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bulletin – October 21

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

HOLOCAUST EDUCATION WEEK

For many years St. Gabriel’s Parish has participated in the annual Holocaust Education week. On Wednesday evening, November 8th at 7:30 PM there will be a showing of a documentary ” A Debt to Honor”, narrated by Alan Alda, describing how 30,000 Jewish men, women and children evaded the Nazis with the help of Italian citizens. Our guest speaker will be Ms. Esther Bem who was sheltered by an Italian family. We hope that the Italian Counsel General will be with us to speak on the same subject.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
Oct. 30 9:00AM TULIO RAMIREZ req Family
Nov. 1 9:00AM
Nov. 2 9:00AM SYD SEDGWICK req Ladies Craft Group
Nov. 3 4:30PM GUS CALDERONE req Marie & Family

SUNDAY COLLECTION: October 13/14, 2007

Total: $10,370

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $2,092 $1,928 $3,120 $3,230
# of Env. 125 81 153 92

REGISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTS

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN

For families registered in this parish. If your child does not go to St. Gabriel’s School but wishes to receive the sacrament of Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, or Confirmation, please pick up a REGISTRATION FORM in the Parish office. These forms should be returned to the Parish Office with a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate (for First Communion and Confirmation) as soon as possible.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM & ST. GABRIEL’S SCHOOL STUDENTS

Parents please bring completed registration forms to the parish office (Gabriel room) on any of the following evenings between 7:30 – 9:00 PM – Tuesday, October 23rd. A photocopy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate needs to accompany the registration for First Communion and Confirmation.

ATTENTION PARENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION

OCTOBER 24TH 7:30 – 9:00 PM
This meeting is for the parents of children receiving their Confirmation this year. This is an information evening about the Confirmation process, so it is VERY IMPORTANT TO BE PRESENT. If you would like more information contact Otto Schmidt at 416 226 – 2332.

CONFIRMATION ENROLLMENT CEREMONY will be held on SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11TH AT 12:30 PM MASS

During the 12:30 PM Mass all confirmation candidates will be acknowledged at the altar. All confirmants who attend St. Gabriel’s School, the Children’s Faith Program and Private Schools are invited to attend. Please note that registrations for Confirmation will not be accepted on or after this date.

CEREMONY OF THE BLESSING OF THE SICK

WILL BE AT 3:00 PM ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007.

The Sacrament of the anointing of the sick is one of the Seven Sacraments. This Sacrament is celebrated with those who are seriously ill, those who are preparing for surgery, and the elderly. The preferred place for celebrating this Sacrament is in the Church with family and the members of the parish community present. All are more than welcome to attend.

HAUNTED HOUSE EVENT

The YOUTH GROUP will have their annual HAUNTED HOUSE EVENT in the Gabriel room on Sunday October 28th after the 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Masses. Tickets are $2.00 per person, available at the door. Everyone is welcome.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

For children 4 – 10 years old on Sundays at the 10:30 AM Mass. We are in need of volunteers to help us interpret the readings through discussion and activities. If you are interested call Tim Lychy at 416-953-0555 or email: tim@dibrinasure.com

A NEW MINISTRY!

The parish is looking to establish a new ministry to serve elderly parishioners and others with special needs who might require transportation to and from Church on Saturdays/Sundays, and to medical appointments. First we would like to ascertain the need of the community in this regard. At the same time, we are seeking volunteers who would like to participate in this ministry. Any parishioners who would like to avail themselves of such a service OR who can volunteer to help, please contact Fatima Lee at 416 221-8866.

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

The topics we have chosen are varied – a mixture of church history, church teachings and scripture. You are welcome to join us whenever you can. For further information call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866 ext. 224.
Next meetings: Tuesday evening, October 30th at 7:30 PM
Wednesday morning, October 31st at 10:30 AM.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses next weekend for
delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to get a copy of the casserole recipe
and a pan and give it a try. For more information, please contact Irene Albrecht at 416-221-2791.

BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE

is hosting a General Meeting, “Back to Grass Roots” on October 24th. Keynote speaker: Pat Cross (CWL Archdiocesan Council Past President 2005-2007). The meeting will be held at 1:15PM and again at 7:00PM to ensure that everyone interested is able to attend, whether they work during the day or have commitments in the evening. There will be an overview and explanation of the different aspects of being a CWL member. There will also be an open forum. Refreshments will be provided. All the ladies (all ages) of St. Gabriel’s Parish are invited.

DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

a Catholic co-educational, private school for students in grades 5 to 12, will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, October 17th from 7:00PM to 9:00PM for prospective students and their families for the academic year 2008 – 2009. The school is located at 131 Farnham Ave. Please contact the Office of Admissions at 416 969 – 8771, ext. 228 for more information.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MISSIONARY PRIEST OR LAY MISSIONER?

Is this something that has crossed your mind or stirred your curiosity? If so, come join us for an informative and reflective Overnight Retreat starting on Friday evening November 9th, concluding with supper on Saturday, November 10th at Scarboro Missions, 2685 Kingston Road, Scarborough, ON. If you feel you might be called by God to be a missionary priest or lay missioner, we invite you to walk with us…it may change your life forever! To register contact us at 416 261-7135 ext 265 or ext 213 or email us at lmo@scarboromissions.ca

40th ANNIVERSARY OF DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Saturday October 27th at 2:00 PM
Archbishop Collins will preside at a special liturgy at St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph St., Toronto followed by a reception. The Canadian Bishops who founded Development and Peace have provided over $500 million to support 14,665 projects in 70 countries. For information contact jleahy@csj-to.ca



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homily – October 14

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

Luke 17:11-19

We all know about the antagonism between the Jews and the Samaritans. One time Jesus and some of His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem and looked for lodging in a Samaritan town but because they were heading for Jerusalem they were refused hospitality. Because of this deep animosity there was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans.

Jesus grew up influenced by that animosity. The Samaritans were different, they were to be avoided. It took Him time to overcome this mind set as it took him time to overcome the normal mind set of the place of women in society. It took Him time to see the goodness in these people who practiced a faith close to but different from His own. Faced with the formalistic, lifeless religious leadership of His day, the strict observance of formalities, He would point to the Samaritans, the outsiders, as examples of those who lived their faith in God in far deeper ways than His own people.

We all know good people who do not share our faith but who live lives that express our faith better than we do ourselves in their compassion and care for others, in their sense of justice and fairness. In many ways they put us to shame.

Jesus often uses the Samaritans as examples of good people who are far better at living out the spirit of the law than His own people who gave the Law nothing but lip service. It was more than annoying to the scribes and Pharisees to have these heretics praised by Jesus. Today’s gospel is one example of such praise and then there is the example of the good Samaritan who cared for a total stranger, a stranger the priest and Levite avoided as much as possible lest they become unclean. We have the example of Jesus breaking the taboo of talking with the Samaritan woman at the well and offering her a new vision of both their faiths.

After cleansing the ten lepers from their dread disease Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests who would verify their being clean and welcome them back into the very society that excluded them. The cleansed Samaritan would not have been accepted by the priests so he doesn’t bother going, instead he returns to Jesus to thank him for the way in which He turned his life around.

There were other occasions when Jesus involved Himself in the lives of people who were non Jews. The Syro-Phoenician woman whose daughter was so ill. She begged Him for help and He cured her daughter and praised this woman’s great faith.

So often when we hear this gospel we think that its main point is the need for gratitude. We admire the effort of the Samaritan to come back to Jesus and thank Him, we wonder at the ingratitude of the other nine.

Maybe we could hear this gospel from another point of view- the view of Jesus as he recognizes and praises the goodness of this Samaritan, just as He recognized and praised the faith and generosity of others who did not share His Jewish faith and traditions. Jesus knew that God lives and loves in and through the lives of men and women who did not share His faith. He knew that God was praised and manifested in the lives of good people of any nationality. Peter came to that conviction through his association with the pagan Cornelius when he said, ‘the truth I have come to realize is this, that any person of any nationality who does what is right is acceptable to God.’

As we continue to celebrate this Eucharist together, we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we be graced to understand this awesome truth; that God’s grace and love and power is not confined to the Catholic church, nor the Christian faith and that good men and women of other faiths and even no faith are the instruments of God’s love and grace and mercy, in this world, maybe even to us.



