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homily – April 12

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

John 20:1-9

In the earliest years of the Church this was the night when all baptisms took place. In those days baptisms were by immersion. They took place at a river or lake. The new converts were taken into the water and immersed. Just as Christ was entombed in the earth those being baptized were entombed in water. Just as Christ came out of the tomb to new life so the newly baptized came out of the life-giving water to walk in newness of life. Christ’s resurrection is the pledge and promise of our resurrection. “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be with him in a resurrection like his.”

Good people with the help of others, you have been involved in a long process of study and soul searching concerning your own relationship with God and with the Catholic Church. The celebration of your baptism, confirmation, your profession of faith and your first communion is not the end of the journey. These Sacraments are your beginning of a life-long process in the development of your own relationship with Christ and with the church.

Our parish motto is ‘belonging, believing, becoming’. Tonight’s celebration is all about your becoming, it is about your growing to a full maturity in Christ.

Tomorrow millions of children will be involved in the hunt for Easter eggs. It’s an Easter ritual. Notice their joy in the hunting, their excitement in the finding and their eagerness to search for more. The Easter Egg Hunt is a lesson for all of us. There is always more to discover and each discovery brings it own joy and motivates us to look for more.

Our lives should be a constant search for Easter eggs, finding new discoverers about the Risen Christ and our personal relationships with Him. Searching for new ways of deepening our relationship with Him and His gifts of the Eucharist and the Sacraments through which we deepen our relationship with Him. He has given us all a share in His glory.

This night we all celebrate the wonder Christ is Risen. The tragedy of Good Friday is transformed into victory, life conquers death and love destroys hatred. As we say in one of our prayers, ‘the Father has raised the Lord Jesus and we too have been raised in Him to live a new life for God.’

As we continue this ritual of Baptism, Confirmation and Reception with these good people and later when all of us renew our own Baptismal promises, pray for ourselves and for each other that each of us will be blessed to be a hunter, a searcher, always seeking a deeper understanding and a fuller living of the faith with which we have all been blessed. May we always live in the wonder – Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.



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bulletin – April 12

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

SUNDAY COLLECTION: April 4-5, 2009

Total: $15,397

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $3,052 $4,346 $4,202 $3,797
# of Env. 163 91 204 144

Number of Envelopes Used: 602

ANNOUNCED MASSES

–>

Date Time Intentions
April 13 9:00AM NO MASS
April 14 9:00AM WALTER & ARMONDO DINARDO Requested by The Family
April 15 9:00AM THE SAN JUAN FAMILY Requested by Senen San Juan
April 16 9:00AM VITO VIRGILIO Requested by the Family
April 17 9:00AM JOSEPH NADON Requested by Emily Bird
April 18 9:00AM MICHAEL PALAZZO & CHRISTOPHER DILALLO Requested by The Family
April 2 9:00AM RITA EVELYN WORRALL Requested by Gordon Worrall
April 3 9:00AM MILAGROS GARCIA & PABLO AND LORETO DYSANGCO Requested by Maria Lourdes Luz
April 4 4:30PM GUS CALDERONE Requested by Marie Calderone

CHIDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

The Children’s Liturgy of the Word Group are looking for another adult to help on Sundays at the 10:30 AM Mass. If you are able to help, please contact Tim Lychy at 416-953-0555.

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

Tuesday, April 14th at 7:30 PM
Topic: How the Bible Was Written

Wednesday, April 15th at 10:30 AM
Topic: Let’s Talk About “Eve”
In case of inclement weather, please call Mary Landry at 416-293-3760.

GOD’S PATHWAY CONTINUED

Some of us who attended this series would like to discuss what we learned – or had difficulty with. You are welcome to join us on Wednesday, April 15th at 7:30 in the Library.

ST. GABRIEL’S YOUTH GROUP

There will be a meeting of the St. Gabriel’s Youth Group in the Gabriel Room on Sunday, April 19th after the 12:30 PM Mass. New members are most welcome.

