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bulletin – October 1

Sunday, October 1st, 2006

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
Oct. 3 9:00AM JOHN McDONALD req Mary & Family
Oct. 5 9:00AM
Oct. 6 9:00AM KATHLEEN PAOLINI req Family
Oct. 7 4:30PM PETER BERGMANS req Family

SUNDAY COLLECTION: September 23/24, 2006

Total: $8,103.78

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose 99.00 102.17 204.10 404.77
Env. $ 2,003.00 1,746.25 2,666.00 1,233.60
Total 2,102.00 1,848.42 2,870.10 1,638.37
# of Env. 110 87 141 79

RCIA – RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

ATTENTION – THESE EVENINGS ARE FOR PERSONS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

This is an invitation to come to our first meeting OCTOBER 4th AT 7:30PM in the Library.

Come with your questions, your curiosity, your point of view. They will be the basis of our discussions.

TO OUR PARISHIONERS: Because our Parish Community is considered the official teacher and guide for possible new members, it is important that some of you help by being present and by sharing your faith in various ways that are comfortable to you.

ADULT CATHOLICS: who wish to celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation are welcome also.

For more information, please call Mary Landry at 416 – 221 – 8866 ext. 224

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

Time to study, time to learn about religious topics that interest you, puzzle you, concern you. We meet every second Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning, we have two separate groups who meet alternate Wednesdays.

TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 3RD AT 7:30PM

WEDNESDAY MORNING, ECOLOGY GROUP, OCTOBER 4TH AT 10:30AM

YOUTH CHOIR

Grade 3 to University. Please join us for practice on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8:00PM. All are welcome!

ALTAR SERVERS

I invite any girl or boy from grade 5 and upwards to join our Altar Servers. This is an important ministry in our parish. Mr. Tom Li, who is in charge of our Altar Servers, will be holding a training session on Sunday afternoon, October 22. If you are interested in serving the parish in this way, please call the parish office and leave your name and phone number or speak to me after one of the Masses.
Fr. Paul

REGISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTS

PUBLIC/PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN

Registered parishioners, with school-aged children in public or private schools who wish to receive one or more of the sacraments, may pick up a registration form in the main office at any time. Please bring completed forms and related documents to the parish office.

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

Parents, please bring completed registration forms and relevant documents to the parish office on any of the following days: OCT. 10 (Tue), OCT. 11 (Wed), or OCT 17 (Tue) between 7:30 and 9:00 PM.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

for children 4 to 10 years old, takes place each Sunday during the 10:30 AM Mass. For information please contact Tim Lychy at 416-225-4069.

ENGLISH ROSARY GROUP

will meet on Saturday October 7th at 1:00 PM in the Library.

CHINESE ROSARY GROUP

will meet on Sunday October 8th at 3:30 PM in the Library.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE – GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES

We have received our annual appeal from the Brothers of the Good Shepherd for our assistance during the Thanksgiving Season. You can participate by bringing non-perishable food items on the weekends of September 24th, October 1st, October 8th and also on Thanksgiving Day, Oct. 9th. The following is a list of urgently needed items: canned vegetables and meats, rice, canned soups and stews, cold breakfast cereals, cookies, tea, instant and ground coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, powdered milk, powdered fruit juice, powdered soup bases (chicken & beef), ketchup, paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Kindly drop off your donations at the front doors of the Church and place them in the designated containers. You have always supported this appeal so generously. Please keep up the good work.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 25 casseroles for September. For October, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of October 28/29 for delivery to the Centre. More volunteers are encouraged to become active in helping to feed our less fortunate sisters and brothers. We would like to return to the monthly number of casseroles we had last year, which were about double this month’s total. 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.

SOCIAL CLUB

The parish is creating a social club for all people between 20 and 30 years of age. Whether you want to network or meet people to hang around with, you are welcome! Our first meeting will be in the Church (date to be determined). All who would like to join or who need more information are asked to email Felipe Sanchez Rijckewaert at: stgabes.socialgrp@gmail.com



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homily – September 24

Sunday, September 24th, 2006

Entrance Antiphon

I’d like to say a few words on what is called the Entrance Antiphon for today’s Mass. We usually don’t say this antiphon because we have an entrance hymn. It goes, “I am the savior of all peoples, says the Lord. Whatever their troubles I will answer their cry and I will always be their Lord.”

The other night I was watching Billy Graham’s daughter on TV. She’s written a new book and was being interviewed on it. The gist of her message and book was – unless you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior you cannot be saved. That’s it. She kept quoting Scripture — I am the way the truth and the life – No one can come to the Father except thru me. The interviewer asked, does that mean everyone else is lost. Her response was, “these are not my words, these are the words of Scripture – Jesus is the way – the only way to come to salvation.”

