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Bulletin – December 14, 2014

Sunday, December 14th, 2014

Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”
Amen.

ADVENT-SOLSTICE REFLECTION

“Shifting from Darkness to Light: Not by Passive Hope.”

Sunday, December 21st from 7:30 to 9:30 PM

The hopeful expectation of the Advent season requires our active participation to effect change; it is not a passive hope. By examining the recent typhoon in the Philippines, we will seek signs of active hope and reflect on the Church’s calls for ecological justice. Please contact Elliott Allen Institute for Theology & Ecology at eaite.contact@utoronto.ca or Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408 to register or for more information.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR
FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM

Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st at 1:30 PM

The Christmas Eve Pageant is a tradition at our church we hope to continue with again this year. But we need volunteer children to play the parts of Mary and Joseph, wise men, shepherds, angels and of course, the star. If you have a young child who would like to be in the Pageant at the 7:00 Mass on Christmas Eve, there is one mandatory practice for about an hour on Sunday December 21st after the 12:30 Mass in the Gabriel Room.

Christmas Schedule 2014

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS

Day of Confession:
Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 20th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Wednesday, December 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:00 PM: Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM: Contemporary Group
12:00 AM: Midnight Mass – Adult Choir, Carol Singing
Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Thursday, December 25th
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Open 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

BOXING DAY – Friday, December 26th
No Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Wednesday, December 31st
No 9:00 AM Mass
Mass at 4:30 PM for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Thursday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Closed

Parking

While parking at ground level is limited to 51 spaces, there is plenty of space in the underground parking lot. Please follow the instructions of the attendants. Do not park in front of the Church since this is a fire route and must be kept clear.

Additional parking is available on the east side of Elkhorn Public School and in the bus loop. Again, please follow the instructions of the attendant. The school requests that we do not park on the grass. Many thanks to Holly Richards, the Principal of Elkhorn Public School, for allowing us the use of the school property.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 15th to December 20th, 2014

MONDAY – CAROLINA CAETANO-MACDONELL – Requested by the Family
TUESDAY – MARGARET KANG – Requested by Wai Chin, Paul & the Hwang Family
WEDNESDAY – EVELYN DYSANGCO – Requested by Maria Lourdes Luz
THURSDAY – BARRY BRADBURY – Requested by Peggy Pusaka & Family
FRIDAY – MARTIN SMEE – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – KATHI WATTS – Requested by Kathi Leah

THANK YOU FROM FR. RICK & FR. BRANDO

Fr. Rick Frechette and Fr. Brando wish to thank you for your very very generous response to the Advent Day of Reflection and Fr. Rick’s homily at the weekend Masses. To date, almost $36,500 has been raised for Fr. Rick’s Mission in Haiti.

If you did not get a chance to donate and wish to do so, you may still donate at the table set up in the Gathering Space. Please make any cheques payable to the Passionist Missionaries.

GIFTS FOR CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S AID, ROSALIE HALL & ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Thank you so much for your wonderful response to our appeal for gifts for the Catholic Children’s Aid “Hope for the Children campaign, Rosalie Hall and St. Vincent de Paul. This weekend is your last chance to bring in gifts. Please include the mitten, stocking or gift tag with your gift.
Toys for Hope for the Children may be left in the large box in the Gathering Space. Items for Rosalie Hall and

St. Vincent de Paul may be left under the Christmas tree. If you were unable to get a tag, you may still contribute. Just bring your gift and place it in the appropriate place.

FEED THE HUNGRY

There but for the Grace of God…..

Please help feed the hungry and homeless this Christmas by participating in the St. Gabriel’s annual Christmas Food Drive. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.

Food collected will be sent to the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall. Thank you for your generous support.

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

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

A Humanitarian Voice For Syria

Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00 PM
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 520 Sherbourne Street

Please join Development and Peace in welcoming Fr. Nawras Sammour, Country Director of Jesuit Refugee Services, Syria who will speak about his experiences in managing relief efforts for a refugee crisis of over 3 million people, a crisis which continues to be perpetuated through ongoing violence.

For further details or to RSVP, please contact Sam Jeffrey at sam.jeffrey@devp.org or by phone at 416-922 1592, Ext. 242.

ST.GABRIEL’S SCHOOL ME TO WE SALE

Weekend of December 13th/14th
St. Gabriel’s Church

The St. Gabriel’s School Me to We Committee will be selling rafiki chains for $10 in the Gathering Space after all the Masses on the weekend of December 13th/14th. In Swahili, the word rafiki means friend. Every rafiki friend chain is handmade by a “mama” in Kenya. $5 will go back to the “mamas” to help their families. The rest will be donated by the school towards clean water. Rafiki chains make great gifts for Christmas! For more information, please visit www.metowe.com

There will be catalogues available in the Gathering Space for those who wish to make a larger donation. The catalogues offer options such as buying a goat, which would provide milk for a family or a source of income to buy food and necessities.

