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Bulletin – February 15, 2015

Sunday, February 15th, 2015

FAMILY OF FAITH UPDATE

As of Monday, February 9th, The Family of Faith pledge total was $837,758. Thanks to all who have donated to date. If you have not already done so, please return your pledge form to the parish office as soon as possible to help St. Gabriel’s reach its goal of $900,000.

LENTEN RETREAT

Preacher: Fr. Bob Joerger, CP

Saturday, March 7th from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM

We just heard from Mark’s gospel that “Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” We invite you during this season of Lent to come out and spend a quiet afternoon to pray and reflect, and to experience a renewal of your faith.

As announced earlier, Father Robert Joerger, CP, whose preaching touched many of us when he last visited, has very kindly agreed to lead our Lenten retreat this year. Fr. Bob is the Provincial of the Passionists of the St Paul of the Cross Province.

The topic of the Lenten retreat is “GUESS WHO IS COMING TO DINNER: Everybody has a hungry heart.” Come and be prepared to be inspired and to be challenged to a deeper relationship with God. The retreat will be on Saturday, March 7th from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the parish. It will end with Mass at 4:30 PM.

To pre-register or for more information, please call the parish office at (416) 221-8866, email fatimalee@bellnet.ca, or meet us in the Gathering Space, before and after all weekend Masses. By pre-registering you will facilitate our organizing of the event. There will be no charge for the retreat. However, donations will be gratefully accepted. The retreat will begin at 1:00 PM sharp. Please plan on arriving earlier.

LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY

Sunday, March 1st after 12:30 PM Mass

Thursday, February 19th marks the beginning of Lunar New Year. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful New Year Party. This year is the Year of the Sheep.

Our Lunar New Year Party will take place on Sunday, March 1st after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!

Volunteers and donations are also welcome.

Please contact Linda Law at 416-918-8029.

CARDINAL COLLINS INVITES FEEDBACK IN PREPARATION FOR 2015 SYNOD OF BISHOPS

In preparation for the upcoming Synod of Bishops in October 2015, Cardinal Collins has invited Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer informed insights on specific topics, which will be gathered to be considered by the synod.

Full details, including the background document, can be found at: www.archtoronto.org/synod – the deadline for submission of feedback, either by email or mail, is February 16th, 2015.

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 18th 2015

February 18th is Ash Wednesday.

Special Masses will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon and 7:30 PM with the distribution of ashes. There will be no 9:00 AM Mass that day. During Lent, we encourage your attendance at our daily weekday Masses at 9:00 AM.

DAYS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE

During Lent there are two days of Fast and Abstinence, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Abstinence means to abstain from eating meat. This applies to all Catholics 14 years of age and older.
Fasting means that your two smaller meals combined should not be larger than your main meal. There is no eating between meals. This applies to healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 16th to 21st, 2015

MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by John Chan
WEDNESDAY – ASH WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY – MEI SUET LAI – Requested by Mei Yung Fong
FRIDAY – THANKSGIVING – Requested by Anna Ho
SATURDAY – ARMANDO DI NARDO – Requested by the Family

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.

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, February 28th 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 Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 28th at10:30 AM.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

Friday, March 6th at 1:30 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

On Friday, March 6th at 1:30 PM, St. Gabriel’s is hosting World Day of Prayer 2015, an ecumenical Service, which is written this year by the Christian women in the Bahamas.

The theme for this year is “Jesus said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? John 13:13.

Please join us, along with our neighbour Christian churches, in prayer and reflection. All are welcome to attend.

SHARELIFE

Working wonders in our community…

We are all called to care for those who are vulnerable in our community. The ShareLife parish campaign gives us an opportunity to reach out in justice and love. Last year, ShareLife’s 42 agencies and grant recipients provided over 381,000 services to over 114,000 people here in our archdiocese, and assisted countless others in developing countries around the world. In 42 municipalities, and in more than 20 languages, those in need received support and care as a result of our generosity. My prayer is that you will join me as together we work wonders to lovingly care for those who are in need around us.
—Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto

First ShareLife Sunday – March 1, 2015

Please give generously. You can work wonders!