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bulletin – October 14

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS – OCTOBER 19

St. Paul of the Cross was the founder of the Passionists (1720). Born in northern Italy in 1694, Paul experienced conversion at the age of 15 and began a lifetime of devotion to prayer and austerity. At age 20 he tried life as a soldier, but left after one year. Six years later, having had several visions, he determined that his vocation was to found an order dedicated to the Passion of our Lord. Officials declared the visions authentic and Paul withdrew to write a rule. He was joined by his brother, who remained with him for the rest of his life. By 1747, the Passionists had three houses and were preaching missions throughout Italy. At his death in 1775, Paul was establishing a congregation for Passionist nuns.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
Oct. 16 9:00AM FELICISIMO SORIASO req Family
Oct. 18 9:00AM PATRICIA CHIN req Hubert & Janice Lee
Oct. 19 9:00AM SYD SEDGWICK req Astrid Martin & Family
Oct. 20 4:30PM KEN OW-YONG req Helen Ow-Yong

SUNDAY COLLECTION: October 6/7, 2007

Total: $8,226

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $2,141 $1,671 $2,406 $2,008
# of Env. 112 78 115 85

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY – OCTOBER 20/21

There will be a second collection next weekend to help with the work of evangelization around the world. Envelopes are in the pews.

REGISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTS

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN

For families registered in this parish. If your child does not go to St. Gabriel’s School but wishes to receive the sacrament of Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, or Confirmation, please pick up a REGISTRATION FORM in the Parish office. These forms should be returned to the Parish Office with a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate (for First Communion and Confirmation) as soon as possible.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM & ST. GABRIEL’S SCHOOL STUDENTS

Parents please bring completed registration forms to the parish office (Gabriel room) on any of the following evenings between 7:30 – 9:00 PM – Wednesday, October 17th; or Tuesday, October 23rd. A photocopy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate needs to accompany the registration for First Communion and Confirmation.

ATTENTION PARENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION

OCTOBER 24TH 7:30 – 9:00 PM

This meeting is for the parents of children receiving their Confirmation this year. This is an information evening about the Confirmation process, so it is VERY IMPORTANT TO BE PRESENT. If you would like more information contact Otto Schmidt at 416 226 – 2332.

A NEW MINISTRY!

The parish is looking to establish a new ministry to serve elderly parishioners and others with special needs who might require transportation to and from Church on Saturdays/Sundays, and to medical appointments. First we would like to ascertain the need of the community in this regard. At the same time, we are seeking volunteers who would like to participate in this ministry. Any parishioners who would like to avail themselves of such a service OR who can volunteer to help, please contact Fatima Lee at 416 221-8866.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

For children 4 – 10 years old on Sundays at the 10:30 AM Mass.
We are in need of volunteers to help us interpret the readings through discussion and activities. If you are interested call Tim Lychy at 416-953-0555 or email: tim@dibrinasure.com

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

The topics we have chosen are varied – a mixture of church history, church teachings and scripture. You are welcome to join us whenever you can. Next meetings:
Tuesday evening, October 16th at 7:30 PM
Wednesday morning, October 17th at 10:30 AM.
For further information call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866 ext. 224.

CEREMONY OF THE BLESSING OF THE SICK

WILL BE AT 3:00 PM ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007.
The Sacrament of the anointing of the sick is one of the Seven Sacraments. This Sacrament is celebrated with those who are seriously ill, those who are preparing for surgery, and the elderly. The preferred place for celebrating this Sacrament is in the Church with family and the members of the parish community present. All are more than welcome to attend.

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 incl. taxes
Hot Chocolate and Cocoa: $4.50
Teas: $3.25 to $4 by variety

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 38 casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for September. For October, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of October 27/28 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.

Blessed Trinity Catholic Women’s League

is hosting a General Meeting, “Back to Grass Roots” on October 24th. Keynote speaker: Pat Cross (CWL Archdiocesan Council Past President 2005-2007). The meeting will be held at 1:15PM and again at 7:00PM to ensure that everyone interested is able to attend, whether they work during the day or have commitments in the evening. There will be an overview and explanation of the different aspects of being a CWL member. There will also be an open forum. Refreshments will be provided. All the ladies (all ages) of St. Gabriel’s Parish are invited.