A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 PM

St. Gabriel’s Church

The Vocal Department of Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts presents A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Tuesday December 16th at 7:30 PM featuring 170 voices from grade 7 to 12. This service of scripture and carols is based on the annual service held at King’s College, Cambridge and includes a candlelight procession, traditional hymns, contemporary anthems and special arrangements of all your favorites like Silent Night and O Holy Night. General Admission is $15 and can be purchased at the door.

FINANCE CORNER

The Parish’s 2014 budgeted operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Offertory Collection for last weekend:

Envelopes 413 $12,176
Loose Change 1,302
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 164 3,058
Total 577 $16,536

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?

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2015

The 2015 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible. If you have a PAG or Donate Now account, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2015.

If you are moving out of the Parish or have a change of address, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 so that we can update our records. Thank you.

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Homily – December 7, 2014

Sunday, December 7th, 2014

Cardinal Collins has designated Dec. 10th as the Archdiocesan Day of Reconciliation. Here at St. Gabriel’s the Sacrament of Reconciliation were be available from 10;30 -12;00 and from 3:30 til 6:00.

Any priest ordained for a number of years will tell you that confessions have dropped off over the years. Many of us seniors remember lining up on either side of the ‘sin bin’ to tell the priest pretty much the same sins we confessed the last time we confessed. The emphasis in those days was on ‘confessing’ and the numbers of times. It was for many people so mechanical. There was little emphasis on why we did or said things that were sinful. The whole experience was thought to be unsatisfactory.

For a number of years now the sacrament has been called the sacrament of reconciliation. The emphasis in not on the telling of sins and the number, the emphasis in on our desire to be reconciled to God, to mend the brokenness of our relationship with God caused by our failures to live our lives in Christ-like ways.

We are good people but we are also mistaking making people. We keep letting our wants get in the way of what Christ calls us to be and do. We let our wants for instant gratification take over our lives and so we use people to satisfy our needs for pleasure or power or things. St. Paul said it so well in these words,’ the good that I would that I do not and the evil that I would not do, that I do.’ We can’t solve this struggle on our own. We need to open to open our lives to the grace and power of Christ. We need the example of his love, his mercy, his care and concern for others, his example of forgiving, his openness to other people and his sense of justice to be our motivation to love as we’ve been loved, to respect other people as we’ve been respected, to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.

It is a day by day struggle to live up to the example Christ has given us. Some days we win and some days we lose. But always we keep trying. Always we keep depending on Christ to help us be the kind of Christian person Christ calls us to be.

There can be times when we just get so discouraged with dealing with our struggles to be good persons. We need to hear the encouraging words of our second reading, ‘The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting you to perish, but all to come to repentance.’ Through this gracious gift of Christ, this sacrament of reconciliation we come by his grace to restore and strengthen our relationship with him whether it has been shattered or weaken by our selfishness.

Our first reading and our gospel tell of mountains brought low, valleys filled in, croaked ways straighten to allow the grace and life of God to enter and transform our lives so that Christ’s peace, patience and goodness can find a home in our lives. The sacrament of reconciliation is an opportunity to make this happen in our lives. If you have been away a long time and have forgotten what to say or do, don’t fret your confessor will fill in the blanks. This sacrament of reconciliation is Christ’s gift of pardon and peace to you. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to the apostles. St. John tells us, ‘he breathed on then and said, receive the Holy Spirit, for those whose sins you forgive are forgiven, for those whose sins you retain, they are retained. Accept this gift, unwrap it and enjoy it.

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Bulletin – December 7, 2014

Sunday, December 7th, 2014

Christmas Schedule 2014

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS

Day of Confession:
Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 20th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Wednesday, December 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:00 PM: Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM: Contemporary Group
12:00 AM: Midnight Mass – Adult Choir, Carol Singing
Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Thursday, December 25th
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Open 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

BOXING DAY – Friday, December 26th
No Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Wednesday, December 31st
No 9:00 AM Mass
Mass at 4:30 PM for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Thursday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Closed

ADVENT-SOLSTICE REFLECTION

“Shifting from Darkness to Light: Not by Passive Hope.”