A MESSAGE FROM CARDINAL COLLINS

Catholics urged to Support Physicians’ Charter
Right of Freedom of Conscience and Religion

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in a proposed new draft document states: “Where physicians are unwilling to provide certain elements of care due to their moral or religious beliefs, an effective referral to another health care provider must be provided to the patient”. Catholic physicians believe that a mandate for an “effective referral” is a violation of a physician’s rights, as it compels the physician to violate his or her own conscience by being a participant in the very act, the very procedure to which he or she objects in the first place. The CPSO is accepting submissions from all Ontario citizens until February 20. We are all called to inform the CPSO in writing that we reject the proposed “effective referral” mandate for doctors whose Charter right of freedom of conscience and religion must be respected. The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) is one Catholic lay group coordinating these efforts. Go to www.ccrl.ca to find out more and to get involved.

DYNAMIC WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE

International Plaza Hotel, 655 Dixon Road

Calling All Girls, Friday, March 13th from 7:00 to 10:00 PM

An evening for Catholic mothers and their daughters featuring Canadian Catholic song writer and singer Maggie Wang, radio producer Laura Cirami, Gary Zimak, a EWTN personality, Catholic authors, Moira Noonan and Dorothy Pilarski

Saturday, March 14, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

This Catholic Women’s conference will feature guest speakers including His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Dr. Josie Lombardi, Gary Zimak EWTN personality, Ellen Hrkach, president of Catholic Writers Guild and Catholic authors Moira Noonan and Dorothy Pilarski.

For more information visit www.dynamicwomenfaith.com or call 905-279-7702

THANK YOU FROM THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

The St. Gabriel’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul thanks parishioners for their generous and consistent support for those in need.

Tax receipts for the year 2014 for donations of $20 or more have been mailed this past week. Receipts for donations less that $20 are available on request.

JUST COFFEE

Fair trade organic coffees will be on sale after all the Masses next weekend.

Regular ground coffee: $5.50
Decaffeinated: $6
Whole Beans: $5.50
Chocolate Bars: $4 incl. Taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $4.75
Teas: $4.25

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION ST. GABRIEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Kindergarten Registration has begun for all Elementary Schools. Parents/guardians with children born in 2011 or earlier and who will be enrolling in Kindergarten, have the opportunity to apply on-line using the “Student On-line Admission and Registration” platform known as S.O.A.R. and found at the following link: http://soar.tcdsb.org.

For further information, please contact our school office at 416-393-5256.

For general inquires or further information you may contact 416-222-8282 or visit our website at www.tcdsb.org

FREE CATHOLIC ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

Saturday, February 21st, 2015 at 9:00AM

Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery

Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese of Toronto estate planning team will share:

– How to protect your loved ones with a proper Will
– How to ensure your wishes are legally protected
– About Powers of Attorney and Estate Trustee selection
– The cost savings of making an estate plan
– Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors
– Our Catholic traditions around Wills, burial and funerals

An estate planning kit and DVD will be provided at no cost.

Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP: Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries
416-733-8544 ext. 2023 or fjannetta@cc-fs.ca

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 381 $ 6,318
Loose Change 822
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,701
Total 545 $ 10,841
Maintenance Collection $8,130

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Bulletin – February 8, 2015

Sunday, February 8th, 2015

FAMILY OF FAITH UPDATE

As was said at all the Masses last weekend, “The generosity of the parishioners of St. Gabriel’s has been legend.” It has been proven again. Up to last Monday morning, Family of Faith pledges have been received totaling $700,778. We still have a way to go to reach our Parish goal of $900,000. For those parishioners who have handed in their pledge forms – thank you!

