SACRAMENTAL REGISTRATION
Thank you to all the parents who came to register their children for the sacraments. You are still able to register during regular office hours until October 5th.
Please Note:
A copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate is required if registering for First Communion or Confirmation. Registration forms will not be accepted without it. A Baptism certificate is not required for Reconciliation.
A fee of $30 is required at registration for Confirmation to defray related costs.
Registration will be followed by parents’ meetings for each sacrament in October. Stay tuned for those meeting dates, where textbooks will be sold.
WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS
Gabriel Room
Saturday, October 18th from 2:30 to 4:00 PM
To all new parishioners
An invitation to join us at a reception for new parishioners on Saturday, October 18th, 2025 from 2:30 to 4:00 PM, in the Gabriel Room. We would like to welcome you to the parish.
It will also be an opportunity to get to know other parishioners, as well as to meet with the pastoral team, and to learn more about the parish and our very unique church building.
Please register by calling the parish office at (416) 221-8866, or email office@stgabrielsparish.ca
Hope to see you there!
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Indigenous Healing and Reconciliation Fund Collection
October 4th/5th, 2025
Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto are invited to participate in the collection being held the weekend of October 4th/5th, 2025 to support the Indigenous Healing and Reconciliation Fund. The collection is part of a national grassroots effort to assist healing and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples of This Land. To date, the Archdiocese of Toronto has allocated $3.1 million to support projects that focus on culture and language revitalization, education and community building, healing and reconciliation for communities and dialogue involving Indigenous elders, spiritual leaders & youth.
Let us join together and follow the invitation extended by the late Pope Francis during his penitential visit of 2022 for each one of us to become engaged in the healing and reconciliation journey. For more information or to donate online, visit: www.archtoronto.org/healingandreconciliation. Thank you for your generosity.
111th WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Sunday, October 5th, 2025
For the 111th World Day of Migrants & Refugees, the theme announced by His Holiness is “Migrants, Missionaries of Hope.” In his message, Pope Leo highlights the resilience of migrants and refugees who give witness to hope amidst very difficult circumstances. He reminds us that those who welcome migrants and refugees can also reflect this same hope. His message ends with a call to entrust all those who journey, and all those who accompany them, to the protection of the Virgin Mary, comfort of migrants.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
September 29th to October 5th
MONDAY – JOEL TUPAZ ✞ – Requested by Belen Croutch
TUESDAY – FRANCISCO & ZOSIMA AGUILA ✞ – Requested by their Family
WEDNESDAY – ELIZABETH TAN & FAMILY – Requested by Elizabeth Tan
THURSDAY – V. PETER VALAVI ✞ – Requested by his Family
FRIDAY – OPEYEMI NDUKWE – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – THE SICK & THE DYING – Requested by Lydia McGrann
SUNDAY – 8:30 AM – FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE PARISH
SUNDAY – 10:30 AM – ZOSIMA & FRANCISCO AGUILA ✞ – Requested by their Family
SUNDAY – 12:30 PM
PSALM MEDITATION
Psalm 146
Psalm 146 begins and ends with words of praise for God:
“Praise the Lord, my soul.
I will praise the Lord all my life.”
And the Psalm gives us this description of the Lord…
is the Maker of all things; upholds the cause of the oppressed; gives food to the hungry; sets prisoners free; gives sight to the blind; lifts up those who are bowed down; loves the righteous and watches over the foreigner; sustains the fatherless and the widow…
Amos warns the wealthy that they will go into exile.
1 Timothy serves up the qualities of holiness.
The Gospel as written for us by Luke tells the story of Lazarus and the rich man clothed in purple.
Time to pay attention here! All four, the three Readings and the Psalm, stress that being devoted to wealth is incompatible with devotion to God. Sometimes, this is a difficult lesson for us. But our Liturgy speaks this now for two weeks in a row.
Praise the Lord, my soul!
YOUTH GROUP STREET PATROL
Sunday, October 5th
Our parish youth group will be distributing sandwiches and other items across downtown Toronto on Sunday, October 5th to neighbours in need. Donations towards ingredients or donations of hygiene products or socks are most welcome. Students from Grades 7 to 12, as well as young adults are welcome to participate. Contact our Youth Minister for more information and to sign up.