JUST COFFEE

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

Regular ground Coffee: $5
Decaffeinated $6
Whole Beans $5
Chocolate Bars: $4 including taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa; $4.50
Teas: $3.25 to $4.00 by variety

BUNDLE UP WEEKEND

Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th

Spring Cleaning – Year Round!

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be collecting gently used clothing and household linens to support the needy and our residential programs the weekend of May 9th/ 10th. Please bring your donation and help others in your community. Thank you!

The truck will be open Saturday from 1:00PM to 6:00 PM and all day Sunday until 4:00 PM. Volunteers will assist with the loading before and after each Saturday and Sunday Mass.

Easter Monday, April 13

No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed

ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

An earthquake in central Italy on April 6th has left hundreds dead, thousands injured and many, many more homeless. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale, shook the area around L’Aquila, damaging buildings in more than 25 cities and towns. As rescue efforts continue and emergency response teams work with the victims of the natural disaster, relief efforts are underway around the world.

The ShareLife office is accepting donations to support disaster relief efforts in Italy, assisting in the provision of food, shelter, clean water and medical assistance. Working through the Catholic Church’s official relief body, funds will be channeled through our partners to Caritas Italiana.

Those wishing to help may do so in the following ways:
*Online through ShareLife’s website: www.sharelife.org
*By phone through the ShareLife Office 1-800-263-2595 or 416-934-3411
*Through parishes, making your cheques payable to:
ShareLife – Italian Earthquake Relief

We offer our prayers for the thousands of families affected by this natural disaster. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to serve those in need, both at home and around the world. Be assured that ShareLife does not apply any administrative fees to humanitarian relief contributions, ensuring as much money as possible is directed toward assistance of those in crisis.

YOU CAN WORK WONDERS!

“We don’t own anything. It’s really a gift from the Lord; our time, our talent. It’s not ours to cling to; it’s ours to share. The more we cling to things, the more we sink. The more we share generously, the more we live. Life’s to short to just exist. We need to live, live to the fullest, and we do that when we’re not so focused inwards but we’re reaching outward. That’s the way our Lord Jesus calls us to live.”
Most Rev. Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto

2nd ShareLife Collection – May 3rd, 2009.
You can work WONDERS!

NORTH YORK RETIRED MEN’S CLUB

Tuesday, April 14th at 2:00 PM
Blessed Trinity Parish Hall

Guest speaker Bill Johnson will tell us “How MacDonald’s conquered the world one hamburger at a time.” Prospective members are cordially invited.

BABIES! WILL YOU HELP?

Weekend of May 2nd/3rd

Following Maggie O’Rourke’s presentation about ShareLife agency, Rosalie Hall, we have decided to help with the everyday needs of this wonderful organization.

Items that are most needed include:
diapers – infant to 3 years
sleepers, undershirts, new and gently used clothing – 6 months to 3 years
baby formula, baby soap, receiving blankets, burp pads, bibs, pasta, tomato sauce, beans, macaroni and cheese

Items can be dropped off in the playpens and boxes provided in the Gathering Space.

SEPARATED OR DIVORCED CATHOLICS

Catholic Family Services of Toronto is offering a ten week group program for adult men and women who are dealing with the many struggles involved in the process of separation and divorce. The group will run on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM beginning April 14th at the North Office, 5799 Yonge Street, Suite 300.
For further information please contact Mario Esposito at 416-222-0048.

VOCATION DISCERNMENT WEEKEND

Have you wondered seriously if you have a vocation to be a sister, brother, deacon or priest? Are you looking for an opportunity to get away for quiet prayer and reflection to explore this more seriously? A discernment retreat weekend, arranged specifically for this purpose will take place on May 15th to 17th at the Scarboro Mission Centre, 2685 Kingston Road in Toronto. This retreat, intended for persons 18 to 35, is sponsored by the Toronto Area Vocation Directors Association.