For those of you who are still considering or have not handed in your pledge form, please do so as soon as possible – either after Mass today in the gathering space or at the parish office.

LENTEN RETREAT – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Saturday, March 7th

GOOD NEWS! Father Bob Joerger, CP, the Provincial Superior of the St. Paul of the Cross Province of the Passionists, has very kindly accepted our invitation to come and preach this year’s Lenten retreat for us. Many of us may remember him for the wonderful homily he gave last November when he visited us at St Gabriel’s. He talked about how, at the last moments of his father’s life, he gave his father the freedom to die, while his father in turn, gave him the freedom to live. That exchange of love is like our relationship with God – our allowing God to use our lives as God sees fit, while God blesses us with talents so that we can have life abundantly.

This year’s Lenten retreat is not an event you would want to miss! Please mark your calendar – Saturday, March 7th, 2015 Details about the retreat will follow once they are available.

CARDINAL COLLINS INVITES FEEDBACK IN PREPARATION FOR 2015 SYNOD OF BISHOPS

The first of two synods (“synods” are meetings attended by Bishops from around the world) called by Pope Francis to discuss the issues of the Family took place in October 2014. The second synod will take place in October 2015. In preparation for the upcoming synod, Cardinal Collins has invited Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer informed insights on specific topics, which will be gathered to be considered by the synod.

Full details, including the background document, can be found at: www.archtoronto.org/synod – the deadline for submission of feedback, either by email or mail, is February 16th, 2015.

Here are the highlights of some of the questions for which parishioners are invited to offer insights:

1) In light the Church’s teaching, in which the primary elements of marriage are unity, indissolubility and openness to life, what criteria are taken into consideration for a proper pastoral discernment of particular situations (e.g., couples living common-law, in a civil marriage, etc.)? (II.6)

2) With regard to the divorced and remarried, pastoral practice concerning the sacraments needs to be further studied, including assessment of the practice of Orthodox churches What are the frames of reference in which to proceed? What steps are possible? What suggestions can be offered to resolve forms of undue or unnecessary impediments? (II.8)

3) While avoiding any unjust discrimination, how can family members with homosexual tendencies receive pastoral care in these situations in light of the Gospel? (II.9)

4) How can parents and the Christian family be made aware that the duty of transmitting the faith is an intrinsic aspect of being a Christian? (III.13)

5) In our pastoral activity what are the best practices of accompanying couples in the initial years of family life? (I.2.k)

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 9th to 14th, 2015

MONDAY – RALPH BARDOWELL – Requested by a Friend
TUESDAY – GRACE DI ANGELO – Requested by Paul & Wai Chin Hwang
WEDNESDAY – GUS CALDERONE – Requested by Marie Calderone
THURSDAY – AL DONEGAN – Requested by Kathleen & Peter Donegan
FRIDAY – TONINO DIDIODATO – Requested by Dina Oakie
SATURDAY – VIOLET PREVIDSA – Requested by the Family

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Saturday, February 28th 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 Private Schools will be held at St. Gabriel’s Church on Saturday, February 28th at 10:30 AM.

SHARELIFE

Together we are continuing to work wonders…

“(The common good…) it means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about.” – Pope Francis

Pope Francis encourages us to show loving concern for each other, and in so doing care for those who are often forgotten. As a Catholic community, how does the challenge to show this love for our neighbour manifest itself across our archdiocese? Through ShareLife agencies, we reach out to some of the most vulnerable and needy people in our community, helping our neighbours, friends and fellow parishioners as they work through difficult times. As we begin the ShareLife Campaign, please consider ways of supporting ShareLife, our annual Archdiocesan appeal, during this approaching Lenten season.
-Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto

First ShareLife Sunday – March 1, 2015

Please give generously. You can work wonders!