DE LA SALLE COLLEGE

a Catholic co-educational, private school for students in grades 5 to 12, will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday, October 17th from 7:00PM to 9:00PM for prospective students and their families for the academic year 2008 – 2009. The school is located at 131 Farnham Ave. Please contact the Office of Admissions at 416-969-8771, ext. 228 for more information.



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homily – October 7

Sunday, October 7th, 2007

Luke 17:5-10

I’d like you to fantasize this scene: it’s Thanksgiving Day. The mother of the family spends the day preparing the thanksgiving meal. She cooks the turkey, makes homemade pies and cookies; she does the vegetables, sets the tables and then calls the family to supper. She serves the meal and enjoys the company of the family. At the end of the meal the rest of the family gets up from the table and heads to the rec room to watch Monday night football. She stands there and shakes her head in disbelief and says, “isn’t anyone going to say ‘thank you’?” The family turns from watching TV and says, “well sure, thanks, great meal, but isn’t that what you are supposed to do as wife and mother?” In other words, you have done only what you ought to have done.

Don’t even try to imagine the atomic explosion that hit that house after such a question, isn’t that what you are supposed to do?

The story Jesus tells in the gospel and especially the last sentence we heard seems awfully harsh. “When you have done all you were ordered to do, say “we are worthless slaves and we have done only what we ought to have done.” Thanks a lot.

At the beginning of the gospel we hear the apostles asking for an increase of faith – a greater strength to trust Jesus and His teaching. They were stunned by Jesus’ teaching about the dangers of wealth and the blessedness of the poor. His demand that He come first in their lives, before mother, father, brothers or sisters was quite severe. This was all new to them. They wondered if they could handle it all. So they ask,”Lord increase our faith.” In other words give us strength we need to trust you and the things to which you call us.

We’ve been taught that faith is a gift, something we can’t earn, something freely given. This gift gives us the ability to trust the truth that we are loved by God, trust the truth that Jesus loved us with such intensity that He was willing to die for us, live the truth that we are brothers and sisters to all who come into our lives.

We are not entitled to our faith, we are entrusted with it and so we are expected to accept and live the deepest truths of our faith; that we are created of love, for love and are to return to that love. As the church prays, ‘love is our origin and love is our constant calling, love is our fulfillment in heaven.’ In living our lives as Christian people, struggling to live the great commandment, “love on another as I have loved you” we are doing only what we ought to do.

This gift of faith is given us so that we who believe may become more like the person in whom we believe. This gift is given so that we who believe may ‘put on Christ’ in the way we live our lives, in all its dimensions.

In the story Jesus tells He would identify Himself with the servant, not the master. In His passion and death He did what He ought to have done, He kept His commitment to do the will of the Father, no matter what the cost. “I have come to do Your will.”

Take for example the person who is gifted, entrusted with the ability to play a musical instrument. They will practice and practice to develop that gift and in doing so they will have done only what they ought to have done with their gift. To say that is not belittling their efforts but it is recognizing the fact that they have appreciated the gift entrusted to them. In doing so they have given glory to the gracious God Who so gifted them. This can be said of any of the gifts and talents a person may have.

We’ve been entrusted with our Christian faith, a gift that requires of us we seek to become more like the person in whom we believe. This is a lifetime struggle and there are times when that struggle becomes quite intense, when we suffer the death of one we love, when we are hit with serious illness, when we lose a job, when we are hit with a situation that leaves us spinning and we question the very existence of God and beg from the bottom of our hearts, ‘increase our faith’.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass, we can pray for ourselves and for each other that we treasure the gift of faith entrusted to us, a gift to which we were not entitled. May each of us seek to become more like the person in whom we believe and accept the reality that in all our efforts to live a Christian life, we are doing only what we ought to do.