YOUNG ADULT PASSIONIST RETREAT
October 17th to 19th
Young adults (ages 18 to 30) are invited to attend a retreat in New York from October 17th to 19th. Connect with young adults from St. Gabriel’s and the St. Paul of the Cross Province to explore the Passionist mission and what it means to be disciples of justice.
FLOWER FUND
Each year we decorate our worship space for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. In the last few years, the cost of the flowers has increased considerably. For this reason, we are establishing a Flower Fund to help defray the cost of the flowers. If you would like to donate, please bring your donation to the office in an envelope marked Flower Fund.
BEACONS OF HOPE
To meet the continued need for personal care items, pyjamas, slippers, towels etc., the Beacons of Hope group will be setting up a donation drop off box in the Gathering Space. A list of needed items will be posted at the box and on the bulletin boards. With the exception of slippers and personal care items that must be new, pyjamas, robes, towels could be gently used and clean.
One of the shelters has also made a request for vacuum cleaners. These should be in good working order and clean. Any assistance you could provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your kind generosity!
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
For the Good Shepherd Centre and Rosalie Hall
We are preparing for our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Thanks to community partners like you, individuals facing hunger are welcomed and served daily at Good Shepherd. Upward of 900 meals are served each day at the moment.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential. The food we donate from our parish often replenishes their empty food bank.
Urgently needed items include:
Tuna & Canned Meats
Coffee & Tea Bags
Soups & Stews
Beans & Chickpeas
Canned Tomatoes, Corn & Vegetables
Pasta Sauce
Salad Dressing
Cooking Oil
Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Spices
Bagged Rice
Mini sized Juice Boxes
Pancake Mix
Granola Bars & packaged snacks
Jams
Condiments: soy sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard
Please check the expiry date as we cannot pass on expired foods. We thank you for your generous support!
SHARELIFE
Cardinal Leo encourages you to reach out to your neighbour in need
“We cannot turn away from the suffering around us, especially when so many struggle just to eat. Our Catholic family is called not only to witness God’s love but to live it boldly: feed the hungry, restore dignity, and stand shoulder to shoulder with those in need. As Scripture reminds us in Isaiah 58:10, ‘If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness.’ Together, through the Food Security Grants and our generous hearts, we bring hope where despair threatens to take hold.”
Please give generously and wholeheartedly through sharelife.org/donate or our parish using a ShareLife envelope. Thank you for living the Gospel.
BLESSING OF PETS
Sunday, October 5th at 2:00 PM
Church Parking Lot
The blessing of pets is often associated with St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. This tradition emphasizes the importance of caring for all living creatures and recognizing their role in our lives. It is a way to express gratitude for the companionship and joy that pets bring to us.
Please join us for the blessing of pets to be held in the parking lot of St. Gabriel’s Church on Sunday, October 5th at 2:00 PM.
HOPE FROM THE CRABBY MYSTIC
Saturday, October 4th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Pauline Books & Media, 3022 Dufferin Street, Toronto
The theme chosen for the Jubilee year 2025 is Pilgrims of Hope. You are invited to a talk on how to live this year of hope through the inspiration of Sr. Mary Lea Hill, fsp on Saturday, October 4th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event will be held at the Pauline Books and Media Hall. The cost is $10. Please call 416-781-9131 or visit www.pauline.org/Canada/Toronto/ to pre-register.
GARDEN SHED
The Fall issue of our newsletter, “Growing News,” is now available from the Parish home page, and posted on the bulletin boards.
We hope you enjoy it and look forward to your “letters to the editor”.
Get ready for some delicious news! Our fresh cherries and red currants are being baked into special treats. Keep an eye out for details in November on how you can get your hands on them!
Are you looking for a nature getaway? Join the Garden Ministry! Back in the Spring, we celebrated a wonderful start to the season with six new volunteers, bringing our total to 21 members. If you’d like to get your hands dirty, email us at garden@stgabrielsparish.ca to get involved.
TRIVIA
Did you know?
Over the past three decades, more than 40 countries have, like Canada, established truth commissions, including Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, the Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa and South Korea.
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.