That’s a far cry from “I am the savior of all peoples – whatever their troubles I will answer their cry – I will always be their Lord.” It’s scary the way some people take ownership of God and God’s love and mercy. The TV news is overloaded with pictures of radical Moslems rallying and protesting and calling for the death of anyone who does not see God as they see God. Calling peoples of other faiths, infidels – basically lost souls.

But Christians have people of the same ilk. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior or you’re done for. Accept God, accept Jesus as we do or you’re lost – damned forever and that’s not just for those who are non-Christian but other Christians as well. There was a time when we were taught ‘outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation’ – thank God we’ve moved beyond that.

For so many people it’s so difficult to deal with diversity – to relate to people who are different, ideas that are different, cultures and faiths that are different. Diversity is what makes the world go round – diversity permeates creation.

Hundreds of years ago St. Thomas wrote – we must say that the distinction and multitude of things – comes from the intention of God – Who brought all things into being. Because God’s goodness could not be adequately represented by any one creature alone God produced many and diverse creatures so that what was wanting to one in the representation of the divine good – might be supplied by another. For goodness, which in God is simple and uniform – in creatures is manifold and divided – hence the whole universe together – participates the divine goodness more perfectly – and represents that divine goodness better – than any single creature – because the divine wisdom is the cause of the distinction of all things.

The diversity we see around us in the multitude of species – in the diversity of peoples, cultures and faiths – all these are manifestations of the divine goodness.

Some one has said that the religions of the world should be focusing on what we have in common instead of what divides us. What we have in common is our belief in a supreme being – God, creator of all. What we have in common is a commandment of love. What we have in common is a command to care for our neighbour – what the many religions in the world could have in common is the project of working for world peace, ending poverty, promoting the dignity of every human being, promoting reverence for creation and working toward the healing of the earth.

Last Wednesday we had a wonderful gather of people. It was sponsored by a group called “faith and the common good” This group has a new project called ‘greening sacred spaces’ Our church was their flagship. They are encouraging temples and mosques and churches to be more efficient in their use of energy, to refit themselves to be more energy efficient and to encourage their people to be more conscious of their use of energy and their consumerism.

Our concept of Islam must reach beyond the images of enraged people protesting and burning images of the Pope or whoever else they feel insulted their faith. We would not want non Christians to see us as those who basically tell them they are lost if they do not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Diversity in all creation, diversity in the human family springs from the love of our creating God. That’s why it is important to remember the words “I am the savior of all peoples, says the Lord. Whatever their troubles I will answer their cry and I will always be their Lord.



Posted in Homily | Comments Off on homily – September 24

bulletin – September 24

Sunday, September 24th, 2006

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
Sept. 26 9:00AM NADIA GOUDA req Family
Sept. 28 9:00AM DAVID SHELDRICK req Teresa & Family
Sept. 29 9:00AM FRANCES GENNARO req Joe & Family
Sept. 30 4:30PM VID MEHARCHAND req Family

SUNDAY COLLECTION: September 16/17, 2006

Total: $8,103.78

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose 117.11 100.40 158.89 351.63
Env. $ 1,756.25 1,755.00 2,780.00 1,084.50
Total 1,873.36 1,855.40 2,938.89 1,436.13
# of Env. 105 102 93 64

RCIA – RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

ATTENTION – THESE EVENINGS ARE FOR PERSONS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

This is an invitation to come to our first meeting SEPTEMBER 18th AT 7:30PM in the Library.

Come with your questions, your curiosity, your point of view. They will be the basis of our discussions.

TO OUR PARISHIONERS: Because our Parish Community is considered the official teacher and guide for possible new members, it is important that some of you help by being present and by sharing your faith in various ways that are comfortable to you.

ADULT CATHOLICS: who wish to celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation are welcome also.

For more information, please call Mary Landry at 416 – 221 – 8866 ext. 224

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

Time to study, time to learn about religious topics that interest you, puzzle you, concern you. We meet every second Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning, we have two separate groups who meet alternate Wednesdays.

TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 3RD AT 7:30PM

WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 27TH AT 10:30AM

WEDNESDAY MORNING, ECOLOGY GROUP, OCTOBER 4TH AT 10:30AM

YOUTH CHOIR

Grade 3 to University. Please join us for practice on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8:00PM. All are welcome!