THANK YOU FROM ROSALIE HALL

Dear Friends,
Thanks to you, Christmas 2014 was spent by our young mothers along with their children, surrounded by your kindness and generosity. Most importantly, these young families you have supported have the knowledge that help came from a caring and compassionate community of Donors – people like you who value and care for others less fortunate. On behalf of all the grateful recipients of your Christmas spirit, thank you for your kindness and consideration, making Christmas 2014 one of joy and hope for every young mother, father and child! We wish you peace and prosperity in 2015.

A MESSAGE FROM CARDINAL COLLINS

Catholics urged to Support Physicians’ Charter

Right of Freedom of Conscience and Religion

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in a proposed new draft document states: “Where physicians are unwilling to provide certain elements of care due to their moral or religious beliefs, an effective referral to another health care provider must be provided to the patient”. Catholic physicians believe that a mandate for an “effective referral” is a violation of a physician’s rights, as it compels the physician to violate his or her own conscience by being a participant in the very act, the very procedure to which he or she objects in the first place. The CPSO is accepting submissions from all Ontario citizens until February 20. We are all called to inform the CPSO in writing that we reject the proposed “effective referral” mandate for doctors whose Charter right of freedom of conscience and religion must be respected. The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) is one Catholic lay group coordinating these efforts. Go to www.ccrl.ca to find out more and to get involved.

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 402 $ 8,593
Loose Change 931
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,701
Total 632 $ 13,225

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

ST. GABRIEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Kindergarten Registration has begun for all Elementary Schools. Parents/guardians with children born in 2011 or earlier and who will be enrolling in Kindergarten, have the opportunity to apply on-line using the “Student On-line Admission and Registration” platform known as S.O.A.R. and found at the following link: http://soar.tcdsb.org.

Parents will be able to complete an application for registration online 24 hours a day. The on-line application also offers access to translations in different languages with built-in help functions and features. Alternately, families may choose to register in person at our school.

As part of the registration process, school staff will meet with parents. These meetings may be scheduled on the electronic application or in person at the school. During the meeting, school staff will verify the original documentation required for registration. This consists of a Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate and/or Passport, Immunization record, proof of residence and Application for Direction of School support.

Applications to register children in grades other than Kindergarten can also be done on the online S.O.A.R. application. Please share this information with any parents/guardians with school aged children in the community.

For further information, please contact our school office at 416-393-5256. For general inquires or further information you may contact 416-222-8282 or visit our website at www.tcdsb.org

NORTH YORK RETIREES CLUB

Blessed Trinity Parish Hall

Tuesday, February 10th at 2:00 PM

The next meeting of the North York Retiree’s will be on Tuesday, February 10th at Blessed Trinity Church Hall. The meeting will feature guest speaker Drew Ellery of the Toronto Fire Department.
He will speak about “Fire Safety in the Home”. All retirees are cordially invited to attend.

FAITH CONNECTIONS LENTEN LISTENING: A Busy Person’s Retreat

Starting Ash Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 PM

Regis College, 100 Wellesley St, Toronto

Faith Connections, Regis College, and the Toronto Area Vocation Directors Association invite you to Lenten Listening: A Busy Person’s Retreat, for young adults (18-39).This is an opportunity for young adults from different areas of the Archdiocese of Toronto to experience the gift of Spiritual Accompaniment this Lent.

The retreat will begin and end with a group gathering. In the six weeks between these gatherings, you will be invited to spend 15 minutes a day in prayer and meet with a spiritual companion in your area 3 times for 1 hour.

Beginning with liturgy, a light supper, an introduction to spiritual accompaniment and your spiritual companion at Regis College on Ash Wednesday, February 18th and closing with a light supper and Easter party social on Wednesday April 8th.

Cost is $25 (if a concern, please contact Regis College).

