th.

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

GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION

During the Good Friday Service, our parish in communion with the Church turns itself towards Jerusalem. It commemorates Jesus, His sorrowful passion and His love for us and all humanity. That is also where we share a common solidarity towards the Holy Sites and the faithful who live there. Our gesture of solidarity becomes an extension of the Pope’s hand that reaches out to the Holy Sites where Jesus has lived and given testimony.

On Good Friday, there will be a Pontifical collection for the Holy Land in support of Christian communities, the work of the Holy Land, the upkeep of the Holy Sites and the formation of future priests. Let us give generously and show solidarity to respond to the needs of the Church in the land of Jesus.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders in our livelihoods…

When he was presented with a top youth achievement award at a recent gala at The Carlu, Kiwayne was only a short distance from the streets where he had been homeless, and a world away. In the building’s food court a few years ago, he recalls falling asleep at the table – exhausted – trying to avoid having to go back outside. “I was going down the wrong path and didn’t know if I’d live to be 21,” he says. But for the past two years since moving into his own place, Kiwayne has been studying construction engineering at George Brown College and working part-time at the Provincial Advocate’s Office. Kiwayne grew up in foster care and, at 17, he found himself on the street until a friend told him about Covenant House. “Covenant House gave me stable housing that allowed me to go back to school and learn life skills.” says Kiwayne.

ShareLife, 2014: $220,250.
ShareLife to Date: $68,008.25

Next ShareLife Sunday – April 12, 2015

Please give generously. You can work wonders!

MILK BAGS

Once again we are collecting milk bags. Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? Schools churches and senior homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area would welcome your contributions. Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry.

For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com

FEED THE HUNGRY

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall or the Good Shepherd Centre. With everyone struggling at this time, these donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support.

NATIONAL CATHOLIC MISSION 2015

BEWARE THE HOLY SPIRIT

VISIONTV

Monday, March 30th at 6:00 PM, Repeated at 10:00 PM
Tuesday, March 31, at 6:00 PM .Repeated at 10:00 PM

The National Catholic Mission 2015, “Beware the Holy Spirit!” will be broadcast on VISIONTV on Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st at 6:00 PM and repeated at 10:00 PM

It will be hosted by Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick and feature Spiritan Fr. Anthony Gittins. This year’s Mission looks at when and where God speaks to us in our daily lives and how we, as an institution and as individuals, can ignore that voice at our peril.

In Program Two, Fr. Anthony Gittins looks at the afternoon of life and discovers why it withers some people and brings freedom and joy to others who have learned to age with wisdom.

SUPPORT FOR RECENTLY SEPARATED OR DIVORCED CATHOLICS

April 9th to June 11th

Tuesday Evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Catholic family Services Central Office, 1155 Yonge Street

Catholic family services of Toronto is offering a 10 week group program for adult men and women coping with many struggles involved in the process of separation and divorce. Group participants will receive support and guidance as they move through this difficult period of transition.

The group will run Tuesday evenings, April 9th to June 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. at the Central Office, 1155 Yonge Street near the Summerhill Subway Station. For more information, please contact Ian Singer at 416-921-1163.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 434 $ 10,318
Loose Change 969
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,117
Total 598 $ 14,404

Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on Bulletin – March 29, 2015

Bulletin – March 22, 2015

Sunday, March 22nd, 2015

FAMILY OF FAITH

The pledge total as of Monday, March 16, 2015 is $ 1,038,493. Thank you!

REMEMBRANCE MEAL OF THE PASSOVER

Wednesday, April 1st at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room

Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. It celebrates the freeing of the Jews who were slaves during the time of Moses. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. At this time, their meals celebrate this momentous historical Jewish Event.

Why do we Christians celebrate this “meal” at St. Gabriel’s? First, this celebration helps us to understand our religious roots, which are Jewish. Second, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate our growth as a community and be together with families and friends at this most special time during Holy Week. The menu is identical to the Seder supper’s menu and the meal is “pot luck” – each person brings a dish for their table.
To book your table of 6 or 8 or to have your name added to a table, please call Ed Shiller at 647-352-3123 by Wednesday, March 25th.

FIRST COMMUNION INTERVIEWS

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

Those children attending the Children’s Faith Program, private schools or others are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, or 24th.

Children from St. Gabriel’s School are asked to choose one of the following dates: April 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, May 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th.