ALTAR SERVERS

I invite any girl or boy from grade 5 and upwards to join our Altar Servers. This is an important ministry in our parish. Mr. Tom Li, who is in charge of our Altar Servers, will be holding a training session on Sunday afternoon, October 22. If you are interested in serving the parish in this way, please call the parish office and leave your name and phone number or speak to me after one of the Masses. – Fr. Paul

ShareLife

A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR GENEROUSLY SUPPORTING THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN

2005 SHARELIFE TOTAL: $176,612.27
2006 SHARELIFE TOTAL: $163,159.52

ECO-SABBATH GATHERING

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. Coffee and tea are provided. No fee. The next gathering will be held on Sunday October 1, beginning at about 11:30am – (after the 10:30 Mass and before the 12:30pm Mass) – in the large meeting room.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE – GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES

We have received our annual appeal from the Brothers of the Good Shepherd for our assistance during the Thanksgiving Season. You can participate by bringing non-perishable food items on the weekends of September 24th, October 1st, October 8th and also on Thanksgiving Day, Oct. 9th. The following is a list of urgently needed items: canned vegetables and meats, rice, canned soups and stews, cold breakfast cereals, cookies, tea, instant and ground coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, powdered milk, powdered fruit juice, powdered soup bases (chicken & beef), ketchup, paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Kindly drop off your donations at the front doors of the Church and place them in the designated containers. Your donations will allow the kitchen staff and volunteers to prepare upward of 750 meals and snacks daily. You have always supported this appeal so generously. Please keep up the good work.

THE TORONTO CATHOLIC SINGLES MEETUP

is a new singles club for Catholics of all ages who have never married, divorced, widowed or annulled. Sunday brunches, dining out and seminars are only a few of the many activities offered. This club is free to join. For more information or to join, please go to the web site: http://newlysingle.meetup.com/739/

FAITH CONNECTIONS

a Ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, welcomes young adults 18 – 39 to engage in opportunities that generate spiritual growth and community-building. On Monday, September 25th, Bishop Boissonneau will be speaking about “SUNDAY: YOUR VISION OF GOD & YOUR VISION OF YOURSELF”. This will take place at the Duke of York Pub, Bloor St. West and Bedford Rd. from 7:00 to 9:00PM. For more information please contact Vanessa Nicholas at 416 – 222 – 1426 ext.276 or visit www.faithconnections.ca



Posted in Bulletin | Comments Off on bulletin – September 24

homily – September 17

Sunday, September 17th, 2006

Mark 8:27-35

The question Jesus asked Peter is a question we all must answer – ‘who do you say I am?’ We have to answer it but from a different perspective than Peter and the others. Peter named Jesus the Messiah, and he was right. At the same time Peter was wrong. His idea of the Messiah was the common one at the time – the Messiah would be a liberator who would free the Jewish people from Roman occupation and restore the Jewish nation to the glory days of King David and Solomon.

This was not how Jesus saw himself. He upsets not only Peter but all those in His hearing when he bursts their bubble of their expectations by telling them, “the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the powers that be, He will be put to death but in three days rise again.”

Peter can’t handle this. In Matthew’s gospel we hear Peter say, ‘far be this from you Lord, this must never happen to you.’ Jesus ends up by calling Peter Satan. That’s pretty strong language. Satan. Maybe Peter’s attempt to turn Him from His task reminded Jesus of His encounter with Satan in the desert at the beginning of His public life. We know this encounter as ‘the temptation in the desert’. Don’t be hungry, Satan had said, don’t be weak, don’t be unknown. Make yourself some bread out of that rock. Rule the kingdoms. Make God your tool to force the angels into catching you when you fall. You don’t need to suffer. You are the Christ.

Christ was not interested in riches, honors and control. He entered totally into our humanity, like us in all things. He accepts and experiences suffering, as we do. He accepts rejection, betrayal and death because these are human realities.

Peter’s confusion and disappointment of Jesus’ prediction of His future speaks to the fact that Peter and the others were expecting their Messiah to be a leader not a loser.

Neither the temptation in the desert not the cajoling of Peter would turn Jesus away from his appointed task; to suffer and die and reconcile the world to God – making peace by His death on the cross. That’s why the church applies the words of Isaiah to Jesus – ‘the Lord opened my ear – I did not turn backward – I gave my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard – I did not hide my face from insult and spitting – I set my face like flint.’ These words speak of determination. Isaiah knew he had a task to do – and no matter what the obstacles he would accomplish it because he was convinced He who vindicates me is near.

Commitments cost. The commitment of marriage, the commitment of a vowed life, the commitment to social justice. the commitment to truth. The commitment to one’s faith.