Registration is required by February 9th. – For more information, or to register, please call John-Paul Markides at 416-467-2645 or e-mail faithconnections@csj-to.ca

MARRIAGE SUNDAY

Weekend of February 7th/8th

Cardinal Collins has designated this weekend, February 7th/8th as Marriage Sunday in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The event provides an opportunity to honour husband and wife while saluting the faithfulness, sacrifice and joy that comes with the marriage covenant. To those preparing for marriage, newlyweds and those that have been companions on the journey for decades, we offer our prayers and best wishes in a special way this weekend. Let us celebrate the tremendous contributions of married couples who continue to strengthen our faith community. For more information and resources on marriage enrichment, visit: www.archtoronto.org/marriage

FREE CATHOLIC ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR

Saturday, February 21st, 2015 at 9:00AM

Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery

Catholic Cemeteries and the Archdiocese of Toronto estate planning team will share:

– How to protect your loved ones with a proper Will
– How to ensure your wishes are legally protected
– About Powers of Attorney and Estate Trustee selection
– The cost savings of making an estate plan
– Finding lawyers and estate planning advisors
– Our Catholic traditions around Wills, burial and funerals

An estate planning kit and DVD will be provided at no cost. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP: Frank Jannetta, Catholic Cemeteries
416-733-8544 ext. 2023 or fjannetta@cc-fs.ca

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Homily – February 8, 2015

Sunday, February 8th, 2015

Our short gospel describes the busyness of Jesus’ life. He is in his town of Capernaum and he is swamped by the men and women who want to listen to what he has to say and bring their wounded lives to his healing touch. Even a quiet meal in Peter’s home requires Jesus ministry to Peter’s mother in law. After a short sleep Jesus slips away for a bit of privacy and prayer and this too is interrupted. Peter intrudes into Jesus’ peace and quiet with the message,’ everyone is searching for you – everyone wants more of you. But Jesus lets Peter know he has to be moving on, he words and healing are not just for the men and women of CA Parham, he must go to the neighbouring town with his message, for this is what he came to do. Jesus was compelled to go out to all the towns and villages and share his message of God’s great love for the least and the lost. The men and women of Carp haram we impressed and excited by his healings but Jesus saw them as a minor part of his ministry. His main purpose was to preach the good news of the coming kingdom of God. His work was not of medicine but preaching.

We find that same urgency, that same passion in Paul’s letter to the people of Corinth. Woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel. For Paul, to preach the gospel means quite concretely and specifically to preach Christ crucified in which he saw the foolishness and the wisdom of God, the weakness and the power of God. For Paul the crucified Christ was the love of God made visible.

Reading the letters of Paul it seems that he is positively driven to write and speak of Jesus and his revelation. “I am under compulsion and have no choice. I am ruined if I do not preach it!” So much does his faith in Jesus, the crucified and risen drive him to be the slave of all, to be all things to all people in order to win them over. For Paul, his faith in Christ is definitely not a matter of small consequence it was at the heart of his existence.

The things we do care about, things for which we have a passion, we inevitably talk about, sometimes to the point of driving others crazy. As someone once said, “If you love someone or something deeply enough, you want to tell others, you want to share it with others, you think they are missing something if they do not have it.”

Do we feel that way about our own Christian Catholic faith? Don’t we pray – may we live this Mass – live our faith in our crucified and risen Christ – outside these walls in the way we live our daily lives? Do we tell others, share with others how much our faith means to us?

I like the words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi – preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words – preach the good news of God’s love for each one of us shown to us by the crucified Christ by the way we live our lives, by the way we challenge bigoted or sexist or racist or homophobic remarks, by the way we defend the blight of those living below the poverty line or those unemployed or under employed. We live Christ’s love for others when we reach out to men, women and children in need. We live Christ’s life of compassion and love when we try to heal hurts and mend misunderstandings that may be dividing our own families. We preach the gospel of love when we work for justice and fairness.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass may each one of us be blessed with that same passion that drove Jesus to the neighbouring towns, that drove Paul from city to city to share with others the faith with which we been blessed, that Christ died for ours sins and on the third day was raised from tomb by the Father’s glory.