Sunday, December 21st from 7:30 to 9:30 PM

The hopeful expectation of the Advent season requires our active participation to effect change; it is not a passive hope. By examining the recent typhoon in the Philippines, we will seek signs of active hope and reflect on the Church’s calls for ecological justice.

Please contact Elliott Allen Institute for Theology & Ecology at eaite.contact@utoronto.ca or Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408 to register or for more information.

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, December 7th 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.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 8th to December 13th, 2014

MONDAY – HUEN LAI – Requested by Hazel Lai
TUESDAY – ALLWYN PINTO & ANGELA MURZELLO – Requested by Liberatta & Royston Pinto
WEDNESDAY – IVY LYN – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – JEAN HARMON – Requested by the Scanga Family
FRIDAY – HARRY LEUNG – Requested by Mary Leung
SATURDAY – MIKE CHUCHRA – Requested by the Family

DAY OF CONFESSION

Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 to 6:00 PM

On Wednesday, December 10th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Archdiocesan Day of Confessions. At this time, let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In our parish, confessions will be heard on Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR

FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM

Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Each year, young people, Grade 3 and up, form a special choir for the Family Mass on Christmas Eve. Children must be at the Church by 6:00 PM. One rehearsal, which is mandatory, will be held on Sunday, December 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

Please call Marilyn Calderone at 416-618-2041 for more information.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st 2:00 to 4:00 PM

S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 for more information.

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you so much to the volunteers who prepared 61 casseroles for November! For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of January 3rd/4th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre.

More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. There are now 3 different recipes available in the Parish Office or online at the Church website.If you require more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

THE GIVING TREE

During Advent, the Society of St.Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space. The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.

If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.

GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL

For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for little ones sizes 6 months to 4 years. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a”Gingerbread Boy” tag. Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 14th.

For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.

HOPE FOR CHILDREN CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to12 years old? Containers are set up at the doors of the Church and will remain until Sunday, December 14th.

FEED THE HUNGRY

There but for the Grace of God…..

Please help feed the hungry and homeless this Christmas by participating in the St. Gabriel’s annual Christmas Food Drive. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired. Food collected will be sent to the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie
Hall. Thank you for your generous support.

“ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS” CONCERT

Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 PM

St. Bonaventure Parish

Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim Men’s and the Cherubim Women’s Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love to hear as part of their “All I Want for Christmas” concert series. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics, with a bit of Disney flare! Please join us at St. Bonaventure on December 13th at 7:30 PM. Advanced tickets are available online at www.seraphimchorus.ca. Proceeds will go to support of the St. Clare Inn.”

ST.GABRIEL’S SCHOOL ME TO WE SALE

Weekend of December 13th/14th

St. Gabriel’s Church

The St. Gabriel’s School Me to We Committee will be selling rafiki chains for $10 in the Gathering Space after all the Masses on the weekend of December 13th/14th. In Swahili, the word rafiki means friend. Every rafiki friend chain is handmade by a “mama” in Kenya. $5 will go back to the “mamas” to help their families. The rest will be donated by the school towards clean water. Rafiki chains make great gifts for Christmas! For more information, please visit www.metowe.com

There will be catalogues available in the Gathering Space for those who wish to make a larger donation. The catalogues offer options such as buying a goat, which would provide milk for a family or a source of income to buy food and necessities.

DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

A Humanitarian Voice For Syria
Tuesday, December 16th at 7:00 PM

Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 520 Sherbourne Street

Please join Development and Peace in welcoming Fr. Nawras Sammour, Country Director of Jesuit Refugee Services, Syria who will speak about his experiences in managing relief efforts for a refugee crisis of over 3 million people, a crisis which continues to be perpetuated through ongoing violence. For further details or to RSVP, please contact Sam Jeffrey at sam.jeffrey@devp.org or by phone at 416-922 1592, Ext. 242.

FINANCE CORNER

The Parish’s 2014 budgeted operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Offertory Collection for last weekend:
Envelopes 410 $9,893
Loose Change 977
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,057
Total 573 $13,927
Shepherd’s Trust Updated $12,968

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?

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2015

The 2015 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible. If you have a PAG or Donate Now account, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2015.

If you are moving out of the Parish or have a change of address, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 so that we can update our records. Thank you.

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Homily – November 30, 2014

Sunday, November 30th, 2014

A couple of weeks ago the United Nations came out with a report of the stark reality of the climate changes that are taking place in our time. The report told of the urgency of this matter. The impact of human activity on the climate of the earth is reaching a point of no-return. We need to curtail our use of fossil fuel and use renewable sources of energy. This will not be easy. Governments are more interested in creating jobs and improving the economy than facing the long term disastrous effects on our present and future life styles. The attitude seems to be, let future generations clean up our mess.