There was an article in the Post about a young man named Benjamin Rubin. He is on the Quebec Remparts hockey team. This past Friday they began the defense of their 2006 Memorial Cup championship. Benjamin Rubin who is 17 years old did not play in the opening game, it’s on the Sabbath. Benjamin and his family keep the Sabbath. Imagine the pressure this young man must have under – from team mates, from fans. What’s so awful about breaking the Sabbath, why are you being such a goodie goodie. Don’t you know you’re letting your team down. Let’s have separation of church and sports. To his credit Benjamin stuck to his faith commitment.

Any person who has made any commitment will be tempted – when the going get rough, when things don’t go as expected and there are disappointments – to turn back, to take an easy way out. Jesus was committed to do the will of the Father, it cost Him His life. In the light of His commitment to us, we can look at our commitment to Him and to others in our lives – for all our difficulties – are we faithful?.

As we continue to celebrate this Mass we can pray for ourselves and for each other for the grace to be faithful to our commitments to God, to husband or wife, to our faith in Christ. – may we be graced ‘to set our face like flint ‘ and always be faithful to the Christ, Who was faithful to us – loved us and gave His life for us.



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bulletin – September 17

Sunday, September 17th, 2006

SPECIAL EVENT

There is an organization out of the Toronto School of Theology called “Faith and the Common Good”. On Wednesday September 20th, they will be launching their new program “Greening Sacred Space” here at St. Gabriel’s from 2:00 until 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon. There will be several speakers including the Hon. Dwight Duncan, Minister of Energy and Peter Love, Chief Energy Conservation Officer of Ontario and Roberto Chiotti, the architect of our new church.

The event recognizes the efforts of St. Gabriel’s Parish in building an energy efficient church and the greening of sacred spaces. All are welcome.

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Date Time Intentions
Sept. 19 9:00AM
Sept. 21 9:00AM
Sept. 22 9:00AM MARCELINO FERNANDES req Tita Fernandes & Family
Sept. 23 4:30PM JUDITH MATYASFALVI req Family

SUNDAY COLLECTION: September 9/10, 2006

Total: $10,590.16

4:30 8:30 10:30 12:30
Loose 103.03 77.40 234.85 223.95
Env. $ 2,018.95 3,567.00 3,240.00 1,125.00
Total 2,121.98 3,644.40 3,474.85 1,348.95
# of Env. 109 95 130 64

RCIA – RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

ATTENTION – THESE EVENINGS ARE FOR PERSONS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

This is an invitation to come to our first meeting SEPTEMBER 18th AT 7:30PM in the Library.

Come with your questions, your curiosity, your point of view. They will be the basis of our discussions.

TO OUR PARISHIONERS: Because our Parish Community is considered the official teacher and guide for possible new members, it is important that some of you help by being present and by sharing your faith in various ways that are comfortable to you.

ADULT CATHOLICS: who wish to celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation are welcome also.

For more information, please call Mary Landry at 416 – 221 – 8866 ext. 224

TUESDAY NIGHTS AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS ARE LEARNING TIMES

Time to study, time to learn about religious topics that interest you, puzzle you, concern you. We meet every second Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning, we have two separate groups who meet alternate Wednesdays.

TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 3RD AT 7:30PM

WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 27TH AT 10:30AM

WEDNESDAY MORNING, ECOLOGY GROUP, OCTOBER 4TH AT 10:30AM

LITURGY OF THE WORD

will begin on Sunday September 24th during the 10:30AM Mass. For information please contact Holly Galway at 416-733-3163.

CASSEROLES FOR THE GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE

Your prepared chicken rice casseroles (frozen please) will 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.

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC DEAF SOCIETY

Their chaplaincy is devoted to the Catholic deaf community from Mississauga to Oshawa and north to Midland.

Mass times:
Holy Name Church – 71 Gough Ave., Toronto
Sunday: 11:30AM – Signed
St. Maximillian Kolbe church – 4260 Cawthra Road, Mississauga
Sunday: 9:30AM – Interpreted Mass

NEW BEGINNINGS: WIDOW/WIDOWER SUPPORT GROUP

This is a special group for those who are widowed, and seek to understand their loss and grief. The eight week program is on Wednesday evenings from September 20th until November 8th at 7:30PM. For further information, please contact Sr. Rita DeLuca, C.S.J. at St. Joseph’s Morrow Park at 416-222-1101 ext 107/258.

SACRED WALKING … A journey of the heart

Single women 18 – 40 are invited to a retreat weekend October 20 – 22 2006, given by a team of Sisters of St. Joseph. For more information, please contact Sister Dorothy at 416-934-0042.

BLESSED TRINITY CWL

cordially invites the ladies of St. Gabriel’s to an Afternoon Tea on Tuesday September 19th at 1:00PM in the Parish Hall. The theme is “Getting To Know You”. This is an opportunity to meet new friends, renew acquaintances, and see old friends.



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