For more information, please contact:
Fr. Santo Arrigo C.Ss. R.
Phone: 416-789-3217
Email: vocations@redemptorists.ca

Fr. Len Altilia S.J.
Phone: 416-962-4500
Email: vocation@jesuits.ca

Sr. Dorothy Schweitzer, CSJ
Phone: 416-934-0042
Email: dschweitzer@csj-to.ca



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homily – April 10

Friday, April 10th, 2009

John 18:1-19:42

Though the reading of John’s passion takes a long time, we never tire of hearing it. It is not a fairy tale with a happy ending, it is the harsh accounting of betrayed and denied friendships, a telling of rejected and deserted love, false accusations, unfair trial and condemnation; it’s about the cruel execution of an innocent man. We can see in the suffering servant of whom Isaiah writes the suffering Jesus.

When we look on the broken body of the crucified we realize Christ was wounded for our offences. He bore our infirmities and carried our diseases. When think of this man of sufferings we know he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, punished on our behalf and his many bruises heal us. Each one of us is a very important part of this story. Each one of us has left a mark on the body of the suffering Christ for it is by Christ’s wounds we are healed. Each one of us was on Calvary that dread day because Christ died for us, not as some speck in the mass of humanity, but for each of us individually. St. Paul tells us that Christ suffered for the righteous and the unrighteous in order to bring us to God. Christ died for you, and you and you and me. This is an amazing thing. Christ died for us knowing we are sinners, knowing we are weak and fickle and selfish, Christ died for us knowing we use one another, exploit one another, do violence to one another. Christ died for us knowing we are racists and bigots, and sexist. That’s what love does. Not our love for others but God’s love for us.

St. Paul reminds us that is was while we were still weak Christ died for the ungodly. Rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, a good and worthy person, but it might happen. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. When we look upon the broken, crucified body of Christ we see the love of God made visible, for you, for me.

Let’s imagine we were all there on those crowded streets of Jerusalem. Let’s imagine we were there as those who believed in Jesus and what he taught us about God, His Father, we believed in His miracles, we were willing to try to be the men and women He called us to be.

What would we have done, how would we handle all we saw being done to Jesus? Would we call out that they were killing an innocent man? Would we brave the fury of the whipped up crowd and try to save him, distract the crowd and help him escape? Probably not, we would have lacked courage, been intimidated by the soldiers and the crowd. We would be among the silent majority that allows injustice to go unchallenged.

We’ve all heard the truth that Christ suffers today in our humanity, Christ suffers in his brother and sisters who are the victims of injustice, exploitation, discrimination, prejudice, racism. There is a whole litany of sins common in our city, country and the world that are against the love we recognize today in the Crucified Christ.

We can admit we wouldn’t have done anything then but are we willing to do something today? Are we willing to let our government know we want justice and protection for the nannies and migrant workers who are exploited by agencies here and abroad? Are we willing to speak out in defense of the unborn and the aged? Are willing to let our local politicians know we want them to move on such issues as affordable housing and the proper care of street people? Are we willing to welcome refugees and immigrants to our neighbourhoods and country? Are we generous enough to support food and clothing drives to help those in need?

Years ago there was a book of reflections on the Stations of the Cross. The eighth station is Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem. Reflecting on that Station the author has Jesus saying, “don’t weep for me as I suffered two thousand years ago, weep for me now and I suffer in your next door neighbour, your co-worker. Weep for me now as I suffer in all men, women and children, my brothers and sisters – your brothers and sisters – whose tragic stories you see on the news every day of the week. I suffer in them. Whatever you do for them, you do for Me.”

At the end of the service you will be invited to reverence the cross. I suggest we bring three things with us as approach the cross: sorrow for our sins, thanksgiving for Christ’s great love for us, and a determination to do whatever we can to relieve the sufferings of Christ, as He suffers today in all those who are innocent victims of any and all sins against their humanity. Whatever you do to one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do to Me.