This important United Nations report dealing with the future wellbeing of our planet found its way to page eight of the Toronto Star. Gian Gomeshi’s saga was on page one. So much for the priorities of our concerns.

This past week Pope Frances spoke to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He spoke about the globalization of indifference born of selfishness that is a tragic reality of our times. There is a globalization of indifference to the environmental stresses and crisis of our day. There is a globalization of indifference to world poverty, world hunger, immigration, the sectarian battles in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. We just don’t see the urgencies of these issues. They are not our problem.

We are not bad people. We are busy people caught up with our own problems, trying to keep our heads above water. What can we do about these world problems, they are beyond us. We too can be part of that globalization of indifference that blinds us to the needs and sufferings of others.

Advent calls us to be alert, be aware, be conscious of and sensitive too what is going on around us. Are we concerned about the homeless, the street people of the city, the good men, women and children surviving on food banks, the exploited part time workers? Do we ever think about the life situations of millions of families driven from theirs, losing loved ones, surviving in tents in refugee camps? Does it ever cross our minds what it must be like to live in a city or village struck by Ebola and having no adequate medical care? Are we caught up in global indifference?

That’s why this season of Advent can be so important to us. The simple message of today’s gospel is; be aware, be alert, be conscious to what is going on around us. We can be so wrapped up in the cocoon of our own concerns that we can be unaware of a crisis that stares us in our face. We hear of people on cell phones or listening to I pads and walking into buses and being killed. How many times a day do we see people driving cars and talking on cell phones, lost in their own little worlds?

This globalization of indifference and unawareness can touch us in very personal ways. We can be so caught up in personal worries that we fail to notice – another name for indifference -that our own world of relationships might be going through its own climate change. Things are heating up or things are cooling off. We may be unaware of family relationships disintegrating because we don’t have the time to sit and listen to what is happening in the lives of those we live with. Have you ever heard the complaint ‘you haven’t heard a word I said? Do we take the time, make the time to sit and talk to an adult son or daughter about their anxieties over their careers of lack of them? Are we aware of any seething resentments that are developing in our homes or places of work? Are we aware of the stressful situations a spouse may be enduring day after day at work?

Too many marital breakdowns happen because husbands and wives are too busy or too angry to be aware of growing tensions and hostilities that are developing and won’t take the time to be present to one another.

During these coming weeks of Advent, weeks filled with the busyness of getting ready for Christ, can we make the effort to be aware, be conscious of and open to those nudges of God nudging us to be more aware of those closest to us – spouses, partners, sons and daughters, friends? May we be more conscious of how much they mean to us and never take them for granted. May we be willing to listen to their wants and needs and always let them know how important they are to us.

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Bulletin – November 30, 2014

Sunday, November 30th, 2014

ADVENT MISSION

“God is with us”: Bringing hope to those living in darkness

Saturday, December 6th from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM

NOT TO BE MISSED – reflection with Fr. Rick Frechette CP on our Christian commitment that will be both inspiring and enriching!

Father Rick is a Passionist who went to Haiti 27 years ago to serve as a priest. Seeing the poverty and the dire need of the people there for medical care, he went back to the U.S. in his 30s, took up medical studies, and returned to Haiti as both a priest and a medical doctor. The needs of the people whom he served prompted him to give himself to their service by not only ministering to their spiritual needs, but their physical needs as well. His presence among the people of Haiti is truly an amazing witness of love.

At the beginning of the season of Advent, when we are preparing for Christmas, Fr. Rick will talk about our Christian commitment to share the Good News, especially with those who are living in the darkness of poverty, injustice, and slavery in its many forms. It will be an excellent opportunity for all parishioners to pause and look deeply. We encourage especially our young people to join us!

A simple lunch will be provided. Cost is $5 per person. To register, please call the Parish Office at (416) 221-8866 or email fatimalee@bellnet.ca.

A Note on Donations To Fr. Rick’s Mission in Haiti
We have also been asked if there is a way to donate to Fr. Rick’s mission in Haiti. If you are so inclined, and would like to contribute to Fr. Rick’s work, there will be a donation box at the back of the church on the day of the retreat itself, as well as at all the Masses on the weekend of Dec 6th/7th. You can donate either in cash or by cheque. Please note any cheque must be made payable to “Passionist Missionaries”. They will issue tax receipts for all donations of $20 or more. Please also make sure you write clearly your name and address on the envelope provided.