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Bulletin – February 1, 2015

Sunday, February 1st, 2015

Graphic_02_04_2015 9_01_47 AM

This weekend is the second Commitment Weekend for the Family of Faith campaign as mandated by the Archdiocese of Toronto. If you took a pledge form last week, please return it in a sealed envelope as soon as possible. Forms can be dropped into the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Office.

The Parish 25% share of the Family of Faith campaign will be used to develop the potential of the youth of our parish as Catholic leaders of tomorrow. We hope to hire a youth minister as well as provide subsidy for the St. Gabriel’s delegation to attend World Youth Day in Poland in 2016.
I would ask you to be as generous as you always are to cover this special appeal.

Fr. Brando

ANNOUNCED MASSES

February 2nd to 7th, 2015

MONDAY – BERTHA RICKETTS – Requested by the Family
TUESDAY – BONNIE SOLMES – Requested by Jennifer
WEDNESDAY – BEN TAN – Requested by Annie Camarines
THURSDAY – MIRO FEDELE – Requested by Laura Fedele
FRIDAY – FR. DANIEL CHUI – Requested by a Friend
SATURDAY – RENATO BELLISARI – Requested by a Friend

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, February 6th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon

ROSARY GROUPS

Chinese: Sunday, February 1st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
English: Saturday, February 7th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room

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

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CONSECRATED LIFE CELEBRATION

Sunday, February 1st at 3:00 PM

St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street

Monday, February 2nd the Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God’s gift of their vocation.

All are welcome to come to a special Mass presided by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins this Sunday, February 1st at 3:00 PM at St Paul’s Basilica to celebrate with and pray for these men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our Archdiocese.

MARRIAGE SUNDAY

Weekend of February 7th/8th

Cardinal Collins has designated the weekend of February 7th/8th as Marriage Sunday in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The event provides an opportunity to honour husband and wife while saluting the faithfulness, sacrifice and joy that comes with the marriage covenant. To those preparing for marriage, newlyweds and those that have been companions on the journey for decades, we offer our prayers and best wishes in a special way this weekend.

Let us celebrate the tremendous contributions of married couples who continue to strengthen our faith community. For more information and resources on marriage enrichment, visit: www.archtoronto.org/marriage.

GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 51 casseroles for January. For February, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of February 28th/March 1st 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 web site. 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.

A MESSAGE FROM EFFECT: HOPE

Dear Friends,

We are so fortunate to have friends like you. The stamps you have sent will bring us closer to a world without leprosy. Our goal is to raise $12,000 in 2015 which will provide the cure and care for 30 leprosy patients!

We are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border Your kindness and compassion are felt by the friends and staff of Effect: Hope and by the many people we serve. We look forward to your continued partnership with this mission of healing and hope.

Stamps may be deposited in the basket on the cabinet just outside the Parish Office.

SKATE AND PRAYER

Saturday, February 7th at 11:00 AM

Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen Street West

Faith Connections invites all young adults 18-39 to join us for a Skate and Prayer, where we’ll reflect on “Simple Joys.” Children are welcome!

Nurture your spiritual life while exploring interesting areas of our beautiful city! It’s a chance to meet like-minded young adults who hope to find God through spiritual and physical activity.
Skate rentals are $10 (ID is required for deposit).

For more information, visit the Toronto Hike and Prayer web page, or contact John-Paul Markides by
e-mail at faithconnections@csj-to.ca, or phone 416-467-2645. RSVPs are appreciated.

CARDINAL COLLINS INVITES FEEDBACK IN PREPARATION FOR 2015 SYNOD OF BISHOPS

Cardinal Collins is inviting Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer insights and feedback on issues that will be considered as part of the 2015 Synod of Bishops on “The Vocation and the Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World.”

Full details including background documents can be found at: www.archtoronto.org/synod – deadline for feedback is February 16th, 2015.

“AWAKENING TO THE SPIRIT IN TIMES OF SUFFERING – WHAT TO DO WITH MY EXPERIENCE?”