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

THE SERVICE OF TENEBRAE

Saturday, March 28th at 7:30 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

On Saturday, March 28th at 7:30 PM the ancient service of Tenebrae will be celebrated here at St. Gabriel’s. Tenebrae evokes a sense of wonder and mystery as the Passion of Jesus is told through a series of readings, songs, and hymns. Fifteen candles are extinguished one by one, marking the progression to our Lord’s crucifixion. The last candle, the Christ Candle, is not extinguished but rather removed from view symbolizing the hope in the resurrection as all are blanketed in utter darkness.

St. Michael’s Choir School Alumni, the Seraphim Men’s Chorus will present the musical settings composed by Msgr. Ronan, founder of St. Michael’s Choir School. A goodwill offering to cover costs, support the Choir School and St. Gabriel’s Music program will be taken up. This tradition is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope you will attend.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

March 23rd to March 28th, 2015

MONDAY – ANNA IWASHUTA – Requested by Irene Swiderski
TUESDAY – FRANK McGOVERN – Requested by Nora Kerr
WEDNESDAY – JAN TRUDEL – Requested by Gilles Trudel
THURSDAY – CECILY TURTON – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
SATURDAY – JED PURCELL – Requested by the Family

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2015

Stations of the Cross
Friday Evenings at 7:30 P.M.

Reconciliation Service
March 25th at 7:30 PM

Palm Sunday March 29th
Masses Sat., 4:30 PM
8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Holy Thursday April 2nd
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:30 PM Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Followed by Adoration until 10:00PM

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

Holy Saturday April 4th
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:00 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday April 5th
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM 12:30 PM

Easter Monday April 6th
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Wednesday, March 25th 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.

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome Marcus Alexander Chau and Jake Zamora who received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, March 15th, 2015. Congratulations!

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.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders for children with special needs…

We have always tried to expose our deaf children to both communities. As their parents, we have talked to them and tried to answer their questions when they saw someone using sign language and they had basic sign language books. Then one day our oldest son, Ethan, said he would like to learn sign language. We discovered Silent Voice’s Sign Language Summer camp and enrolled him in the program. The following year Gavin joined his older brother and they both want to go again. We also put our name in for the Family Communication program because we wanted to support our children. These opportunities increased the boys’ awareness of the deaf community and also helped them gain respect for different ways of communication. They enjoyed both experiences as did we. We all hope to take part in the Family program again. Last year more than 600 deaf children received support through Silent Voice’s Sign Language Summer Camps.

ShareLife to Date: $59,872.25

Next ShareLife Sunday – April 12, 2015

Please give generously. You can work wonders!

FEED THE HUNGRY

Each month the food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall or the Good Shepherd Centre. With everyone struggling at this time, these donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Thank you for your ongoing support.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are needed to help feed the hungry in Toronto. Please get a copy of a casserole recipe and a pan and give it a try. Three recipes are available on St. Gabriel’s web site. Printed copies of the recipes are also available in the Parish Office. Please remember to mark the label on the pan lid with the name of the casserole. For more information, you may contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

MILK BAGS

Once again we are collecting milk bags. Did you know that milk bags can be cut, looped and woven into sleep mats for individuals or families in developing countries? Schools churches and senior homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area would welcome your contributions. Please drop the colourful outer bags in the bin located in the gathering space. Please make sure that the bags are clean and dry. For further information about this program please visit www.milkbagsunlimited.ca or contact Sharon Gusz at sharongusz@gmail.com.

THEOLOGY ON TAP: Faith, Finance and Fiscal Responsibility

Monday, March 23rd, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto

Faith Connections invites young adults (19-39) to join them for an evening of thought-provoking conversation on theological topics. The Special guest will be Quentin Schesnuk, BA, CSC, PFP, Financial Advisor.

Munchies will be provided and there will be a cash bar available Come and bring a friend! For more information call John-Paul Markides at 416-467-2645 or visit www.faithconnections.ca — a ministry of Fontbonne Ministries, Sisters of St. Joseph, Toronto.

NORTH YORK RETIREES CLUB

Blessed Trinity Parish Hall

Tuesday, March 24th at 2:00 PM

The next meeting of the North York Retiree’s will be on Tuesday, March 24th at Blessed Trinity Church Hall. The meeting will feature guest speaker Kenneth B. Ogilvie. He will speak about “Being a Crime Novelist”. All retirees are cordially invited to attend.