OUR YOUTH GROUP THANKS YOU

Our Youth group wishes to thank you for your very generous support of their bake sale last Sunday. In total, $1,170 was raised to support Youth Group activities and send two youth on a service trip to the Philippines.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

December 1st to December 6th, 2014

MONDAY – ABANDONED SOULS – Requested by the Doann & Nguyen Families
TUESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Family
WEDNESDAY – GIOVANNA SESSA – Requested by Michele Padova & Family
THURSDAY – DAVID SHELDRICK – Requested by the Teresa Sheldrick & Family
FRIDAY – MARIA DI DIODATO – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – POONA JOSEPH – Requested by the Family

Christmas Schedule 2014

INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS

Day of Confession:
Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 20th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon

MASSES

CHRISTMAS EVE – Wednesday, December 24th
No 9:00 AM Mass
7:00 PM: Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 PM: Contemporary Group
12:00 AM: Midnight Mass – Adult Choir, Carol Singing
Office Open 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM only

CHRISTMAS DAY – Thursday, December 25th
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Open 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

BOXING DAY – Friday, December 26th
No Mass, Office Closed

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Wednesday, December 31st
No 9:00 AM Mass
Mass at 4:30 PM for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM only

NEW YEAR’S DAY – Thursday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Office Closed

ECO-SABBATH

Sunday, December 7th 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, December 5th from 9:30 AM – 12 Noon

ROSARY GROUPS

Chinese: Sunday, December 7th st at 3:30 PM in the Gabriel Room.
English: Saturday, December 6th at 3:15 PM in the Gabriel Room

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

DAY OF CONFESSION

Wednesday, December 10th from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M.

On Wednesday, December 10th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Archdiocesan Day of Confessions. At this time, let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In our parish, confessions will be heard on Wednesday, December 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL

For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance.

If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for little ones sizes 6 months to 4years.

If you wish to buy a toy, please take a”Gingerbread Boy” tag. Unwrapped items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 14th.

For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.

THE GIVING TREE

During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.
The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child.

We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.

If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.

HOPE FOR CHILDREN CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society.

Can you help by dropping off an unwrapped new toy for a child 0 to 12 years old? Containers will be set up at the doors of the Church from Saturday, November 29th until Sunday, December 14th.

CANCELLATION

The Concert “Elgies and Remembrance” originally scheduled for this Sunday, November 30th has been cancelled.

BLESSED TRINITY CHRISTMAS POT LUCK DINNER

Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM

Blessed Trinity Parish Hall, 3220 Bayview Avenue

Bring a dish, bring a friend!

The Blessed Trinity CWL invites all ladies of the parish to our Christmas Pot Luck Dinner on Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM in the parish hall.There’ll be carols, games, good food and good company! We will also be accepting contributions of non-perishable food items for donation to the food bank.

ST.GABRIEL’S SCHOOL ME TO WE SALE

Weekend of December 13th/14th
St. Gabriel’s Church

The St. Gabriel’s School Me to We Committee will be selling rafiki chains for $10 in the Gathering Space after all the Masses on the weekend of December 13th/14th. In Swahili, the word rafiki means friend. Every rafiki friend chain is handmade by a “mama” in Kenya. $5 will go back to the “mamas” to help their families. The rest will be donated by the school towards clean water. Rafiki chains make great gifts for Christmas! For more information, please visit www.metowe.com

There will be catalogues available in the Gathering Space for those who wish to make a larger donation. The catalogues offer options such as buying a goat, which would provide milk for a family or a source of income to buy food and necessities.

“ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS” CONCERT

Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 PM”
ST. BONAVENTURE PARISH

Christmas, Christmas time is near! Come join the Seraphim Men’s and the Cherubim Women’s Chorus’ singing the Christmas songs you love to hear as part of their “All I Want for Christmas” concert series. A mix of old favourites and twists on classics, with a bit of Disney flare! Please join us at St. Bonaventure on December 13th at 7:30 PM. Advanced tickets are available online at www.seraphimchorus.ca. Proceeds will go to support of the St. Clare Inn.”

FINANCE CORNER

The Parish’s 2013 budgeted operating expenses average $14,550 per week.

Offertory Collection for last weekend:
Envelopes 410 $ 8,251
Loose Change 1,323
Weekly Portion of Pre-Authorized Giving 163 3,057
Total 573 $ 12,631

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?

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2015

The 2015 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please pick yours up as soon as possible. If you have a PAG or Donate Now account, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2015.

If you are moving out of the Parish or have a change of address, please contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 so that we can update our records. Thank you.

Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on Bulletin – November 30, 2014

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