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homily – April 5

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Mark 14:1 – 15:47

Today we begin our Holy Week – the most important week in our Christian year. We’ve just listened to Mark’s account of the Passion of Jesus – Mark’s is the first recorded telling of the Passion.

Mark’s gospel never stressed the physical suffering of Jesus – he simply writes “they led him away and crucified him,” Mark writes the reality that Jesus was alone, abandoned, betrayed, morally lonely, hung out to dry. Physical pain is one thing – we can point to a broken leg – but emotional pain, pain of the heart is hidden – we can look as healthy as a horse but be devastated within, suffering our own emotional crucifixion. Jesus suffered the loneliness of moral integrity, of fidelity to His life’s task.

As we begin to live this week as a parish family I think the most important message of today’s scripture reading is found in the first few words of our second reading – “have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Scripture scholars maintain Paul was quoting from a very early Christian hymn.

A hymn that sings of a wonder – From his rightful place as God’s equal, Jesus leapt down from heaven, from his royal throne – he emptied himself, in order to enter completely in the foibles and fragilities of our human existence. In fact he even went further – for our sakes Jesus accepted the indignity of a criminal’s death on the cross. Because of this God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name that can be named – so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend – in heaven and earth and under the earth – and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. The emptied and the glorified Christ.

Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus – this is the life long struggle of every Christian – to have the mind of Christ – to think as Christ would think, see as He would see, hear as He would hear – forgive as He forgave, especially love as He would love and so be a source of life to others. This is the pattern by which followers of Jesus are to frame and direct our lives

Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus – who always did the will of His Father – who came that we might have life and have it in abundance – Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus who knew that it is in dying we are born to eternal life.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass and begin this Holy Week, we can pray for ourselves and for each other that during this holy week God’s gift to all of us will be “the mind” that was in Christ Jesus our Lord – so that the Father can say of us what He said of Christ – this is my beloved in whom I am well pleased.



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bulletin – April 5

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

LENTEN AND EASTER SCHEDULE 2009

Holy Thursday

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

Good Friday

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

Holy Saturday

April 11
Confessions 11:00 AM to 12 Noon
No 4:30 PM Mass
8:30 PM Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday

April 12
Masses 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM

Easter Monday

April 13
No 9:00 AM Mass
Office closed

EXTRA PARKING AT ELKHORN PUBLIC SCHOOL

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Good Friday Evening at 7:30 PM.

While remembering the passion of Jesus, we also prayerfully reflect on the passion of Christ as it is experienced in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters today. Please try to join us on Friday evening.

SUNDAY COLLECTION: March 28-29, 2009

Total: $9,704

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $2,684 $1,565 $2,824 $2,631
# of Env. 139 83 150 108

Number of Envelopes Used: 480

GOD’S PATHWAY CONTINUED

Some of us who attended this series would like to discuss what we learned – or had difficulty with. You are welcome to join us on Wednesday, April 15th at 7:30 in the Library.

REMEMBRANCE MEAL OF THE PASSOVER

Wednesday, April 8th at 7:00 PM in the Gabriel Room

This annual parish event is again being sponsored by the Pastoral team. Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew liturgical calendar. It has been observed by the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. Passover is a religious family meal celebrating Jewish freedom from slavery. It occurs in the spring, the time of renewal in “Nissan”, the first month of the Hebrew year, and it lasts for eight days. Why do we 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. Please call the Parish Office at 416-221-8866 by Monday, April 6th to book your table of 6 or 8, or to have your name added to a table.

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

Tuesday, April 14th at 7:30 PM
Topic: How the Bible Was Written

Wednesday, April 15th at 10:30 AM
Topic: What is “The Will of God”?

