A MESSAGE FROM FR. PAUL
Good People,
As I mentioned at the 10:30 Mass a few weeks ago, I will be spending the next 5 months in Florida. I am going to be working at our retreat house in North Palm Beach until after Easter. I’ll be home sometime in early May.
The retreat house is called Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center. It is at 1300 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Fl. 33408. The phone number is 1-561-626-1300. I suggest you look it up on the internet. It is a beautiful place.
Remember me in your prayers and I will do the same for you. Many thanks for many kindnesses.
Fr. Paul
AN ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION
“Advent: New beginnings”
Wednesday, December 4th from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M.
To prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas, the parish will once again be hosting an Advent Evening of Reflection on Wednesday, December 4th, from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M. This year, our theme will be “Advent: New beginnings”. Father Jack Lynch sfm will be leading us in prayer and reflection.
Father Lynch is a member of the Scarboro Foreign Missions. He was first missioned to Peru. Later he served as Director of a regional formation Center for 10 years in Central America. From 1997 to 2012, Father Lynch was Superior General of the Scarboro Missions. He is presently engaged in retreat work; and he continues with his involvement with the televised masses on Vision TV and Salt and Light TV.
With the Christmas season fast approaching, and as the pressure for us to shop, entertain, and decorate keeps mounting, this evening will be a great opportunity to pause, listen, and look deeply into our lives to find room to appreciate the meaning of “God with us”.
Please mark your calendar, and reserve the time for some quietude, so that we can remain anchored amidst the busyness of the season.
GIFTS FOR ROSALIE HALL
For many years, St Gabriel’s has had a close relationship with Rosalie Hall. At this time of the year, we are thinking of the young mothers and babies in need of assistance. If you wish, to help, you may choose a “Christmas Stocking” from the Christmas tree in the Gathering Space to purchase pyjamas or undershirts, for babies ages 6, 9 or 12 months. If you wish to buy a toy, please take a” Gingerbread Boy” tag.
Unwrapped Items with the original tag attached can be left in the box provided near the Giving Tree no later than December 12th. For the Moms, we are suggesting gift cards from Shoppers Drug Mart, Tim Horton’s, Walmart or MacDonald’s. These can be placed in the envelopes provided and brought to the Parish Office. Thank you for your ongoing support of Rosalie Hall.
Christmas Schedule 2013
INDIVIDUAL ADVENT CONFESSIONS
Wednesday – December 11th
3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
MASSES
CHRISTMAS EVE – Tuesday, December 24th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
7:00 P.M. – Family Mass – Carol Singing
9:00 P.M. – Adult Choir – Carol Singing
12:00 A.M. – Midnight Mass – Contemporary Group
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only
CHRISTMAS DAY – Wednesday, December 25th
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed
BOXING DAY – Thursday, December 26th
No 9:00 A.M. Mass, Office Closed
NEW YEAR’S EVE – Tuesday, December 31st
No 9:00 A.M. Mass
Mass at 5:00 P.M. for the Feast of Mary the Mother of God
Office Open 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. only
NEW YEAR’S DAY – Wednesday, January 1st
FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
10:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M.
Office Closed
ANNOUNCED MASSES
December 2nd to December 7th, 2013
MONDAY – JOSEPH MATTHEW FERNANDES – Requested by the Fernandes Family
TUESDAY – PATRICIA KEATING – Requested by Tom Keane
WEDNESDAY – JOSEPH LUAN NGUYEN – Requested by the Family
THURSDAY – MARIA DI DIODATO – Requested by the Family
FRIDAY – POONA JOSEPH – Requested by the Family
SATURDAY – MIKE PALAZZO & CHRISTOPHER DI LALLO – Requested by the Family
DAY OF CONFESSION
Wednesday, December 11th from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M.
