WE NEED YOUR HELP
“As we pass the basket from person to person, we are reminded that the financial burden of the Church is a responsibility we all share.”
St Gabriel’s parishioners have always been generous. Over the past year, however, our weekly collections have not been keeping up with inflation and our operating expenses.
- If you already contribute regularly, thank you. If you are able, please consider increasing your weekly donation.
- If you have not been contributing, we ask you to start – every donation is important, no matter how small.
We encourage everyone to use envelopes. This is the only way you can receive a tax credit for your donation. Pick up a box in the Parish Office.
Thank you.
The Parish Financial Committee
Christmas & New Year’s Schedule
| CONFESSIONS | SAT | DEC 20th | 10:00 am to 12 Noon and 7:30 to 9:00 PM |
| CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES | WED | DEC 24th | 7:00 PM Family Mass – Carol Singing |
| 9:00 PM Mass – Adult Choir – Carol Singing | |||
| 12:00 AM Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group | |||
| CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES | THUR | DEC 25th | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| OFFICE CLOSED – BOXING DAY | WED | DEC 26th | NO MASS |
| FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY | SAT | DEC 27th | 4:30 PM |
| SUN | DEC 28th | 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM | |
| NEW YEARS’ EVE | WED | DEC 31st | NO MASS |
| NEW YEARS’ DAY MASSES | THUR | JAN 1st | 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM |
ANNOUNCED MASSES
| Date | Time | Intentions |
| December 16 | 9:00AM | HAMON YVON Requested by Noel Yvon |
| December 18 | 9:00AM | MARIA DIDIODATO Requested by the Rochford Family |
| December 19 | 9:00AM | UMBERTO INTINI Requested by the Chiara Family |
| December 20 | 4:30PM | KATHI WATTS Requested by Philip & Kathi Leah |
SUNDAY COLLECTION: December 6-7, 2008
Total: $17,058
| 4:30 | 8:30 | 10:30 | 12:30 | Loose |
| Env. $ | ||||
| Total | $4,462 | $2,492 | $3,588 | $6,516 |
| # of Env. | 132 | 85 | 160 | 96 |
Number of Envelopes Issued: 1136
Number of Envelopes Used: 473
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2009
The 2009 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are ready for pick up in the Gathering Space today. It is important that you throw away all envelopes from previous years as your number might have been assigned to another family. Please enter your full name and address on each envelope so that we may allocate donations correctly for income tax purposes. If you do not have envelopes and would like a box, contact the Parish Office at 416-221-8866.
UPDATING OUR PARISH RECORDS
We are updating our Parish Records. If you are a new parishioner and have not yet registered, please fill out a registration card which may be obtained at the Parish Office. If you have recently moved, please let us know your new address so that our records will be correct. Parish Office: 416-221-8866
TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES
Wednesday, January 7th at 10:00 AM
Topic: Movie: “Romero
Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 PM
Topic: The Bible: How the New Testament was written
CHILDREN’S CHOIR FAMILY MASS – CHRISTMAS EVE AT 7:00 PM
Practice: Sunday, December 21, 3:00 PM – 4:30 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 6:00PM. There is only one practice and it is mandatory. Practice is on Sunday, December 21st from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. For further information you may call Marilyn Calderone at 416-221-8866, Ext. 227
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, December 21st, 3:00PM to 4:30PM
S.K. to Grade 5 children are invited to participate in the pageant. Please call Anne Murphy at 416-512-0340.
“SURPRISE IS TO GRATITUDE AS COSMOGENESIS IS TO ADVENT”
THE Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality in cooperation with
The Elliot Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology University of St. Michael’s College, Faculty of Theology Presents
ADVENT/WINTER SOLSTICE EVENING OF REFLECTION
The annual Advent/Winter Solstice Evening of Reflection will be held on Sunday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gabriel room. Because the feast of Christmas was deliberately timed to coincide with the darkness of the winter’s solstice, there is a link between theological meaning and cosmological setting. Join us for a guided exploration of the relevance of these theological and cosmological connections to today’s ecological challenges. This year’s theme is: “Surprise is to Gratitude as Cosmogenesis is to Advent.” To register or for more information, please contact Dennis O’Hara at dennis.ohara@utoronto.ca or 416-926-1300, ext. 3408. No fee.
ST.VINCENT DE PAUL
Christmas Offering envelopes for the St. Vincent de Paul Society are available at the back of the Church. Your donations enable the Society to help those in need. At this time of year, they try to provide a little extra to add to their Christmas celebration. Your generosity is much appreciated.
CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE
Sunday, December 14th
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 until next Sunday, December 14th.
CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
The brothers could use our help during the Christmas Season. Please bring non-perishable food items such as: canned soups and stews, powdered milk, instant and ground coffee, canned tuna or salmon, canned meats, canned fruit juices, powdered soup bases, hot chocolate, cooking spices and cold breakfast cereals. Kindly leave donations at the doors of the Church in the designated containers.
CHRISTMAS SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO MOURN
Tuesday, December 16th at 7:30 PM
Forest grove United Church
43 Forest Grove Drive, North York
This ecumenical service is sponsored by the Bayview-Sheppard Ministerial Group (including Chaplains of North York General Hospital and Seniors’ Health Centre) with the hope that the light of Christ will bring peace and comfort to people in the North York community who are bereaved or troubled, or for whom Christmas may be a difficult time.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT – A CONCERT LIKE NO OTHER!
On Saturday, December 13th at 7:30, a group of talented youth from St. Margaret Mary Church in Woodbridge and Cardinal Carter will come together to celebrate the Christmas season with a fabulous MULTILINGUAL Christmas Concert, hosted at St. Gabriel’s Church. The evening will feature traditional and non-traditional festive songs that encompass different genres of music such as classical, pop, soul and jazz! Instruments include the violin, bass, guitar, drums and piano. This is a holiday community concert that you do not want to miss! The concert is $5 at the door, with proceeds going to support the Passionist Missions.
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY
“HOPE FOR THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION”
The Catholic Children’s Aid Society is inviting families to assist them in providing some little extras, such as new clothing, new toys, food vouchers and /or gift certificates to bring the joy of the season to one of their families. If you are willing to provide a donation or adopt-a-family, please call 416-395-1634 or email info@hopeforthechildren.ca.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