Monday, February 9th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

The Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge Street

Catholic Family Services of Toronto – New Beginnings. will host an Inspirational talk entitled Awakening the Spirit in Times of Suffering on Monday February 9th at 7:00 PM.

The speaker will be Maureen McDonnell, D.Min.

For more information, please contact 416-921-1163 x2235 or email mbenincasa@cfstoronto.com.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION – ST. GABRIEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Kindergarten Registration has begun for all Elementary Schools. Parents/guardians with children born in 2011 or earlier and who will be enrolling in Kindergarten, have the opportunity to apply on-line using the “Student On-line Admission and Registration” platform known as S.O.A.R. and found at the following link: http://soar.tcdsb.org.

Parents will be able to complete an application for registration online 24 hours a day. The on-line application also offers access to translations in different languages with built-in help functions and features. Alternately, families may choose to register in person at our school.

As part of the registration process, school staff will meet with parents. These meetings may be scheduled on the electronic application or in person at the school. During the meeting, school staff will verify the original documentation required for registration. This consists of a Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate and/or Passport, Immunization record, proof of residence and Application for Direction of School support.

Applications to register children in grades other than Kindergarten can also be done on the online S.O.A.R. application. Please share this information with any parents/guardians with school aged children in the community.

For further information, please contact our school office at 416-393-5256. For general inquires or further information you may contact 416-222-8282 or visit our website at www.tcdsb.org

FINANCE CORNER

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 417 $ 7,709
Loose Change 802
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,701
Total 581 $ 12,212

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2015

If you are a regular Parish member and you do not contribute to the Offertory collection, the Finance Council reminds you that “the financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow”.

For those parishioners who contribute to the offertory on a regular weekly basis, we thank you for your constant support. Have you considered using PAG or Donate Now?

If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2015, please contact the Parish Office and we will prepare a box for you. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations. If you have recently moved, please inform the Parish Office so that we may keep our parish records up to date.

In 2015, please do not use any envelopes from 2014 or any envelopes from previous years as the number on it may have been reassigned. Please put your name on your envelope to ensure that your donation is properly recorded.

Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on Bulletin – February 1, 2015

Bulletin – January 25, 2015

Sunday, January 25th, 2015

FAMILY OF FAITH

Our parish has commenced the Family of Faith campaign as mandated by the Archdiocese of Toronto. As stated in my Christmas letter, the parish goal is $900,000 of which 25% will remain in the parish. We hope to use these funds to develop our youth ministry program.

Commitment Sundays are scheduled for January 25th and February 1st. Commitment pledges of $5,000 or more may be made over five years. Pledges less than $5,000 are to be fulfilled within 3 years.
I would ask you to be as generous as you always are to cover this special appeal.

Fr. Brando

ANNOUNCED MASSES

January 26th to January 31st, 2015

MONDAY – MANUEL COSTA – Requested by Celeste Costa & Family
TUESDAY – IMELDA GO – Requested by Roman & Chit
WEDNESDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE DAMPS & CONLISK FAMILIES – Requested by the Anne & Agnes Damps
THURSDAY – FLORENCE LEE – Requested by Moira & Bob Torpey
FRIDAY – MARIE FUNG – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – ALBERTO MACARAEG – Requested by Rubi Macaraeg

WELCOME! BAPTISM

The Parish Family of St. Gabriel’s would like to welcome:
Chloe Wai-Shan Li
Dominic Toufic Homaidan
Ellie Norah Oulahen
Evelyn Elise Oulahen

These children received the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, January 18th, 2015. Congratulations!

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, February 1st 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. The guided reflection brings an ecological perspective to the readings. All are welcome.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, February 6th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CONSECRATED LIFE CELEBRATION

Sunday, February 1st at 3:00 PM

St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power Street

On Sunday, February 1st, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

“They are men and women who can awaken the world. Consecrated life is prophecy. God asks us to be sent to the frontiers of the world, avoiding the temptation to ‘domesticate’ them. This is the most concrete way of imitating the Lord.” Pope Francis, on the occasion of his announcement that 2015 will be dedicated to consecrated life.