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bulletin – October 7

Sunday, October 7th, 2007

Horn of Plenty

God has given us the earth to be our homeland. Along with this gift, we are asked to show our thankfulness by caring for the earth and by sharing our own gifts with one another.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE – GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES

The Brothers of the Good Shepherd are asking for our assistance during the Thanksgiving Season. You may participate by bringing non-perishable food items to the Church from now until October 14th. The following is a list of urgently needed items: canned vegetables and meats, rice, canned soups and stews, cold breakfast cereals, cookies, tea, ketchup, instant and ground coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, powdered milk, powdered fruit juice, powdered soup bases (chicken & beef), paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Kindly drop off your donations at the front doors of the Church and place them in the designated containers. Your donations will allow their kitchen staff and volunteers to prepare and serve an average of 750 meals and snacks daily. You have always supported this appeal so generously. Please keep up the good work.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
Oct. 9 9:00AM MARGARET HARBER req Marguerite Veecock
Oct. 11 9:00AM C.F. DAN req Winnie Lewis & Henrietta Lin & Families
Oct. 12 9:00AM ZORE MEJAC req Tilka Rak
Oct. 13 4:30PM PATRICIA RODRIGUES req Ida & Tony

SUNDAY COLLECTION: September 29/30, 2007

Total: $8,390

–>

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose
Env. $
Total $1,659 $1,775 $2,570 $2,386
# of Env. 100 101 150 96

REGISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTS

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN

For families registered in this parish. If your child does not go to St. Gabriel’s School but wishes to receive the sacrament of Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, or Confirmation, please pick up a REGISTRATION FORM in the Parish office. These forms should be returned to the Parish Office with a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate (for First Communion and Confirmation) as soon as possible.

CHILDREN’S FAITH PROGRAM & ST. GABRIEL’S SCHOOL STUDENTS

Parents please bring completed registration forms to the parish office (Gabriel room) on any of the following evenings between 7:30 – 9:00 PM: Thursday, October 11th; Wednesday, October 17th; or Tuesday, October 23rd. A photocopy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate needs to accompany the registration for First Communion and Confirmation.

A NEW MINISTRY!

The parish is looking to establish a new ministry to serve elderly parishioners and others with special needs who might require transportation to and from Church on Saturdays/Sundays, and to medical appointments. First we would like to ascertain the need of the community in this regard. At the same time, we are seeking volunteerswho would like to participate in this ministry. Any parishioners who would like to avail themselves of such a service OR who can volunteer to help, please contact Fatima Lee at 416 221-8866.

NEW ALTAR SERVERS

If you are in Grade 5 or higher and are interested in becoming an altar server, you may contact Thomas Li at 416 756-4995. The orientation and training for the new members will be held on Saturday, October 13th from 2:30 to 4:15 PM in the Church.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

For children 4 – 10 years old on Sundays at the 10:30 AM Mass. We are in need of volunteers to help us interpret the readings through discussion and activities. If you are interested call Tim Lychy at 416-953-0555 or email: tim@dibrinasure.com

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION – PARENTS ONLY MEETING

OCTOBER 24TH 7:30 – 9:00 PM
This meeting, which will take place in the Church, is for the parents of children receiving their Confirmation this year.

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

For the past few years, Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings have been devoted to religious topics decided on by those who wish to participate. We have studied and discussed parts of the Bible, Church history, viewed videos, listened to tapes and read short but substantial books about Christ and the Church. On Tuesday evening, October 16th at 7:30 PM or if you prefer Wednesday morning, October 17th at 10:30 AM we will discuss what we wish to study through the fall. If you are interested, please come with your questions, your “puzzlements”, your concerns and your interests about the faith (and sometimes doubts) we share. For further information call Mary Landry at 416-221-8866 ext. 224.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 38 casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre for September. For October, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of October 27/28 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.

TO CELEBRATE OUR NEW CHURCH

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2007 AT 8:00PM
This inaugural recital celebrating our new Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece Opus 680 organ will feature the internationally acclaimed organist Hector Olivera live in concert at St. Gabriel’s Church in our worship space. Admission is $10.00 at the door (students and seniors $5.00).

CEREMONY OF THE BLESSING OF THE SICK

WILL BE AT 3:00 PM ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007.
The Sacrament of the anointing of the sick is one of the Seven Sacraments. This Sacrament is celebrated with those who are seriously ill, those who are preparing for surgery, and the elderly. The preferred place for celebrating this Sacrament is in the Church with family and the members of the parish community present. All are more than welcome to attend.



Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on bulletin – October 7

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