NATIONAL CATHOLIC MISSION 2015

BEWARE THE HOLY SPIRIT

VISIONTV

Monday, March 30th at 6:00 PM, Repeated at 10:00 PM
Tuesday, March 31, at 6:00 PM .Repeated at 10:00 PM

The National Catholic Mission 2015, “Beware the Holy Spirit!” will be broadcast on VISIONTV on Monday, March 30th and Tuesday, March 31st at 6:00 PM and repeated at 10:00 PM.
It will be hosted by Fr. Pat Fitzpatrick and feature Spiritan Fr. Anthony Gittins. This year’s Mission looks at when and where God speaks to us in our daily lives and how we, as an institution and as individuals, can ignore that voice at our peril.

In Program Two, Fr. Anthony Gittins looks at the afternoon of life and discovers why it withers some people and brings freedom and joy to others who have learned to age with wisdom.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend
Envelopes 407 $ 8,887
Loose Change 1,121
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,117
Total 571 $ 13,125

Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on Bulletin – March 22, 2015

Homily – March 15, 2015

Saturday, March 14th, 2015

One of the saddest lines in scripture is found in the first chapter of St. John’s gospel; ‘he came unto his own and his own and his own received him not.’ We hear in today’s gospel ‘God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him’ and then we have another quote ‘The light has come into the world and the people loved the darkness rather than the light. ’These words echo John’s previous words, ’he came unto his own and his own received him not.’ Jesus knew the hurt and disappointment of rejected love. He came among us, not to condemn us but to reconcile us to God, to re-establish our friendship with God. Through the stories he told, like the story of the Prodigal Son, he showed us our God as a generous, loving and forgiving Father, not as some distant, unconcerned deity. Jesus showed us how to live as sons and daughters of God by living as God would have us live and loving as God would have us love.

The reality today’s scripture calls us to remember is that we are a blessed and gifted people.

In the second reading Paul tells us ‘for by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is a gift of God…for we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works..’

Each one of us is a graced and gifted person, chosen by God before the world began to be his sons and daughters. We don’t have to jump through hoops to be saved, we are saved, it is not our own doing, and it is a gift of God. As we all know gifts can be accepted and gifts can be rejected or just taken for granted. How often do we take our gift of life for granted? How often do we take the gifts of sight, hearing, mobility, awareness for granted? A stroke, a fall, a heart attack and these gifts could be gone. How often do we endanger our gift of life by a reckless life style of over eating, over drinking, reckless behavior? How often do we thank God that we can get out of bed in the morning and go to work? More importantly, how often do we say a prayer of thanks for the blessings of self and those we love?

We are gifted people; we are saved by the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, the crucified Christ. How do we receive this gift? Do we accept it or do we take it for granted or just ignore it. There are good but thoughtless men and women who live their lives as if God does not exist. For them there are more important things in life than their relationship with God; careers, advancements, making money and party times. These are not bad people but they are men and women who have their priorities a bit messed up, men and women who take their giftedness for granted. How many grandparents and parents are saddened by the reality that the values of life and faith they passed on to their children are of little interest to them or have no impact in their lives.

He came unto his own and his own received him not. The light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light.

There is a song that goes ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone, cut down the trees put up a parking lot.’ This is true of the gifts of nature, of life and of faith, gifts we are meant to treasure and share.

‘For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is a gift of God…for we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works.’

As men and women of faith, our major labor and effort is not to achieve our salvation. It is to entrust ourselves to our salvation. “God is rich in mercy; because of his great love for us he brought us to life with Christ when we were dead in sin. By this favor we were saved.” We are saved. We are called to live out our salvation by living Christ like lives. We are meant to accept and love all others as Christ loved and accepts us. We are to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. We are to reach out, as best we can, as Christ reached out to the men, women and children of his time who counted for nothing in society. Christ cared for each one of us. We are to be no part of the global indifference that diminishes our world today. Most of all we are to be grateful, as Christ was grateful, for all the blessing that enrich our lives and our relationship with God.

He came unto his own and his own received them not. May these sad words of John never be true of us. We are to embrace the example and the teaching of Jesus in such a way that the Father may see and love in us what he sees and loves in Christ. Let us pray for each other that our constant prayer be, ‘ thank you, thank you, thank you.

Posted in Homily | Comments Off on Homily – March 15, 2015

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