In the Archdiocese of Toronto we are blessed to have living and serving among us more than 1,000 religious men and women of over 100 different religious congregations. This World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank God for the gifts of these religious sisters, brothers and priests and to pray for God’s blessing upon them in their efforts to faithfully live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

There will be a special Mass next Sunday, February 1st at 3:00 PM at St. Paul’s Basilica, Toronto in celebration of the vocation and witness of these special men and women religious who are such a vital and important part of the life and ministry of the Church in our Archdiocese. All are welcome to attend.

ROSARY GROUPS

English: Saturday, February 7th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room

Chinese: Sunday, February 1st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.

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

WORLD LEPROSY DAY – SUNDAY, JANUARY 25th

USED STAMP COLLECTION

This Sunday, January 25th, is World Leprosy Day. Please remember to bring us your used postage stamps. These are passed on to the Effect Hope helping them work towards the day when leprosy is eradicated. They are happy to accept any and all trimmed stamps, leaving no less than ¼ inch and no more than ½ inch paper border. Stamps may be deposited in the basket on the cabinet just outside the Parish Office.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2015 ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICE

This Sunday, January 25th at 4:00 P.M.

Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge Street

Come and join us in an ecumenical prayer service with His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Michael Pryse, Slovak Catholic Bishop John Pazak, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Harris Athanasiadis and other city-wide religious leaders this: Sunday, January 25th at 4:00 P.M. at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge Street (2 blocks north of St. Clair at Heath Street)

Parking is available. Refreshments will follow in the parish hall.

For further information, please contact the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs at 416-934-3400, Ext. 344 or Ext. 527 or vkwok@archtoronto.org.

THEOLOGY ON TAP: ASK THE BISHOP

Monday, January 26th at 7:00 PM

Duke of York, 39 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto

Faith Connections invites young adults 19-39 to join us for an evening of thought-provoking theological discussions and presentations in a comfortable and relaxed setting. The special guest will be Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto, who will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about our faith. Munchies will be provided and there is a cash bar. Come and bring a friend!

AWAKENING TO THE SPIRIT IN TIMES OF SUFFERING – WHAT TO DO WITH MY EXPERIENCE?

Monday, February 9th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM

The Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St.,Toronto.

Catholic Family Services of Toronto – New Beginnings. will host an Inspirational talk entitled Awakening the Spirit in Times of Suffering.on Monday February 9th at 7:00 PM.

The speaker will be Maureen McDonnell, D.Min. For more information, please contact 416-921-1163 x2235 or email mbenincasa@cfstoronto.com.

FINANCE CORNER

There will be a Maintenance Collection at all the Masses next weekend

Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Collection for Last Weekend

Envelopes 441 $ 8,443
Loose Change 893
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,701
Total 605 $13,037

RECEIPTS FOR 2014

The tax receipts for 2014 have been mailed out this week.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2015

If you are a regular Parish member and you do not contribute to the Offertory collection, the Finance Council reminds you that “the financial burden of the Parish is the responsibility of each and all parishioners to the extent that your means allow”.

For those parishioners who contribute to the offertory on a regular weekly basis, we thank you for your constant support. Have you considered using PAG or Donate Now?

If you are not currently using parish envelopes and wish to have a set issued for 2015, please contact the Parish Office and we will prepare a box for you. This is the most effective way to keep track of your donations. If you have recently moved, please inform the Parish Office so that we may keep our parish records up to date.

In 2015, please do not use any envelopes from 2014 or any envelopes from previous years as the number on it may have been reassigned. Please put your name on your envelope to ensure that your donation is properly recorded.

Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on Bulletin – January 25, 2015

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