In case of inclement weather, please call Mary Landry at 416-293-3760.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

–>

Date Time Intentions
April 6 9:00AM LUCIA MANCINELLI Requested by Lily and Family
April 7 9:00AM DAVID SHELDRICK Requested by Teresa Sheldrick
April 8 9:00AM KAROL GODLEWSKI Requested by a Friend
April 2 9:00AM RITA EVELYN WORRALL Requested by Gordon Worrall
April 3 9:00AM MILAGROS GARCIA & PABLO AND LORETO DYSANGCO Requested by Maria Lourdes Luz
April 4 4:30PM GUS CALDERONE Requested by Marie Calderone

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

The Children’s Liturgy of the Word Group are looking for another adult to help on Sundays at the 10:30 AM Mass. If you are able to help, please contact Tim Lychy at 416-953-0555.

GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 83 casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for March. For April, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of April 25/26 for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre

More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. If you require more information or would like to get a copy of the recipe and a casserole pan, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.

YOU CAN WORK WONDERS!

It’s a wonder more seniors don’t fall through the cracks…

“I love it here. There’s so much to do in the building: we have a seniors social once a week, exercise class, they have computer rooms. We laugh and we joke and we play cards. I find all the benefits great. You’re not alone. People are friendly. This place may not be here if it wasn’t for the support of the people who donate to ShareLife.”
Rose, resident of Loyola Arrupe Centre for Seniors

2nd ShareLife Collection – May 3rd, 2009.
You can work WONDERS!

TORONTO CATHOLIC SINGLES ASSOCIATION

The Toronto Catholic Singles Association is a non-profit social and recreational club for Catholic singles of all ages. Our mandate is to foster Catholic fellowship through a program of social, recreational, spiritual and volunteering events. Annual membership is $10.

For more information and to make a request to join, please visit http://torontocatholicsingles.vpweb.ca or write to us at:
Toronto Catholic Singles Association,
P.O. Box 45112, 5845 Yonge Street,
North York, Ontario, M2M 4K3

SEPARATED OR DIVORCED CATHOLICS

Catholic Family Services of Toronto is offering a ten week group program for adult men and women who are dealing with the many struggles involved in the process of separation and divorce. The group will run on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM beginning April 14th at the North Office, 5799 Yonge Street, Suite 300
For further information please contact Mario Esposito at 416-222-0048.

BUNDLE UP WEEKEND

Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be collecting gently used clothing and household linens for those in need on the weekend of May 9th and 10th. There is a particular need for textiles and footwear. Please note that mattresses and appliances cannot be accepted.

A St. Vincent de Paul truck will be parked on the upper parking lot opposite the garden. Volunteers will assist with loading before and after each of the Masses on Saturday and Sunday.

THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC MISSION, 2009

Program 1:
Monday, April 6th – 9:00 PM
(repeated at 11:00 PM)

Program 2:
Tuesday, April 7th – 9:00 PM
(repeated at 11:00 PM)

The host of the Mission, “Reflections of Lent” is Most Reverend Paul-Andre Durocher, the much loved Bishop who launched the first National Catholic Mission in the year 2000.

For more information, please contact the National Catholic Broadcasting Council at 1-888-383-6277 or at www.canadiandailymass.com.

VOCATION DISCERNMENT WEEKEND

Have you wondered seriously if you have a vocation to be a sister, brother, deacon or priest? Are you looking for an opportunity to get away for quiet prayer and reflection to explore this more seriously? A discernment retreat weekend, arranged specifically for this purpose will take place on May 15th to 17th at the Scarboro Mission Centre, 2685 Kingston Road in Toronto. This retreat, intended for persons 18 to 35, is sponsored by the Toronto Area Vocation Directors Association.

For more information, please contact:
Fr. Santo Arrigo C.Ss. R.
Phone: 416-789-3217
Email: vocations@redemptorists.ca

Fr. Len Altilia S.J.
Phone: 416-962-4500
Email: vocation@jesuits.ca

Sr. Dorothy Schweitzer, CSJ
Phone: 416-934-0042
Email: dschweitzer@csj-to.ca



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