Author Archive
Mass, Ascension of the Lord
Sunday, May 24th, 2020Homily – May 24, 2020
Sunday, May 24th, 2020Today we celebrate the feast of Christ’s Ascension, his being taken up in glory. The resurrection and the ascension of Jesus cannot be separated. The Church does separate these events in order to contemplate the meaning of two aspects of a single, indivisible event. Both feasts celebrate Christ’s vindication, his glorification. Both feasts teach us that the sacrifice of his life on the cross was accepted by the Father. As St. Paul teaches, it was for this cause – Christ’s acceptance of death – that God has exalted him and given him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus ever knee should bend in heaven and on earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus the Christ is Lord.
These feasts of resurrection and ascension shout out loud that evil and hatred and injustice are not the final words in our lives. The humiliation and degradation Christ Crucified endured on the cross are vindicated in his resurrection and ascension. Death has no power over him anymore.
The financial anxiety, the grief, the fright so many people endure as we live during this present endemic will not endure. God’s grace and love and mercy are with us especially in the hard work of world scientists as they feverishly search to find an antibody to this virus. God is with us in the sacrifices of the first responders. God is with us as we reach out to family and friends to comfort and support them.
Jesus promised us, “I will not leave you orphans.’ As in so many other times in our lives we need to hear that promise in this time. We need to trust that promise now. I will not leave you orphans. I am with you always.
Bulletin – May 24, 2020
Sunday, May 24th, 2020ANNOUNCED MASSES
May 25th to May 31th, 2020
MONDAY –
TUESDAY –
WEDNESDAY –
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY –
SATURDAY – SAUL MONROY – Requested by Gloria Monroy
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM –
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM –
PRAYER DURING COVID 19
For all in direct patient care; give them strength for their service and strength to ask for help when they are in need.
God, protect them.
For all the sick; bring them to full health and restore them to those who love them.
God, protect them.
For all those isolated in their homes; sustain them in joy and peace.
God, protect them.
For all those who have died and those who grieve their loss in isolation; comfort them in their sorrow.
God, protect them.
For decision-makers at all levels; send them your wisdom and good counsel to serve their communities.
God, protect them.
Amen.
Parish News
As we anticipate the reopening of the Church for weekend Masses, disinfecting the pews and high touch areas is one of the many measures to keep our Church safe for everyone. Any parishioner who wants to volunteer their time in disinfecting the pews after each weekend Mass can sign up by sending an email with your name and contact details, indicating which Mass you would be available for, to stgabrielsparish@bellnet.ca.
SHARELIFE
Living the Gospel by supporting the Deaf community
Imagine you’re a Deaf child and your parents don’t know sign language. Your parents could gesture in a rudimentary way, but how do you share your joys, fears and needs? Silent Voice, a ShareLife agency, teaches American Sign Language and Deaf culture to families so they can share a common language. “I’m so passionate about Silent Voice,” says one grateful parent, “because their Family Communication Program rescues children from social isolation.” Last year more than 700 Deaf people and their family members received help through Silent Voice.
ShareLife and COVID-19
ShareLife-funded agencies have adapted their programs to the pandemic and continue to serve those in need. Among many other lifesaving initiatives, they are delivering meals to isolated seniors and offering phone counselling for people experiencing anxiety and depression. Visit sharelife.org to learn the many other ways your gift is making a difference.
Due to Covid 19 the ShareLife collections have been postponed. Parishioners can contribute online at sharelife.org/donate or by dropping off or mailing their contribution to the parish office.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Unfortunately, with the current COVID-19 situation, we cannot accept any food donations at this time.
While we wait for updates from these outreach ministries, let us always be mindful of what they do.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
A MESSAGE FROM CATHOLIC CEMETERIES
While our cemetery gates remain closed during our regular operating hours, the gates will be opened for family visits on the cemetery grounds only. Our hours of operation for families visiting will be as follows:
Monday – Saturday: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Sundays and Statutory Holidays: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Our mausolea remain closed until further notice. Entry to the cemetery and mausolea during regular operating hours will only be provided to those attending a funeral or burial, those with a scheduled appointment and for essential deliveries.
Physical distancing requirements and attendee number restrictions are in place at all times in keeping with provincial
Guidelines.
FINANCE CORNER
Although our Churches have remained closed since March 15th, 2020, our outreach programs and pastoral presence remain active.
Because there were no Masses celebrated with public participation, there were no offertory collections taken up. The reality is that our parishes rely on the support of their parishioners to operate through weekly offertory collections. Parish salaries, programs and ongoing operating costs (heating, water, electricity, etc.) are funded through the generosity of its parishioners. There is a challenge for the parish to maintain operations without the weekly offertory collection.
Monthly contributions to the Parish by monthly Pre-Authorized Giving or by credit card through “Donate Now” continue automatically. You may, however, drop off your envelope at the parish office or mail it to the parish.
Please consider changing your offertory giving, at this time, to monthly Pre-Authorized Giving. Forms are available at the Parish office or on-line at the Parish website in the “Weekly Giving” section under the Finances tab.
Mass, 6th Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 17th, 2020Bulletin – May 17, 2020
Sunday, May 17th, 2020ANNOUNCED MASSES
May 18th to May 24th, 2020
MONDAY – VICTORIA DAY
TUESDAY – ANA SOFIA NASCIMENTO – Requested by Carlos & Odete Nascimento
WEDNESDAY –
THURSDAY –
FRIDAY – CHUCK GRECH – Requested by The Family
SATURDAY – MARY-ANNE OLDEN – Requested by Kathleen Olden-Powell
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – ANTONIO MARCHESE – Requested by Cathy Marchese
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM – FRANK COLANTONIO – Requested by Angela Colantonio
PRAYER DURING COVID 19
Most Merciful God,
We come to You in our weakness.
We come to You in our fear.
We come to You with trust.
For You alone are our hope.
We place before You the disease present in our world.
We turn to You in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors.
Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into Your Eternal Home.
Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in Your care.
We ask this through Christ the Lord
Amen.
SHARELIFE
ShareLife and COVID-19
ShareLife-funded agencies have adapted their programs to the pandemic and continue to serve those in need. Among many other lifesaving initiatives, they are delivering meals to isolated seniors and offering phone counselling for people experiencing anxiety and depression. Visit sharelife.org to learn the many other ways your gift is making a difference.
Due to Covid 19 the ShareLife collections have been postponed. Parishioners can contribute online at sharelife.org/donate or by dropping off or mailing their contribution to the parish office.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Each month food we collect is sent to Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Unfortunately, with the current COVID-19 situation, we cannot accept any food donations at this time.
While we wait for updates from these outreach ministries, let us always be mindful of what they do.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs.
FINANCE CORNER
Although our Churches have remained closed since March 15th, 2020, our outreach programs and pastoral presence remain active.
Because there were no Masses celebrated with public participation, there were no offertory collections taken up. The reality is that our parishes rely on the support of their parishioners to operate through weekly offertory collections. Parish salaries, programs and ongoing operating costs (heating, water, electricity, etc.) are funded through the generosity of its parishioners. There is a challenge for the parish to maintain operations without the weekly offertory collection.
Monthly contributions to the Parish by monthly Pre-Authorized Giving or by credit card through “Donate Now” continue automatically. You may, however, drop off your envelope at the parish office or mail it to the parish.
Please consider changing your offertory giving, at this time, to monthly Pre-Authorized Giving. Forms are available at the Parish office or on-line at the Parish website in the “Weekly Giving” section under the Finances tab.
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.