On Wednesday, December 11th, we will all have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Archdiocesan Day of Confessions. This week, let us make the journey into the heart of our relationship with God. Take a long, loving look at the ways God calls us to grow. Take this challenge and hold it in readiness for the rich blessing that is manifest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In our parish, confessions will be heard on Wednesday, December 11th from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER COLLECTION
December 7th/8th
Next Sunday, there will be a special collection in all parishes across the Diocese in support of Aboriginal people in Canada. The Moving Forward Together Campaign collection will fund local and national healing and education programs to help build a brighter future with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters. If we are to truly live Jesus’ fundamental command to “love one another” (John 15:12), it becomes a challenge for all of us to embrace. Special Moving Forward Together Campaign envelopes are available. You can also give online at: movingforwardtogether.ca.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
December 7th/8th
You are invited after all the Masses on December 7th/8th to sign an Amnesty International petition and/or send a greeting card to a prisoner of conscience or human rights defender who is under threat. Human Rights Day is officially December 10th commemorating the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
PHILIPPINES TYPHOON HAIYAN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
If you wish to assist the relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, you can make an online donation
- by visiting www.archtoronto.org
- by calling the Development Office at: (416) 934-3411
- by donating through our parish, making cheques payable to: St. Gabriel’s Parish – Philippines Typhoon Haiyan – Humanitarian Relief.
The Canadian government has announced it will match donations to the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund made by Canadians between November 9th and December 9th. Contributions made to the Archdiocese of Toronto for this relief effort will be eligible for the matching program.
We offer our prayers for the victims of this natural disaster and those who have been displaced. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to help those in crisis.
Philippines Typhoon Haiyan relief Fund to Date:$9,385
THE GIVING TREE
During Advent, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will have a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space.
The tree will be decorated with gift tags. Each tag will have the gender and age of a child. We invite you to take a tag, buy a gift of about $25.00 for that child and return the unwrapped gift, with the tag attached, to the box provided in the Gathering Space.
If you are a knitter, there will be mitten tags. Please take one and return mitts to the box in the Gathering Space.
Thank you for your generous support.
CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE
We are having a Christmas Toy Drive for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society and Rosalie Hall. 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 Sunday, December 15th.
GOOD SHEPHERD CASSEROLES
Thank you to the volunteers who prepared 38 casseroles for November. For December, your prepared casseroles (frozen please) will be collected at the Masses on the weekend of December 28th/29th for delivery to the Good Shepherd Centre. More volunteers are needed to help feed the needy.
If you require more information please contact Irene Albrecht at 416 221-2791.
“WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS” CONCERT
St. Bonaventure’s Parish
Friday, December 6th at 8:00 P.M.
Born out of 76 years of choral excellence from the prestigious St. Michael’s Choir School, Seraphim has assembled the finest Alumni chorus to perform We Need a Little Christmas at St. Bonaventure Parish (1300 Leslie St. just south of Lawrence) on Friday, December 6th starting at 8:00 P.M. Suggested Donation: $10 per person or $30 per family
FINANCE CORNER
Our operating expenses average $14,550 per week.
Collection for November 24th, 2013
Envelopes 418 $10,406
Loose Change $1,081
Weekly Portion of PAG 182 $3,519
(Pre-Authorized Giving)
Total $15,006
Please remember to print your full name on your Offertory envelope and then seal it.
OFFERTORY DONATION USING VISA, MASTERCARD OR AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD
PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING OPTION
You can now use your credit card to make your recurring or one-time Offertory donations to St. Gabriel’s. Your donations may earn you valuable points, travel miles or cash back! A classic case of giving and receiving!
Simply log on to the Archdiocese of Toronto website (www.archtoronto.org) select “Donate Now”, “Our Parish”, “Toronto East”, then pick “St. Gabriel Catholic Parish” under Parish in the Donation Information section. Complete all required information.
Remember that your tax receipt for a recurring offertory donation will be issued to you by the Archdiocese at the end of the year. For a one-time gift, your tax receipt is emailed to you immediately.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR 2014
The 2014 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the Gathering Space. Please inform the Parish Office if you have recently moved or are new to the Parish so that we may update our records. If you are on the Pre- Authorized Giving Plan, you will still receive a smaller green box of envelopes since these include Initial, New Year’s, Christmas, Easter and Maintenance envelopes. You may contact the Parish Office if you do not have envelopes but would like a box for 2014.
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.
